Faiq Rostami, the son of martyr Abdul Qadir, was born in Marivan in 1327 S.H. In addition to being the leader of Friday prayer and working as a teacher, he has also held other responsibilities including: working as the temporary leader of Friday prayer of Marivan from 1391 until now, being a member of the 15-member supreme council of Ifta’ Kurdistan Province, a third-level teacher in religious sciences schools, the member of the Inheritance Dispute Resolution Council, activity as a representative of leadership experts, supreme member of the World Assembly of Approximation of Islamic Religions, the leader of Friday prayer of Sanandaj city from 1398 S.H. until now and has three epistles (namely: 1. Explanation of the issues with verses and hadiths and 2. The virtue of Makkah and Madinah and the issues of Hajj and Umrah. 3. Siraj al-Monir and Al-Mehrab.) He has represented the situation of the Sunni community and its views on various domestic and foreign issues, especially radical movements, heretical groups, the Palestinian issue and etc. It is presented below:
– Regarding the scope of His Highness’s activities and experiences, first it would be good to compare the situation of the Sunnis in Iran, before and after the victory of the Islamic Revolution?
It is really a very important question. Before the Islamic Revolution, the Sunnis of Iran were restricted in every way, and the most painful issue for the Sunni community was the absence of the Sunnis in government and political positions. This gap hits the country’s Sunnis the most, and certainly when they have the lowest percentage in important and key military and civil positions, the most oppression and discrimination exist in our society. The only place where the regime could not enter completely was the traditional chambers that were managed by religious and free scholars and teachers. Because throughout history and according to the testimony of historical documents, thanks God, there were great scholars during Reza Khan and his son’s periods of time and even during the Qajar period in the Kurdistan region, whose voices were always loud against oppression, tyranny and discrimination. Of course, the Pahlavi regime confronted harshly against these loved ones and perhaps imprisoned many of them, but the scholars never left the stronghold of service and promotion, and it was because of these teachers and their students that the zealous people fought against Pahlavi oppression and participated in the achievement of the dear Islamic revolution together with all other provinces. They really created epics in terms of resistance and standing against oppression and aggression by the Soviet and British countries at that time, and they did not back down until the aggressors were expelled from the soil of Iran and Kurdistan. They sacrificed their lives and blood for Iran and Kurdistan, they were always proud and victorious, today – thanks God – more than 44 years have passed since the Islamic Revolution and the Sunnis possess civil, economic, natural and political rights. After the Islamic Revolution, important steps have been taken in the direction of administering justice of the various rights of the nation, such as the rights of women, children, kids, family, veiling, and even the rights of religious minorities, especially the rights of the Sunnis, including: freedom of religious ceremonies, formalization of local legislation, possessing political and administrative rights, freedom to form parties and political and trade associations, prohibition of any cursing and disrespect to the followers of the Sunni religion, having 23 Sunni representatives in the Islamic council parliament, having 4 Sunni representatives In the Assembly of Leadership Experts, no restrictions on employment in governmental departments and institutions, the possibility of Sunni presence in intelligence service, security, and military foundations, commanding the navy of the army with the presence of the Sunnis – which is really a very important issue – the presence of the Sunnis as Ambassador in other countries, more than 98% of the members of city and village councils in Sunni provinces are the Sunnis of the region, more than 90% of the members of dispute resolution councils are Sunni trustees of the regions. Also, the employment of the Sunnis as judges, inspectors, of course, this should be given more attention. One hundred percent of the urban and rural population of Kurdistan have access to electricity, natural gas, telephone, telecommunications, health. About 1,000 large and small industrial units in the province and the annual production of 70,000 tons of cast iron in “Qorveh” city iron smelter, the growth and expansion of the health and treatment network, the existence of land borders such as “Bashmaq” and the transit of goods abroad, gold mines and precious metals, and dozens of ongoing projects all of which are important potentials.
– Explain a little about the social and political contributions of the Sunni community?
