Patriarch Kirill tells Mufti Hasson: Russian Orthodox Church and Russian people stand by Syria in confronting terrorism

MOSCOW,(ST)_Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has said the Russian Orthodox Church and all Russian people stand by Syria in confronting the international terrorism and extremism.

His remark came in a meeting held today with the Syrian Republic’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Badreddin Hasson.

The Patriarch clarified that the attitude of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian state towards the crisis in Syria is based on the fact that foreign powers’ intervention in Syria’s affairs has destroyed peaceful life in it.

“Muslims and Christians”

“A large amount of money has been allocated to change the legitimate regime in Syria,” the patriarch said, adding that the most powerful extremist forces that organized the Daesh organization [IS or ISIS] have taken part in the war to make this change.

“Daesh, which is destroying life in Syria and Iraq, poses a threat to peace in the region,” Patriarch Kirill affirmed.

He referred to Syria’s experience in building brotherly relations between Christians and Muslims and all sects, hoping that the crisis in Syria will end soon.

“Syria must stay united,” the Patriarch said.  

On his part, the Mufti thanked the Patriarch on behalf of the Syrian people for the humanitarian aid which the Orthodox Church sends to Syria.  

Speaking to reporters, the Mufti described what is going on in Syria as a ‘war against both Christians and Muslims all over the world’.

“Syria’s steadfastness has protected Arab brothers [Arab countries] and our Turkish neighbor from collapse. Syria will never fall no matter what challenges are,” the Mufti underscored.

In a meeting with Head of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society Sergei Stepashin, the Mufti talked about Russia’s historical role in supporting Arab people.

The meeting focused on cooperation between the society and the religious commissions in Syria, according to the official news agency (SANA).

The agency quoted Stepashin as citing that the extremists are practicing, killing, destruction and terrorism under the cover of religion in an attempt to abuse it.

Earlier, the Mufti Hasson discussed with Moscow Mufti Sheikh Nafe’ollah Esherof the challenges that face Islam and Muslims in the world as a result of the practices of the extremists and terrorists that use Islamic religion as a cover.

The two sides agreed on intensifying efforts to overcome the challenges.

Following the meeting, Mufti Hasson declared that the westerns forges the history. “As they [westerns] failed in nationalist conflict, they launched religious conflict to have hegemony over the Middle East wealth,” he said.

Basma Qaddour