Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
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Damascus, SANA-Activities of a cultural festival marking the International Mosques Week kicked off Wednesday at Damascus University. The festival is organized by Ministry of Awkaf (Religious Endowments) and Damascus Awkaf Directorate, in cooperation with al-Quds International Foundation.
The festival, which lasts until Monday, includes cultural symposia on the Grand Umayyad Mosque as a beacon of scientific, cultural and spiritual knowledge, and the reparation of historical mosques in Damascus.
The festival also features a photo exhibition of al-Aqsa Mosque and the mosques of Palestine under occupation, as well as calligraphy photos.’
Caretaker Minister of Awkaf Mohammad Abdul-Sattar al-Sayyed said in a speech that the conspiracy and global war against Syria has failed in achieving its goals due to the steadfastness of the Syrian people and their support to their army and leadership.
Al-Sayyed underscored the Islamic-Christian fraternity whose enemy is one and the same, calling for dedicating a week for supporting churches as they have, like mosques, been vandalized and desecrated by Zionists and Takfiris.
Grand Mufti of the Republic Ahmad Badr-Eddin Hassoun said Islam has a universal message, indicating that the fierce campaign against Syria targets the Arab and Muslim nations.
“Mosques should not be turned into gathering places for Takfiri groups…These are places for worshipping Allah,” the Mufti added.
He lashed out at the Arab League for “being involved in the aggression against Syria” which, he said, is the guardian of Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque.
Bishop Matta Khoury, secretary of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch, said Syria has been a destination for knowledge-seekers, praising the “blending of the Azan (call for prayers) and the tolling of church bells” in the Orient.
He condemned the Israeli attacks against worshipping places in Jerusalem, decrying the silence of international community over these repeated attacks.
Participants criticized attempts to portray Islam as a religion that preaches killing and slaughtering by inventing events that are so detached from the soul and essence of Islam, indicating that Damascus mosques have been a “shield” that fended off strife and discord.
What has been going on in Syria, they indicated, is a US-Zionist concoction that some fake religious figures have jumped its wagon, rendering themselves “pliant tools for the worst gang that has done the image of Islam an irreparable damage.”
M. Ismael
