On November 6, 2015, RIAC was visited by Grand Mufti of Syria Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun on the initiative of RIAC Vice-President Alexander Dzasokhov. The Grand Mufti said that Russian operation in Syria was somewhat belated against the Syrian expectations, underlining the dangers for Russia and its Muslim regions emanating from the radical ideology. He expressed concern over the competition between various schools of Islam for influence on Russian Muslims on the scholar, clerical and grassroots level.
On November 6, 2015, RIAC was visited by Grand Mufti of Syria Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun on the initiative of RIAC Vice-President Alexander Dzasokhov.
The event was attended by members of Russian diplomatic community and Russia-Syria Friendship Society including Ambassadors Robert Markaryan, Alexander Sarymov, Vice Premier of Republic Crimea and its representative in the Russian Presidential Office Georgy Muradov, and Syrian Ambassador to Moscow Riyadh Haddad.
The discussion began with condolences expressed by Ahmad Hassoun to all Russians in connection with the air crash over the Sinai.
The sides stressed the paramount importance of the Russia-Syria relationship for the current stage of Syrian settlement. Mr. Hassoun spoke on the dangers of politicizing religion that may turn into a weapon. With the Syrian state purely secular, in the world of today religion cannot be used for coercion in the same manner as the law.
The Grand Mufti said that Russian operation in Syria was somewhat belated against the Syrian expectations, underlining the dangers for Russia and its Muslim regions emanating from the radical ideology. He expressed concern over the competition between various schools of Islam for influence on Russian Muslims on the scholar, clerical and grassroots level.
The participants exchanged opinions on key issues of the Middle East and Syria developments, as well as on the interethnic and interfaith dialogue. The Grand Mufti was also presented RIAC’s key publications.
Grand Mufti of Syria at RIAC
