During the meeting, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma, head of the United Russia faction Sergei Neverov
Sergey Ivanovich
noted the importance of cooperation between religious leaders of Russia and Syria. “A unique experience of peaceful coexistence of various faiths has been accumulated both in Russia and in Syria. Your Excellency, we know that representatives of the Antiochian Orthodox Church arrived in Moscow with you to participate in the 4th International Forum ”Religion and World: Religion and Digital Society“, Sergei Neverov addressed the Grand Mufti.
He stressed that cooperation between Russian and Syrian governmental and public figures has become systemic. “Just last week in the State Duma we held a meeting with a parliamentary group on relations with the Russian parliament of the People’s Council of Syria, headed by Mr. Hussein Abbas,” said the parliamentarian.
Russia and Syria have a lot in common: recently both countries have faced the main threat of modern humanity — pseudo-religious extremism instigated by external forces.
“Terrorists and extremists, falsely hiding behind the slogans of protecting Islam, have made an attempt to ruin our states, plunge Russia and Syria into chaos, for the sake of goals that have nothing to do with true faith,” said Sergei Neverov. “Due to the firmness of the leaders of our countries, it can be stated that over the past year, the military-political center of terrorism in Syria has actually been defeated.”
He also stressed that Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun made a personal contribution to the fact that the majority of Muslims in Syria ”did not follow these criminals.“
In turn, the Grand Mufti noted that Syrian side is eagerly awaiting the Russian delegation headed by Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Sergei Neverov, who is responsible for the State Duma’s relations with Syria. “Our meeting is being held on the threshold of victory, which is also the achievements of our Russian brothers, who helped Syria to repel the attack of the criminals,” said Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun.
He also conveyed gratitude to President Vladimir Putin and the entire Russian people for their support.
It is worth noting that the Grand Mufti of Syria is a supporter of interfaith and intercultural dialogue. Since the beginning of the conflict, he, as well as the famous Islamic theologian Mohamed Said Ramadan Al-Bouti (killed by terrorists in 2012 after an appeal to defend Syria with guns), has supported President of the Syrian Arab Republic Bashar al-Assad. In 2011, the 21-year-old son of the Grand Mufti, an economics student, was killed by terrorists. After his son’s funeral, Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun said he forgave the murderers but asked them to lay down their arms and not shed the blood of the Syrians.
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Syria to Russia Riad Haddad also took part in the meeting.
