Shia clerics rally behind Khamenei, urge India to back crisis-ridden Iran | Lucknow News

Lucknow: Lucknow’s prominent Islamic scholars and community members have voiced strong concern over the escalating situation in Iran, calling for global powers to prioritize peace and dialogue over conflict. They have demanded the immediate lifting of sanctions imposed by Western nations and urged the Indian govt to back the present regime in Iran. They also appealed to the United Nations to intervene to prevent any possible US-Israel strike amid ongoing protests in the country.Maulana Kalbe Jawwad, a leading Shia cleric, stressed that sanctions have crippled Iran’s economy, creating fertile ground for unrest. “On allegations of uranium enrichment for nuclear weapons, Western powers imposed sanctions on a Shia Muslim country. But in reality, they want Iran’s oil and are seeking an opportunity to target a state in turmoil. Remove the sanctions, and Iran will flourish like any other nation, with no protests against the regime,” Jawwad said.He urged the Indian government to stand by Iran during these troubled times instead of maintaining a neutral stance. “Scores of mosques, government buildings, hospitals, and other infrastructure were targeted by anti-state elements. A true Iranian may protest against inflation and unemployment, but will never attack their own country’s infrastructure,” he added.Maulana Yasoob Abbas, the general secretary of the All India Shia Personal Law Board, accused the US and Israel of fueling unrest. “All Iranians are with Ayatollah Khamenei and the Islamic Republic. Indian Muslims, especially Shias, stand firmly with him,” Abbas asserted. He appealed to the Indian government to support Iran rather than Israel during this crisis. He dismissed reports of mass casualties and that anti-government elements linked to Mossad and Shah’s supporters were being targeted. “Life is normal in Iran,” he said, adding that religious caravans from India continue to travel to Iran without issues.Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali, the chairman of the Islamic Centre of India and Shahi Imam of Lucknow, emphasized that war is never a solution. “People in India, especially Muslims, are very concerned. The international community, particularly the United Nations, should intervene and resolve this issue peacefully,” he said. Highlighting Iran’s historical ties with India, he questioned foreign interference: “Iran is a sovereign nation. To what extent is it justified for powers like America to interfere? Clearly, such interference violates international laws.”He also condemned any excessive force against protesters, stressing that the right to protest within legal limits must be respected. “If voices are suppressed, it gives other countries an excuse to interfere,” he warned, noting that the internet shutdown has left many in Lucknow unable to contact relatives in Iran.From Kintoor in Barabanki, the ancestral home of Ayatollah Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini’s grandfather, Dr Rehan Kazmi echoed similar sentiments, alleging that Western media is distorting facts. “Things are happening differently from what is being shown in the media. Whether to please the US or Israel, the media is showing things in a distorted way. The reality is that the majority of people are with Ayatollah Khamenei,” Kazmi said. He cited conversations with his cousin Amir Kazmi, a student in Iran, who confirmed that large rallies were organized in support of Khamenei in Qom, Mashhad, and Tehran. “If Israel or the US attacks, Iran will respond strongly. They have been prepared for this for the past 20 years,” he added.Another cleric, Maulana Hasnain Baqri, whose younger brother Maulana Faiz Baqri has lived in Iran as a religious scholar for over two decades, said, “Iran is stable. Media has hyped and projected chaos. Only a few people have been arrested and jailed—that is a fact. Crowds of 1,000–2,000 were filmed from angles to make them look like 10,000.”