The New Government Emphasizes Resolving the Events of Zahedan and Khash

Shaikh ul Islam Mawlana Abdol Hamid, on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, in a meeting with the injured and the families of the martyrs from the Bloody Fridays of Zahedan and Khash, expressed that “in the previous administration, we did not witness any determination to resolve the issue of Zahedan and Khash,” but announced that the “new government has made a clear commitment to resolve” this matter. In the meeting, the Friday prayer leader of Zahedan also expressed gratitude for the “patience and perseverance of the people, especially the families of the martyrs and the injured from the Bloody Fridays,” and emphasized that “the religious and legal rights” of the families of the martyrs and the injured in these incidents “will be pursued.”

The Efforts Made to Address the Zahedan Incident Have Not Been “Satisfactory”
According to the information office of the Sunni Friday prayer leader of Zahedan, Shaikh ul Islam Mawlana Abdol Hamid stated: “From the beginning, in line with the request of the families of the martyrs of Bloody Friday, we have demanded the enforcement of their religious and legal right, which is ‘qisas’ (retributive justice), and have insisted that this matter must be handled according to justice and fairness, in a way that brings satisfaction to our people, especially the families of the martyrs and the injured in these incidents.”
He added: “We have previously stated that this tragedy was a result of discrimination; if Sunni representatives had been present in the Provincial Security Council and the armed forces, such an incident would not have occurred. We have also expressed that if you can eliminate these discriminations and resolve the national issues of the Iranian people, we are even willing to ask the families of the martyrs, for the sake of the Iranian nation, to forgo their rights and leave the final decision to you. These are statements we have made in the past.”
The Friday prayer leader of Zahedan continued, “There have been efforts to address the Zahedan incident, but these efforts have not been satisfactory. Some sought to resolve the matter through ‘conciliation.’ At that time, we stated that the process of conciliation requires first apologizing to the people and the victims and condemning those responsible for the incident. However, unfortunately, these actions have not been taken. Had an appropriate and acceptable verdict been issued against all those involved in the killings, our people have the capacity to forgive. But, unfortunately, we have not yet reached that stage. This is a report on the progress made so far regarding this incident, as conveyed to you.”

In the Previous Government, We Saw No Determination to Resolve the Events of Zahedan and Khash; the New Government Is Emphasizing Resolution
Mawlana Abdol Hamid went on to reference the new government’s commitment to “resolve the incidents of the Bloody Fridays in Zahedan and Khash,” saying, “The new government has come into office with a new approach and has emphasized from the start that this issue must be resolved. In today’s meeting, we want to first hear the opinions and demands of the injured and the families of the martyrs, who are entitled to them.”
He noted, “We saw no determination to resolve this issue in the previous administration. We now look to see the extent of the new government’s resolve in addressing the matter and protecting the rights of the people. We are not satisfied with words; we are satisfied with actions.”

Expressing Gratitude for the Patience of the People and the Families of the Martyrs and Injured: Rest Assured, Your Rights Will Be Pursued
The Friday prayer leader of Zahedan expressed gratitude for the “patience and perseverance of the families of the martyrs and injured, as well as the general public,” saying: “We extend our heartfelt thanks to the injured and the families of the martyrs, who have lost their loved ones, and to all the honorable people who have exercised patience. We pray that Allah Almighty bestows His greatest mercy upon all these dear ones. The injured and the families of the martyrs should rest assured that their rights will be pursued.”

We Work for the Good and Benefit of All the People of Iran
Shaikh ul Islam Mawlana Abdol Hamid, during his remarks in a meeting with the injured and families of the martyrs of the Bloody Fridays of Zahedan and Khash, stated: “We stand united with the entire Iranian nation. The suffering of every individual in Iran is our suffering, and their joy is our joy. We share in their pain.”
He continued, “What brings us happiness is the ability to serve as a source of good, to address the hardships of the people, and to ease their burdens. We are pleased if the sacrifices of our martyrs and the prayers of their families bring blessings to the people of Iran.”
The Friday prayer leader of Zahedan emphasized, “The rights of all Iranians—women, ethnic groups, and religious sects—are of great importance to us. If we believe that our actions will benefit the people, women, ethnicities, religious groups, and the nation as a whole, we will take those steps. We consider the interests of all Iranians. The pain that the families of the martyrs and injured have endured is understood by no one else, and this pain will only find solace when these sacrifices bring about positive change, alleviate the problems of the Iranian nation, and eliminate discrimination.”

There Are No More Oppressed than the Martyrs of the Bloody Friday of Zahedan
Mawlana Abdol Hamid concluded by saying, “After the incident in Zahedan, some people saw the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, in a dream, who said that the martyrs of this incident had come to him. There are none more oppressed than those who were martyred in this incident, for they came to perform the Friday prayer, and many of them were martyred inside the prayer hall.”