Russian Cleric Urges Muslim Unity to Combat Islamophobia
Fauzi Sido, the Mufti of the Spiritual Muslim Board of the Asiatic Part of Russia, talked to IQNA on the sidelines of the 35th International Conference on Islamic Unity in Tehran.
He said efforts should be made to replace Islamophobia in the world with Islamic unity.
Islamophobia is a plot hatched to undermine unity in the Muslim world, he added.
Sido also highlighted the role of events and conferences like the one held in Tehran in promoting unity in Muslim Ummah.
These are venues in which Muslims can exchange views and discuss their differences to foil the enemies’ schemes, he said.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Sido described the relations between Sunni and Shia Muslims in Russia as good and said they have always avoided differences and disputes.
The main problems facing the Islamic community in Russia is the extremisms of some so-called Muslims in recent years, he stated, adding that Sunni and Shia scholars have been trying to counter this phenomenon.
The 35th International Conference on Islamic Unity was held in Tehran last month.
“Islamic Empathy and Sympathy and Avoidance of Tensions and Conflicts” was one of the main themes of the five-day event.
It was attended by 230 guests, including 52 scholars, from 16 foreign countries and a total of 514 speeches were delivered via video-conference.
