The Islamic
Republic of Iran is inciting Shia-Sunni Civil War in Iran
By Reza Hossein Borr; 13/06/2008
"Damn Omar, the Murderer of Fatema." This was the slogan of the Shia
revolutionary community in Zahedan, the capital of Baluchistan on Saturday,
7 June 2008. They marched in the style of grand elections. These marches
were organised by the Shia fanatics who were supported by the Iranian
regime. The demonstrators had written this slogan on many cars and
cardboards and they were shouting it as they were marching in Zahedan, the
Sunni dominated city of Baluchistan. The Shia fundamentalists have
fabricated the facts of history and alleged that Fatema, the daughter of
Prophet Muhammad, was murdered by Omar, the second Caliph.
The organizers of these demonstrations were deliberately inciting conflict
with the Sunni community of Iran. They were prepared for any encounter and
the security guards were waiting for the people to react against these
offensive slogans. The demonstrators attacked several Sunni youth and
businesses and provoked them into retaliation. The Sunnis did not believe
this first. The slogan shocked them to the core. The demonstrators stopped
the passersby’s cars and painted them with this slogan.
Omar is the second caliph of Islam whose leadership was conducive to the
collapse of Persian Empire. This matter was raised first after the rise of
the Islamic Republic of Iran. There is no any document to prove that Fatema
was murdered by anybody. All the historical facts show that she died
naturally and her husband, Ali, buried her somewhere privately and nobody
knows where he buried her. To create conflict between Sunni and Shia in Iran
and around the world, the Islamic Republic of Iran advertised this matter as
an offensive propaganda to blame Omar for her death. And amazingly, the fact
is that it was Khatami the so called reformist president of Iran that
announced the day of her death as the day of her martyrdom and made it a
public holiday. Even the most reactionary religious authorities of Iran had
refused to believe this fabricated event to prevent any further gap between
the Sunnis and the Shias.
The more shocking is that Mr Abtahi, a close colleague of former President
Khatami claimed in his blog that Fatema was the only daughter of Prophet
Muhammad. This is another gross fabrication of history. Prophet Muhammad had
four daughters: Fatema, Zeinab, Roqqayyaa and Omkolsoom.
These demonstrations in Zahedan were the worst kind of inciting the Sunni
community into reaction. Hundreds of young Baluch reacted immediately and
encountered the security backed demonstrators and demanded them to stop
their anti- Sunni demonstrations but the organizers who had the support of
security forces ignored the demand of the Sunni commune and continued their
marches with more enthusiasm and excitement. They even increased their
anti-Islamic slogans to generate violent reaction from the Sunni community
to give the security guards an excuse for a complete clampdown and
suppression of the Sunni Baluch in Zahedan. As soon as the Baluch people
found out that the demonstrators increased their activities and shouted,
"Damn Omar, damn Omar, the Murderer of Fatema," more vigorously, they began
action. When the demonstrators encountered the resistance of the Sunni
community of Zahedan, the security forces intervened but instead of stopping
the demonstrators, they began shooting at the Sunni Baluch people of Iran.
Several Sunni Baluch were killed and injured in the shootout. Hundreds were
arrested. The Sunni leaders of Zahedan were called to intervene but the
security guards continued to attack the Baluch community and encouraged the
demonstrators to continue their anti Sunni marches and slogans. After
controlling the situation, the security forces began searching the homes of
Sunnis in many areas of Zahedan using the opportunity for harassing the
innocent people who have been the victims of discriminatory and aggressive
behaviors of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
It was very clear from the beginning that the Islamic Republic of Iran
intended to provoke a Shia-Sunni conflict by insulting Omar, the second
Caiph. The Baluch and Sunni people of Baluchistan showed wisdom and
character and restrained to be pulled in the trap of the Islamic regime.
There are about 20 million Sunnis in Iran. They live all around Iran at the
border areas and they have their Sunni relatives in the neighboring
countries.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has been engaged systemically since the
beginning of the revolution to incite a Shia-Sunni Civil War in Iran but the
logical wisdom and the common sense of the Sunni leaders of Iran have
prevented many occasions which were rife for severe conflicts. Many Sunni
mosques have been destroyed and many have been closed. Many Islamic scholars
and religious Sunni leaders have been murdered in serial killing episodes
and many of them have been hanged and executed. There are more than one
million Sunnis in Tehran but they do not have even one Mosque to perform
their religious duties. They have been barred from performing their Friday
collective prayers in public parks. Their religious principles are attacked
on a regular basis on television and media, conferences and public
illustrations.
