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Patriarch Kirill fears extinction of Christian minorities in Middle East

Head of the Russian Orthodox Church believes that without Christians the situation in the Middle East will become more radical

MOSCOW, November 22 /TASS/. Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill predicts that the political situation in the Middle East will be growing more radical and that terrorist activities may ultimately wipe out the Christian population.

"The Christian community presence used to create the right balance (in the Middle East) and was extremely important (for the region), including for the policy of Middle Eastern states. Today there are fears that the extinction of Christian minorities in the Middle East will make the situation more radical," the patriarch stated at a meeting with Sheikh Allakhshukyur Pashazade, the head of the Administration of Muslims of the Caucasus, in Moscow on Tuesday.

"But we know that along with killing Christians, they also kill their Muslim brethren. Naturally, in absolute figures more Muslims get killed than Christians. It is total insanity. No political goals can explain why people of one faith and nationality are killing each other," Patriarch Kirill stressed.

He said that the world community, including representatives of religious communities, should exert efforts to normalize the situation in the Middle East.