I want to say an introduction; In 1358 S.H., a referendum was announced by the great leader of the revolution in Iran. It was not a force, it was an invitation that we will present four important issues to you, the people of Iran, and you will know whether you will accept it or not. I want to explain this issue a bit; 1. He stated: Independence. What does that mean? That is, from now on, we do not want to be dependent. We want to be independent. Well, the nation accepted this without pressure; Because Kurds, Persians, Arabs, Turks, with every accent and language, accepted this important sentence to get rid of the burden of dependence and be an independent country. 2. He stated that independence comes with freedom; The freedom that the religion of Islam says. This religion is based on four main pillars and plans. One: Consultation. Today, the Holy Quran invites us to participate in the elections.
«والذین استجابوا لربهم واقاموا الصلاه و امرهم شورا بینهم و مما رزقناهم ینفقون»[۱]
“those who answer their Lord, maintain the prayer, and [conduct] their affairs by counsel among themselves, and they spend out of what We have provided them”
In this verse, four important issues are stated: prayer, the issue of consultation, council, and planning. Therefore, freedom means democracy and that government affairs are under the supervision of the people. There used to be an office called “Savak“. If they called someone, s/he would not sleep at night. He/she knew that he/she would be tortured and harassed as soon as he/she got there. Freedom of religion means freedom that no one is oppressed under the shadow of Islam. Another pillar is justice. A slave and servant from Iran named Salman Farsi goes to the Prophet and becomes a planner and a founder on all issues; This is justice. A black man named Bilal Abyssinian becomes a muezzin in the presence of the holy Prophet. Execution of justice is another pillar of equality. The Quraysh dignitaries said to the holy Prophet, “We believe in you, but on the condition that our assembly is not with the assembly of poor people like Abyssinian Bilal and the black-skinned, they are worthless, we are the authorities. But what does God say?
«وصبر نفسک مع الذین یدعون ربهم بالغدوه و العشیه…»[۲]
“Content yourself with the company of those who supplicate their Lord morning and evening…”
The issue of the equality is very important. Why did people vote for Islam? Because under the shadow of justice and equality, class differences are reduced and people gain strength. Another pillar is the issue of construction, development, progress and improvement. I return to the issue of the participation and consultation. The people of Iran voted for the Islamic Republic with every accent, language and color.
– What is your opinion regarding the current issues in the West Asian region, especially the Palestinian issue and Israeli crimes?
Today; due to the crimes and atrocities of Israel and America, not only the people of Gaza and Palestine, but also the world has woken up and realized that the enmity of the Zionists is not only against the Muslims, but against all the religions. Even today, non-Muslims have demanded for Israel to be tried at the “Hague” court. The issue of Palestine is not today’s issue and even goes back to the time of the prophets; To the previous times when the Jew always sought to hit the Muslims on the head. They felt that the people of Gaza and Palestine were weak and could create a big country in the region by driving them out, but their calculations turned out to be wrong. You can be sure that in the near future, they will regret these issues that they started today against the oppressed people of Gaza and Palestine; Because today – thanks God – the Islamic world is uniting.
– The next issue is the category of radical movements of Salafism and Takfiri; How do you evaluate their goals and terroristic activities?
God says:
«ادعُ إِلي سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالحِكمَةِ وَ المَوعِظَةِ الحَسَنَةِ وَ جادِلهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحسَنُ»[۳]
“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good advice and dispute with them in a manner that is best…”
Today, massacring people are not accepted by each human conscience and humane, Quranic and Islamic school. I find the word “terror” very hateful. I don’t know where these suicide moves came from! This is not the religion of Islam. The religion of Islam introduces the holy prophet with these Qur’anic verses:
«لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ»[۴]
“There has certainly come to you an apostle from among yourselves. Grievous to him is your distress; he has deep concern for you, and is most kind and merciful to the faithful.”
– In the end, please tell if you have any point?
The nation’s revolution started when the Pahlavi’s 2500-year tyranny, cruelty, oppression and immorality reached its peak and darkness and suffocation took over everywhere.
[۱] Showra Surah, verse 38.
[۲] Kahf Surah, verse 28.
[۳] Nahl Surah, verse 125.
[۴] Towba Surah, verse 128.