There are some news that few ambassadors in Tehran have officially protested
against these kinds of behaviors of the regime and called on the Islamic
regime to stop sowing the seeds of religious hatred and conflict. This just
happened after a conference in holy Macca in which different religions were
invited and called to help bring more understanding among different
religions. Hashmi Rafsanjani attended this conference on behalf of the
Islamic Republic of Iran. He fabricated a rosy picture and pretended that
there was a constructive and productive mutual understanding and cooperation
among Sunnis and Shias in Iran while the Sunnis are being attacked,
persecuted and hanged on a regular basis. 155 Sunni Baloch were arrested on
the first day of last month, according to Students News agency.(1) Two Sunni
men were also hanged in Zahedan in the next day on fabricated charges. (2)
The political activists of Baluchistan are hanged and executed for different
false charges. Six innocent Baluch were killed on 8th of this month on
Sunday. (3) These are the news which has been somehow published by
government. There have been many other incidents that they were not
published and confirmed by the Iranian media.
The inactivity of the Sunni people and governments of the world have
encouraged the Islamic Republic of Iran to fabricate new events and place
them in history as facts and pave the way for a destructive conflict and
civil war among the Muslims. The danger arises from the fact that the Shia
people from different parts of the world use Iranian media as a source of
inspiration and therefore, the regime's fabrications will lead them to
conflict with the Sunnis. Many Shia people of the world have been misguided
and misled by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Their further misleading will
lead to civil wars among Sunnis and Shias everywhere.
This is a warning to all Moslem people, the Islamic Conference, all
governments, all human rights organisations, the United Nations and its
affiliated organisations and international community that the Iranian regime
is in preparation stage of launching a Shia-Sunni conflict in Iran which
will have worldwide consequences. Now it is time to stop the Islamic
Republic of Iran from creating a situation like Iraq where the Moslem skills
each other. The patients of the Sunnis of Iran are running out.
Reza Hossein Borr is a leadership consultant and the creator of 150 CDs and
14 Change management models. He is also the author of Manual Success, Manual
of Coaching and Mentoring, Motivational Stories that Can Change Your Life,
and a New Vision for the Islamic World. He can be contacted by email:
balochfront@aol.com Site: www.rezaaa.com
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Nawab Marri
Interview
By Malik Siraj Akbar ; 14.06.2008
89-year old Nawab Khair Baksh Marri's meaningful silence over the past many
decades has been a constant source of inspiration and guidance for the armed
Baloch groups. Lapsing age has not crippled Marri's attachment to the idea
of an independent Balochistan . As the head of the largest Baloch tribe, the
Marris, Khair Baksh has become a legendary figure even in his life time.
Along with late Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti and Sardar Attaullah Mengal, Nawab
Marri forms Islamabad 's axis of 'three anti-development sardars in
Balochistan'. Khair Baksh Marri remains a mysterious figure because of his
unadulterated silence; the belief that he is in fact leading the Balochistan
Liberation Army (BLA) and that he is a staunch proponent of the idea of a
Greater Balochistan, a free Baloch state comprising of present day Pakistani
Balochistan province and the Baloch areas controlled by Iran and Afghanistan
. A rare communicator with the media, Nawab Marri recently spoke to this
writer at his Karachi residence.
An ardent advocate of militant Baloch nationalism, Nawab Marri admitted
being a 'late-comer' into politics due to the comfortable life he spent at
Lahore 's Aitcheson's College. Though the Marris were widely regarded for
their aggressive battles against colonial Briton generations after
generations, flamboyant Khair Baksh, the son of Meherullah Khan Marri, was
indifferent towards politics in the early days of his life. It was President
Ayub Khan's gas and oil explorations in the Marri tribal areas which aroused
his political consciousness. He has always been opposed to the idea of
'outsiders' coming to Balochistan and developing the local Baloch
population.
