Religion

News

Russian Church hopes govts of Persian Gulf countries will not back idea of church destruction

Moscow, March 20, Interfax - The Russian Orthodox Church has expressed concerns about the statement made by Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, who has called for all churches in the Persian Gulf countries to be destroyed.

"This statement is alarming because the Persian Gulf countries are populated not only by numerous Muslims, but also Christians. They live side by side with Muslims in peace, they work and make a constructive contribution to the life of each country," Archbishop of Yegoryevsk Mark, the head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for Foreign Establishments, told Interfax-Religion.

Archbishop Mark said he is hoping that the governments of the region's countries "will be surprised by the calls made by this sheikh and ignore them."

Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah earlier called for all churches on the territory of the countries of the Arab Cooperation Council to be destroyed. The statement was made after the administration of Kuwait said the construction of new churches may be banned, the Russian Emirates website has reported.

Kuwaiti parliamentarian Osama al Munaver earlier announced plans to present to the country's administration a bill on the destruction of all churches in the country. He later corrected his position, saying the existing churches can stay but the construction of new churches and other non-Islamic religious buildings should be banned.

Print this page

Home

News

.	Customize latest news

• Future of Abkhaz Orthodox faith should be based on church canons with regard for Abkhaz people's opinion - Russian Orthodox Church 24 May 2013, 19:27
• Abkhaz president asks Moscow Patriarchate to ordain Abkhaz bishop 24 May 2013, 19:24
• Putin congratulates Patriarch Kirill on his Name Day 24 May 2013, 11:33
• Russian Foreign Ministry says U.S. State Department's religious freedom report politicized 24 May 2013, 10:00
• Court bans gay pride parades in Kiev on May 25 (updated) 23 May 2013, 21:09
• Georgian, Ecumenical Patriarchs not expected in Abkhazia 23 May 2013, 18:11
• