Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis
April 09, 2008
In the multi-divided Balochistan, oppression takes various forms and persecution may at times be the consequence of religious differences and standpoints.
In the Iranian part of occupied Balochistan, the Ayatullah regime proved to be merciless to religious groups other than the Shia Muslims and to moderate and tolerant Shia who happen to have a non monolithic understanding of the daily life and a pluralistic vision of the world politics.
Iran is unable to survive as it is right now; ethno-religious groups other than the ruling Shia Persians total more than half of the country´s population. Among the ethnic groups, one can draw a basic line of distinction; contrarily to the Azeris, the Arabic speaking Aramaeans of Khuzestan, the Turks, the Turkmens, the Gilakis, the Loris, the Bakhtiaris, the Kermanjis, the Soranis and the Goranis, who located in many northern and western provinces of Iran, share the same life standards with the Persians, the Baluch, regrouped in the SE confines of the country, live under poverty line.
Minority religious groups in Iran involve amongst others the Aramaean Oriental Christians, the Nestorian Aramaeans, other Christian denominations, the Ahl-e Haq Muslims, the Sunni Muslims, the Zoroasterians (Zardoshti), the Jewish, and the Bahais.
The Iranian province of Balochistan (ca. 180000 km2), which covers less than one third of the entire territory of Balochistan (with the largest part being included in Pakistan – ca. 347000 km2, and a smaller territory controlled by Afghanistan), is the most undeveloped, disregarded and abandoned province of the theocracy. The ethnic difference in the case of Baluchs is accompanied by a religious dissimilarity, as the Baluchs are predominantly Sunni, of the Hanafi School of Jurisprudence, contrarily to the Shia Persians.
Today´s Iranian Baluchs reject
1. the Shia predominance in Iran´s theocratic politics
2. the Persian monopoly of the army, state machine, universities and overall administration
3. the anti-Western hysteria of the Ayatullahs regime, as the Baluchs stick to their Muslim identity without viewing it as necessarily directed against other cultures.
For these reasons, the Baluchs are widely persecuted and undeservedly vilified in Iran. A few days ago, two Baluch religious leaders and teachers, Moulavi Mohammad Yousuf Sohrabi and Moulavi Abdol Qoddoos Mollazehi, known for their commitment to the Baluch National Cause and their insistence on religious tolerance, have been arrested, tortured, forces to confess, and condemned to death. This is the Ayatullah version of Justice, Equity and Piety.
I have just received an Appeal to the International Community, written by a Baluch intellectual, consultant and journalist, Mr. Reza Hossein Borr´s, who addressed it already to a great number of international bodies, governmental authorities, NGOs, and activists. I believe it sheds light on practices pursued in Iran in order to avert to natural, free expression of the Baluch who all struggle – as in SW Pakistan and in S Afghanistan – for tolerance, freedom, national independence, democratic rule, cultural and national identity, and respect of the Human Rights. That is why I publish it integrally. Read more>>>
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/57991
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