Instead of buying the argument that the Baloch tribal chiefs are
anti-development, Marri accuses the government of being simultaneously the
accuser as well as the judge. Since the very inception, he had been offered
ministries, the post of governor but he spurned such offers. "If I were mad
for money then I would not go to Afghanistan [on exile] or spend time in
jail. I was offered all comforts of life by successive governments. Even
some people get sold in return of minor amounts. I don't want to glorify
myself but these comforts never attracted me," he clarified.
The white-bearded and red-skinned Marri believes that the present Baloch
movement is far more matured than the ones waged in the past. The Baloch
have been under suppression of the state for the past sixty years. Every
ruler, he said, tried his utmost to muzzle the dissenting Baloch voice .
Today, the Baloch have, nonetheless, become cognizant of their future. One
can see maturity in Baloch politics, the guerilla warfare-tactics and
availability of more information.
"Our movement has constantly been making headway. We are unlikely to
compromise on any thing less than the freedom of the Baloch nation. We are
optimistic to achieve our goals, though gradually," said the veteran
nationalist leader.
The hardliner Baloch said none of the present day political parties in
Balochistan qualified as a true 'Baloch nationalist party' because they did
not have what it took to be 'a true son of the soil'. In his views, when the
Baloch parties begin operating like the Tamil Tigers, Hamas or the Irish
Republican Army (IRA) then they truly qualify as nationalist parties. The
only force in Balochistan which today qualifies as a nationalist more than
the others is the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
"I am pleased with the BLA. It expresses the desire of the oppressed people.
They (the BLA) are truer and 'better sons of the soil' than many others
because they are sacrificing their lives for the Baloch freedom," he
remarked, adding that the Balochistan National Party (BNP) of Sardar Akhtar
Mengal was merely a political party but it was not right to bill it as a
Baloch 'nationalist' party. "The BNP only talks of Balochistan, which is
today a province of Pakistan , while a nationalist party should speak of
Baloch people as a whole. Baloch live in Iran and Afghanistan as well. How
can you ignore them and only talk of the rights of a Baloch land controlled
by Pakistan ?"
When Marri was asked how he would respond to the impression that he was the
real man behind Balochistan's armed movement, he retorted with a loud
laughter: Why are you asking me to confess my guilt at this old age? If I
were younger, I would not be sitting and giving you an interview. I have
always said that the real fighters are the ones who are doing it with
weapons. I wish I were younger so that I would go straight to the hill and
fight for the Baloch cause.
"Baloch are a big nation. We are fighting for Baloch national liberation. We
want a Baloch state which is not dependent and subservient to any other
nation. Within the Baloch, some people are fighting on the political front
who believe that they can achieve their goals by participating in
parliamentary politics but I subscribe to the other school of thought which
talks of independence and supports the armed groups."
Citing his immaturity and lack of political sagacity at an earlier age, a
disappointed Marri said now he regretted his participation in parliamentary
politics on the platform of the National Awami Party (NAP) as it did not
yield any fruits in terms of achieving the rights of his people.
Marri was asked if he would agree to talk to the government provided that
all Baloch forces, including the BLA, nominated him as their chief
negotiator for talks with Islamabad, he moved his thumbs down (meaning no
way would he talk to Islamabad). Immediately, however, he said if the BLA
viewed him as the elder of Baloch nation and asked him to sit on their
behalf to talk to Islamabad then he would present his terms and conditions.
When asked what those terms and conditions were, he replied with a single
term: Punjabis must vacate Balochistan.
"The others issues are all domestic which could be discussed later on but
the foremost thing is that Punjabis should quit Balochistan… I can coexist
with a pig but not with a Punjabi," he revealed, explaining, "The Punjabis
view the Baloch as a very inferior people. They think we are not competitive
in any domain of life. They say the Baloch can't fly an airplane. Thus, they
justify their involvement in our maters by saying that they want to develop
us. I keep asking who the hell they are to develop us. We are the masters of
our land. Who are you to come and teach us? If we can't fly an airplane
today, we will learn it after ten years. If we don't have qualified doctors
today, we will have them tomorrow. But this does not provide you an excuse
to exploit our resources on the name of development."
