Maulana Mohammad Hossein Gorgich is the Friday Imam of the Sunni community in Azadshahr, and is one of the influential Sunni clerics in Iran. He is a critic of the Iranian government and has always been at the forefront of defending the rights of Sunnis in Iran. Along with his religious activities, Maulana Gorgich has also played a mediating role in securing the release of two soldiers who were held hostage by extremist armed groups. His humanitarian efforts have also gained him widespread recognition and satisfaction from the families of the victims, as he has been able to save 30 death row prisoners from execution so far.

You are the Friday Imam of the Sunni community in the city. Is the effort to save citizens from death row part of your official duties as the Friday Imam, or is this activity a personal and voluntary decision on your part?

Good; this is not one of my official duties as the Imam of Friday, but rather a humanitarian motivation; according to verse 32 of Surah Al-Ma’idah (And whoever saves one life, it is as if he had saved mankind entirely), whoever saves a life, it is as if he has saved all of humanity.

You have saved more than 30 death row prisoners so far; this is a very high number. What was your goal in doing this? Are you completely against the death penalty?

The goal of God has been satisfaction. The cases that Islamic law has made an exception for (and do not kill the soul which God has made sacred, except by right) are recognized as legal boundaries and are beyond the realm of human power. In other cases, I do not have a good solution. How beautifully Ferdowsi Pakzad said, “May mercy be upon that pure grave, like a farmer who has seeds, who has a life and a sweet soul.”

Who are the people who have been saved from death? Have their accusations been important to you; meaning have you only gone after intentional murderers or have you only focused on their execution without paying attention to their accusations?

I have saved many people who have committed intentional murder, because I have been able to mediate in this matter and the power of forgiveness lies with the heirs of the victim. Mediation is not a problem from a religious perspective and I pay attention to the person who has been sentenced to death and follow up on the issue. According to verse 178 of Surah Al-Baqarah (So whoever is pardoned by his brother for something, then it is obligatory to follow what is acceptable and pay it in a good manner), so if someone is pardoned by his brother (in religion), it is necessary to follow the acceptable way (and the punishment of retaliation is changed to blood money). And the owner of the blood should consider the one who pays the blood money. And the killer should also pay the blood money to the heir of the victim and not fall short in it.

Have all survivors been followers of the Sunni sect? In other words, have their religious beliefs been important to you?

No, religion has not been the criterion for me, rather humanity has been the criterion, and in these 30 cases of mediation, if the Shia brothers did not have the majority, at least half of these 30 cases have been theirs…

What method do you use for your activities? Do you, for example, spend money, or simply act as a middleman; or do you use people’s religious beliefs to gain satisfaction?

I do not spend any financial expenses. I have only made a heartfelt effort as a spiritual person and have requested cooperation from influential and prominent individuals, elders, and other clergy, as well as using religious beliefs to gain satisfaction.

Are your activities organized or group-based, or are they individual initiatives? Do you have a plan to expand the rescue of death row inmates?

It is an individual action, yes I have a plan.

Are you willing to make an effort to save the lives of border guards who have recently been taken hostage at the Balochistan border and are in danger? What is your opinion about this incident?

Yes, just as I have previously saved two hostages, in this case I have also sent an official letter to the hostage takers and demanded the unconditional release of them. My opinion on such actions is stated in that letter. I am against any form of terrorism, hostage-taking, or suicide operations. It should be noted that killing a believer is a great sin. God says in the Holy Quran: “And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his punishment is Hell; he shall abide in it, and God’s wrath shall be on him, and His curse, and He has prepared for him a great punishment.” Keep in mind that if you escape from the punishment of this world (execution), the punishment of the hereafter from the Almighty God is greater and you must answer for it. A large number of intentional murderers have been executed in front of the people and have not been pardoned. Another point is that those who have been saved from execution have paid a financial compensation, which has been a