235 Kurdish Sunni scholars and clerics condemned the death sentence of Mamosta Mohammad Khazrnejad
235 Kurdish Sunni scholars and clerics, in a letter addressed to the head of the judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran and security officials, while referring to the moderation of Mamosta Mohammad Khazrnejad and rejecting his membership in extremist groups, pointed out that the trial of Mamosta Mohammad was unfair and contrary to the laws of the government and his trial should be held in the special court of the clergy.
Mamosta Mohammad Khazrnejad, a Kurdish cleric from Bokan who was arrested by security forces during the revolutionary uprising of Jin, Jiyan, Azadi, was sentenced to death and 16 years in prison by the third branch of the Revolutionary Court of Urmia, headed by Judge "Reza Najafzadeh", on charges of "corruption on earth", "acting against national security by harming the integrity or independence of the country" and "propaganda against the system".
The full text of the letter of 235 Kurdish Sunni scholars and clerics addressed to the head of the judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran and security officials;
Honorable Head of the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran! Peace be upon you!
Respectfully, we, the signatories of this letter, as a group of scholars and clerics of the Sunni sect of the Kurdish regions, regarding the issuance of an unjust death and prison sentence for the popular and compassionate cleric, Mamosta Mullah Mohammad Khazrnejad Bokani, draw your attention and other officials of the judiciary and security officials to the following points:
1- The Holy Quran in verse 8 of Surah Al-Ma'idah says:
«يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُونُوا۟ قَوَّٰمِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَآءَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا۟ ٱعْدِلُوا۟ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ.»
"Those who are believed persistently stand firm for Allah, witness in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent them from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do."
According to the clear and explicit command of the noble verse, we declare that Mamosta Mohammad Khazrnejad Bokani is one of the compassionate and popular scholars and clerics who has spent more than thirty years of his life leading Friday and congregational prayers and teaching and educating students of religious sciences.
He is a moderate and rational person in terms of thought and has never been and is not a follower of extremism, takfir, and secession from the majority of Muslims.
Mamosta Mohammad Khazrnejad, by always emphasizing the verse: وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا ...», has always believed and adhered to the movement and activity of moderation and all acquaintances, friends, and people of the region testify to this issue.
2- According to the contents of the file, he is accused of being a member of extremist and radical currents, including ISIS. We strongly declare that, given the public and obvious records and activities of Mamosta Mohammad Khazrnejad, bringing such accusations against him is a pure lie and this compassionate figure of the Sunnis, not only did not and does not have such thoughts, but has spent a lifetime in promoting moderation, and thought and method of centrism, and has strived and struggled to prevent many young people from joining extremist groups, including ISIS. Also, during the years of continuous time, by giving speeches and sermons of Friday prayers, he expressed disgust with all radical and takfiri currents and called on the people to stay away from ISIS and takfiri thoughts.
3- According to Article 165 of the Constitution, the court must be public. Unfortunately, not only this legal principle has not been observed, but the aforementioned cleric, with all his history of studying and then thirty years of clerical and imamate of Friday and congregation and management of the religious school and education and upbringing of dozens of students of Islamic sciences, instead of the special court of the clergy, was tried in the Revolutionary Court and this is contrary to the legal regulations of the special court of the clergy regarding the characteristics of the cleric and the clergy. Therefore, it is expected that with your magnanimity and prudence, you will take action to send his case to the competent authority for investigation, namely the special court of the clergy, as soon as possible, by violating the issued verdict, in the interest of the system and the nation, and in order to strengthen unity among the people, and also to prevent the abuse of the enemies of religion, and again, in a fair trial, with regard to Article 37 of the Constitution and the jurisprudential rule of the presumption of innocence, he will be acquitted of all attributed charges and return to the bosom of the people and family.