Alluding to a recent meeting of his with the recently released Sardar Akhtar
Mengal of the Balochistan National Party (BNP), Nawab Marri said he had
asked Mengal to identify the 'mother issue' before the Baloch people due to
which the Baloch were regularly going to jail. According to Nawab Marri,
Mengal said if step "A" was taken then the men fighting in the mountains
would give up arms. "I don't think they [Sardar Akhtar Mengal and his
father, Sardar Attaullah Mengal] have magical powers to disarm the men in
the hills. The BNP does not have a majority on the mountains. God knows it
is not the BNP giving arms, shoes, support and money to those fighting in
the mountains. I asked Akhtar Jan to stop beating drums. We should know what
we are fighting for."
Nawab Marri, whose well-known hobby of cockfighting has somewhat been
replaced by internet browsing these days, explained the reasons for Baloch
distrust with the federation of Pakistan . "Here, we are ruled by a class
which does not recognize logic, history, ground realities, democracy. The
only language it knows is that of violence and brute force," he maintained,
"The Baloch claim ownership on their land and the state does not accept our
logic. Our ancestors have been living on this land for ages. They faced
hardships and poverty but did not quit their land. Now, the rulers come to
us and say they want to develop us. They want to populate our cities. Our
argument is: Can't we develop ourselves? When the State can't respond
logically to our commonsensical stance, it resorts to use of force. Even the
supporters of democracy should see that the just demand of the Bengalis was
not conceded by this state despite all logical arguments supporting them. On
the top of it, they say the Baloch are rebels, getting money from the
outside world."
According to Marri tribal chief, a number of internal as well as external
factors have heavily contributed to the failure of the Baloch movement(s) to
successfully achieve all targeted goals: Internally, the Baloch living in
Iran and Afghanistan were not politically as mature as their Pakistani
counterparts. "Some Baloch are oblivious of their freedom. They have sold
their loyalties in return of minor amounts, ministries and other facilities.
Now there is an effort being made by the State to present the fake
representatives as the real preventatives of the people… These people
(referring to Balochistan governor Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi and chief
minister Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raisani) were born in Baloch households but
they have become the salaried men of Pakistan . They do not act like
Baloch."
On the external front, Nawab Marri said the Baloch movement was being
suppressed by 'colonial America ' which was following the footsteps of
England . "The US wants the people world over to be subservient. The kind of
damage the external forces have caused to the movements of smaller nations
has no parallel in the world," he said. Giving the example of the Gwadar
Port , Marri said the very idea of excluding the Baloch in the development
process was the brainchild of the United States . "Give them a share," was
what the Americans told the government of Pakistan because "they are opposed
to freedom. We have warned the US that you can't win guerrilla warfare.
Therefore, you should not involve yourself, regardless of the fact how fair
or unfair a war is. Baloch people will not suffice with a 'share' we want
ownership on our land, resources and our sovereignty."
Replying to a question as to which of the old comrades of the Baloch
movement he remembered the most, an old Marri suddenly busted into tears. "I
remember those who sacrificed their lives for the Baloch land," Marri
referred to his son Nawabzada Balaach Marri, the suspected head of the BLA,
who was killed last November in mysterious circumstances. There was complete
silence for around three to five minutes. Then he resumed, "In the past we
often used to say that the Baloch are very brave men. They do not cry. But
sometimes pain becomes so prickly that tears naturally come out– even
sometimes in public."
Another son of Nawab Marri, Nawabzada Harbayar Marri, was arrested last
December by the police in London on the charges of possessing illegal
weapons; he was released on April 17 this year. In addition, the government
of Balochistan froze the bank accounts of Nawab Marri and his sons. On July
10, 2007, the Intentional Police (Interpol) on the request of the
Balochistan police issued the Red warrants of five sons of Nawab Marri,
namely Hamza Marri, Zamari Marri, Harbayar Marri, Gazeen Marri and Balach
Marri.
Squinting at his past, Marri, who is currently the topmost Baloch political
and tribal leader, said he wished he was remembered in the history as a real
son of the soil. Though some Marris consider themselves as the vanguard of
Baloch rights, Khair Baksh Marri says he is not contended with his
contributions. "I occasionally feel ashamed of not having done enough for
the Baloch land. What my children and I have done so far is a minor
contribution. We are all indebted to the land."
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