On the occasion of the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism, Habilian Association spoke with Molavi Yousef Gorgij, the prayer leader of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Mosque in Zahedan. In this interview, the prominent Sunni scholar paints a vivid picture of the long-standing coexistence between Shiites and Sunnis in the region and firmly rejects claims by violent groups that they act in defense of Sunni rights. Emphasizing that “our flesh, skin, and bones are one,” he condemns what he describes as enemies’ conspiracies aimed at sowing division and insecurity.
Pointing to the active presence of Sunnis in key administrative positions across the province—from the governor-general to county governors—Molavi Gorgij presents this as evidence of practical unity on the ground. He describes recent terrorist attacks, including the assault on the Zahedan courthouse, as desperate acts by adversaries who “cannot tolerate the face of unity and the path of growth and development” in the province. He stresses that public participation alongside the armed forces is vital to maintaining security and attributes the region’s resilience against divisive projects to the people’s deep attachment to their land, their security, and their system of governance.
The conversation offers an overview of the cleric’s views as a proponent of unity, who sees development and prosperity as shared aspirations of all residents of the province, regardless of sect. He describes violence not only as religiously forbidden but as fundamentally opposed to the will and interests of the people of Sistan and Baluchestan.
Molavi Gorgij began his remarks by sending greetings to the soul of Imam Khomeini and to the martyrs of Islam from its earliest days to the present. He also expressed prayers for the health and long life of the Supreme Leader and success for all public servants.
Responding to claims by terrorist groups that they are fighting to secure Sunni rights, he said: “The people of our region are deeply intertwined with the armed forces. We do not have a Shiite–Sunni divide here, because this is what our forefathers taught us. We have always lived together. We are flesh, skin, and bone of one another. We intermarry. Our lives, our deaths, and our martyrdom are shared. When blood is shed today, Shiite and Sunni blood is mixed together. That means we are on the path of unity. That is what God commands in the Qur’an. It is the tradition of the Prophet (PBUH) and the Ahl al-Bayt.”
He added that, through the leadership of local commanders, many security forces in Zahedan—often referred to as the “capital of unity”—are recruited from among local residents. “Shiite and Sunni brothers serve side by side,” he said. “If you want proof of this unity, look at the fact that our governor-general is Sunni, as are many county governors and department heads across Sistan and Baluchestan. Shiite brothers also serve alongside them. There has been no division, and there is none today.”
According to him, those who carry out terrorist attacks are enemies who cannot tolerate the province’s image of unity and its trajectory of development. “They attack police stations, trusted community figures, scholars—even a six-month-old child. This is the work of the enemy. The enemy acts out of enmity. We must remain vigilant. As the Supreme Leader has emphasized, we must recognize the enemy.”
Molavi Gorgij underlined that the people of the province cherish their security and regard their homeland as sacred. “Some Sunnis say, ‘Our land is our honor.’ Others say, ‘Our land is our mother.’ Just as a mother is precious, so too are this land, this system, this security, this unity, and this peace of mind precious to us. We owe this security, unity, and comfort to the blood of the martyrs. The martyrs gave their lives so that we would not have to bow in humiliation.”
Turning to decades of terrorist activity aimed at hindering development in Sistan and Baluchestan, he referenced incidents in which saboteurs attempted to burn construction machinery in Iranshahr. He praised security forces for identifying what he described as an infiltrator who later confessed to being paid from outside the country to disrupt progress and deter investment. “They want to keep this province deprived,” he said. “But Sistan and Baluchestan is not deprived”
He noted that visitors who travel to the province during Nowruz, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and other occasions are often struck by the hospitality and solidarity between Shiites and Sunnis. “They tell us that what they see with their own eyes is completely different from the image portrayed by our enemies.”
Addressing the recent attack by Jaish al-Adl on the Zahedan courthouse, Molavi Gorgij described it as an attempt to obstruct both economic development and social unity. “But they are gravely mistaken,” he said. “Our people—especially in Sistan and Baluchestan—have grown up together. Shiite and Sunni children study in the same schools and live as neighbors. The enemy cannot bear to see this unity and solidarity, so it tries to damage it through acts of violence. But our people are vigilant and revolutionary. They love their security.”
He recounted that during the courthouse attack, the assailants killed a soldier and a police officer before targeting civilians who had come seeking justice. “For our people, the judiciary represents the justice of Imam Ali (AS). These were innocent individuals pursuing their legal rights. The attackers carried out their crime, but thanks to the swift response of security forces and, most importantly, the people themselves—who rushed to the scene unarmed and confronted the attackers—the threat was neutralized. Had the people been armed, they would have eliminated the group themselves before the armed forces even arrived. This determination stems from their love of security.”
He emphasized that Sunni citizens view judges and judicial officials as their own and believe that justice is carried out in the courts. The confrontation, he said, did not last long before security forces, supported by the public, overpowered and killed the attackers.
In his closing remarks, Molavi Gorgij thanked the interviewer and specifically expressed appreciation for Seyed Mohammad Javad Hasheminejad. “We Sunnis hold special respect for the descendants of the Prophet,” he said. He prayed for the well-being of all those dedicated to serving the people, for the long and dignified life of Iran’s Supreme Leader, and for the elevation of the martyrs’ ranks. He concluded with prayers for Iran’s continued strength and victory, and for the defeat of what he described as the country’s enemies, including the United States and the Zionist regime.