MOSCOW, October 1. /TASS/. The Chairman of Russia’s Central Moslem Religious Department, Dr. Ravil Gainutdin has called on the Ummah to give correct assessment to the decision of the Russian government to join the struggle against the Islamic State terrorist grouping.
"I’m extending this appeal to fellow-Moslems, to brothers and sisters, to my fellow-countrymen, and asking the Moslems around the world and you to give correct assessment to the decision taken by President Vladimir Putin and to refrain from politicizing the knotty problem of counteraction to terrorism, which is looming over Syria, Russia and many other countries," Dr. Gainutdin said.
"Let us not translate the problem into the sphere of internal Islamic discords," he said.
"War, violence and terrorism have turned into a tragedy for millions of refugees and inefficacious bombing raids by the Air Forces of the U.S. and its allies have not brought about any relief," Dr. Gainutdin said. "These raids didn’t lead up to genuine successes in eradicating terrorism.
In the light of it, joint efforts against terrorists are an option selected under the necessity, since the inter-communal standoff poses a global threat not only in Syria and Iraq but in the whole world and it stands in a graphic contradiction to the principles of Islam.
Dr. Gainutdin called on the fellow-Moslems to stay adamant and to rebuff "the concoctions of pseudo-ideologists who try to pass off the actions of members of the multinational coalition of Armed Forces in fighting with terrorism as support to one or another section of the Ummah.
"On the contrary, we the Moslems who abide of the Quranic commandments […] should give an encouraging assessment to the efforts made by Russia and the world community to deliver countries and continents from the threat of terrorism, which mars the image of our Holy Religion, and to keep vigilance against provocations," he said.
"I’m also appealing to the heads of state who’re taking part in antiterrorist coalitions are preparing to join them," Dr. Gainutdin said. "Please use military power against the militants and terrorists in Syria, Iraq and other regions rationally, without inflicting unjustified pain and sufferings on peaceful population," the document said.