The recent joint strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran have plunged families in Barabanki district, Uttar Pradesh, into deep anxiety. More than a dozen students, clerics, and their relatives from this region are stranded in Qom, Iran’s prominent religious and educational hub. With internet services disrupted following the attacks, all communication lines have snapped, leaving loved ones in a state of distress.
Prominent figures like Maulana Jafar Abbas alias Faizi, Maulana Abid Hussain Kazmi, Maulana Ali Mehdi Rizvi, and Maulana Syed Khasif Rizvi Jaedpuri are engaged in religious studies and activities in Qom. Their families, including children and other kin, reside with them. Initial phone conversations were possible right after the strikes, revealing explosions near the city limits but normalcy within Qom. However, the subsequent internet blackout has severed all ties.
Maulana Jafar Faizi’s brother, Maulana Abbas Mehdi ‘Sadf’, shared with reporters that the last update indicated safety inside the city, but the lack of contact since has heightened fears. Similar worries grip the family of Maulana Ali Mehdi from Katra Mohalla. Maulana Imran, who spent years working in Qom, emphasized the city’s peaceful nature and peace-loving residents, pinning the current crisis squarely on the internet shutdown.
Despite reports suggesting those from Barabanki are safe, the absence of direct confirmation fuels uncertainty. Families are gathering in local mosques, fervently praying for their relatives’ well-being. Advocate Dil Kash Rizvi highlighted the sudden communication blackout, which has created a tense atmosphere in households.
In a desperate appeal to the central government, locals urge immediate action to ensure the safety of Indian citizens in Iran and arrange their safe return if needed. Given the volatile international situation, they stress the urgency of decisive measures to bring their loved ones home safely.