The Oppressed Sunni Muslims of Iran
Shah Ismail Safavi announced that the Khulafa' Ar-Rashidin, i.e., Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, Sayyiduna 'Umar, Sayyiduna 'Uthman radiyallahu 'anhum, should be sworn at openly. Whoever heard the swearing was to say in reply, "swear more and more." Moreover, he said, "Whoever opposes this instruction will be beheaded." He changed the Adhan and gave prominence to self-flagellation, and mourning processions.
Crackdown & Slaughter
What followed was the brutal crackdown and merciless slaughter of more than 4 million Sunni Muslims. The surrounding countries, especially, Turkiye, were angered, and this resulted in a number of battles between the Ottomans and the Safavids.
Shia Intolerance
In the time of Rida Shah Pahlavi, the Sunni Muslims were horribly suppressed and oppressed, to the extent that they feared even calling themselves 'Sunni'. Not only were the doors of the governmental and non-governmental offices closed to them, they would not even get enrolment in educational institutions.
In the time of the Shah, most of the city areas had become westernized, and they had nothing to do with religion. However, when it came to Shiasm, even he proved to be extremely zealous, bigoted, and obsessed. The hearts of the Shia could tolerate every religion, except for Sunni Islam.
It is astonishing to note that hundreds of thousands of Sunni Muslims live in Tehran, but they are not allowed to have a single Jumu'ah Masjid there, where they can freely perform Salaah, whereas there are dozens of synagogues, temples, and churches in the same city!
Deceit & Treachery of Khomeini
Looking at the repression and oppression of the Shah, Khomeini promised the Sunni Muslims that his movement and revolution (1979) was an 'Islamic' one, and after he is successful, he will grant equal societal and religious rights to the Ahl-us-Sunnah wal Jama'ah Muslims. The Sunni Muslims took part in the revolution against the Shah, but once the Shah was overthrown, Khomeini reneged on his promises, and began the display of his deceit and treachery.
In order to fool the world, Mehdi Bazargan, was appointed as the Prime Minister. He was a free thinker, whereas from behind the scenes, the Shia scholars got busy in drafting the laws and constitution. During this time, Khomeini continued convincing the Sunni Muslim leaders that the law of Iran will be Islamic, and the rights of the Sunnis will be fully protected.
However, a sudden announcement was made that the Shia religion will be made the State Religion, and with a single stroke of the pen, the Sunni Muslims were deprived of all their legitimate rights.
Under the new constitution, they were not even given the rights that were generously provided for non-Muslim minorities like the Jews, Christians, Parsis etc. The seats of the Iranian Parliament were kept exclusively for the Shia. If any Sunni Muslim wanted to become a member of the consultative assembly of his area, he was killed, or, his selection was totally overlooked.
The injustice meted out to the Sunni Muslims in Iran caused most Sunni provinces to raise their voices, but instead of a positive response, the Sunni Muslims were ruthlessly oppressed, suppressed, and ended up depressed.
Shia Iran Targets the Sunni Muslims
The first target of the Shia government was to drop napalm bombs on the Sunni majority province of Kurdistan, under the accusation of the Muslims being communist and opposed to the revolution. Thousands of men, women, and children were killed. The honor of countless women was looted.
The Sunni province of Baluchistan was accused of terrorism and subsequently targeted. The people were told that they were opposed to the revolution.
After the Shia revolution, in the first sitting of the consultative assembly, there were two Sunni Muslim leaders, 'Allamah 'Abdul 'Aziz Mullazada and 'Allamah Ahmad Muftizada that were chosen. They raised their voices against the oppression and suppression of the Sunni Muslims. They highlighted concerns about the forced imposition of Shiasm. However, all their efforts were in vain, and all their proposals were vehemently opposed. 'Allamah 'Abdul 'Aziz Mullazada was mercilessly removed from being a member of the consultative assembly, and 'Allamah Ahmad Muftizada was thrown into jail.
The son of 'Allamah 'Abdul 'Aziz Mullazada, Hafiz 'Ali Akbar Mullazada wrote about the Shia oppression in Iran. He detailed how the Shia government was engaged in implementing a 10-year plan to turn the Sunni Muslim population into a Shia one. The Shia government was killing the Muslim men, and forcing them to embrace the Shia religion. They were forcing the younger generation of Sunni men to leave the country. In this way, the widows and orphans would be left to the mercy of the Shia government.
In Iran today, a Sunni Muslim cannot get an administrative or government post. What is worse is that in the Sunni Muslim areas, the judge, and school teachers are all Shia!
Hafiz Ali Akbar Mullazada further explained that all the media adopted a policy to spread the Shia belief and viewpoints, and they have an agenda against the Ahl-us-Sunnah wal Jama'ah. In the media, the Islamic symbols and pious predecessors were made into a target of mockery and abuse. The Sunni Muslim students were deprived of getting enrolment at university. In Zahedan University, from 2000 students, only 9 were given enrolment.
Financial aid is given under agricultural and production schemes only to Shias, even if these schemes are implemented in Sunni Muslim areas.
Sunni Muslim Organizations in Iran Stand up
The Sazman-e-Mujahideen Ahl-Sunnat organization had written to the United Nations and the Rabitah Alam Islami about the brutal and violent repression of the Sunni Muslims in Iran. They requested the United Nations and other bodies to visit Iran in order to investigate the information provided. This correspondence was published in the Frontier Post on 11 February 1992. The letter detailed the oppressive policies of the government, and how they had intended to change the Sunni majority into a Shia majority.
This group mentioned that the United Nations, other International Humanitarian Rights bodies, and Islamic organizations paid no attention to their pitiable condition and the oppression of the Iranian regime upon the Sunni Muslims of Iran.
[Adapted & Translated from: Iran: Afkaar wa 'Azaa'im, Nadhir Ahmad, April 1997]
The so-called first world countries and developed countries of the world only make a noise about human rights violations when it suits their narrative. No one raises an eyebrow when the repression, suppression, and oppression of the Sunni Muslims in Iran continues and worsens.
The Sunni Muslims of Iran are subject to:
1. Systematic Discrimination
2. Restrictions on Worship
3. Violent Crackdowns
4. High execution rates
5. Marginalization
6. Abuses due to religious beliefs
7. Execution for advocating Sunni Muslims' rights
8. Assassination of Sunni Muslim Ulama living abroad
9. Forced Exile
10. Imprisonment of Sunni Muslim Ulama
11. Destruction and closure of Sunni Muslim Masajid and Schools
12. Violation of International Laws
Please study the report for more detail: State of Coercion
May Allah Ta'ala ease the plight of the Sunni Muslims of Iran and grant the entire Ummah the guidance to see through the veils of the Shia oppressors.
May Allah Ta'ala save us all from the hypocrites and scoundrels that call for unity with the Shia. Ameen
Comments