The Shirazi Sect is the Shia ISIS Part Two

The Shirazi faction is the Shia ISIS

The Shirazi faction is the Shia ISIS. According to Iran Gate, observations indicate the involvement of the Shirazi faction in some extreme reactions from religious radicals. These reactions have occurred in response to certain social developments by fundamentalist Shia groups and have also provoked public anger.

In the first part of this report, Iran Gate examined the Shirazi faction’s background and genealogy. The present report, which is the second and final part of the series ‘Everything About the Shirazi Faction,’ delves into the positions and ideological axes of this faction and its leaders. It also investigates the reasons behind the strong opposition from the Islamic Republic’s leadership towards those affiliated with the Shirazi faction.

Our religion is identical to our politics

Contrary to what is assumed, the Shirazi faction is by no means in favor of separating religion from politics. This is while some mistakenly consider the Shirazis as one of the traditionalist movements within the seminary. However, this reactionary stance of the Shirazi faction indicates a deep rift between the house of Sayed Sadeq Shirazi and the traditionalists and followers of the late Grand Ayatollah Boroujerdi and also Ayatollah Sistani.

It should be noted that the traditional spectrum not only believes in the separation of religion from politics but also condemns the presence of clerics in the political arena. This is while after the 1979 revolution, for the first time, a religious government was established in Iran’s history. However, contrary to assumptions, the Shirazi faction in this context not only does not oppose the theory of the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist but also criticizes the lenient performance of the Islamic Republic. Therefore, many members of this faction believe that the Islamic Republic has been negligent in implementing Islamic laws and should stand firmly against societal resistance.

Guardianship of the Jurist or Council of Jurisprudence

This faction has never had a direct conflict or serious dispute with the Islamic Republic system, but at various times, we have witnessed serious criticisms from this faction and media platforms based in London associated with the house of Sayed Sadeq Shirazi. However, overall, there is no serious disagreement regarding the Guardianship of the Jurist between this faction and the system.

The issue is that Sayed Sadeq Shirazi and his supporters advocate for the leadership of a council of jurists instead of a single Guardian Jurist in the era of occultation of the infallible, but so far, they have not raised any specific objection or criticism towards the principle of the absolute Guardianship of the Jurist.

Approximation of Islamic Sects

As mentioned in the first part of this report, the younger brother of Sayed Sadeq Shirazi, who resides in London, manages the religious media of this faction. These media primarily focus on promoting Shia religious rituals and bear a strong resemblance to religious programs in the Islamic Republic’s broadcasting. The major difference lies in the Shirazi faction’s clear and aggressive stance against other sects, particularly Sunnis, which has been identified by opposing religious authorities as examples of religious denigration.

Numerous statements have been published from Sayed Mojtaba Shirazi, the younger brother of Sadeq Shirazi, involving curses and imprecations against prominent Sunni figures who were companions of the Prophet. This is while supporters of the Islamic Republic also sympathize with such curses, but so far, no official and public stance of this nature has been adopted by the Islamic Republic’s officials or religious authorities supporting the government.

Therefore, it is said that this faction fundamentally opposes the idea of the approximation of Islamic sects, which was formed in the Islamic Republic after the 1979 revolution with the aim of Islamic unity and creating a unified Islamic nation. Many analysts also believe there is evidence of this group’s support for radical Shia factions in countries like Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria, which often aligns with opposition to Sunnis.

Of course, in the early years after the 1979 revolution, Sayed Sadeq Shirazi emphasized the need to preserve and strengthen Islamic unity. He also strongly condemned any actions aimed at creating division between Shia and Sunni. However, for years, no clear and explicit stance from him on this matter has been published, and observers can only judge based on the content produced by the radio and television networks belonging to this faction. These networks predominantly beat the drum of religious differences and sectarianism and consistently emphasize the need to curse and imprecate prominent and historical Sunni figures.

ISIS in the Garb of Shia

Numerous inquiries from the house of Sayed Sadeq Shirazi have been published, indicating the radical approach of this faction in dealing with religious issues and everyday life matters of citizens. As mentioned in the first part of this report, the positions of this faction are so extreme and radical that some have labeled the Shirazi faction as the Shia ISIS.

For example, in response to a question about whether it is better for Shias to donate blood instead of self-flagellation on Ashura and Tasua, the office of Sayed Sadeq Shirazi states that while blood donation is highly commendable, nothing can replace the act of self-flagellation on the day of Ashura. Therefore, the lovers of the Ahl al-Bayt should strive to perform self-flagellation on Ashura and donate their blood on the birth anniversary of Imam Hussein.

Numerous fundamentalist inquiries are available from the house of Sayed Sadeq Shirazi in areas such as hijab, enjoining good and forbidding wrong, and mourning during the martyrdom anniversaries of Shia Imams. Therefore, it is said that extremism in this faction has reached such a level that if the Islamic Republic were to provide the space for the implementation of the leaders’ wishes, we would witness the birth of a new ISIS.

An ISIS that this time emerges from within the Shia religion and from the heart of the Qom seminary and could pave the way for widespread bloodshed in the Middle East. Additionally, it is clear that such an approach not only threatens the lives and property of Iranian citizens but also violates Iran’s national interests and even poses serious threats to the existence of a country called Iran.

Everything About the Shirazi Faction – Part One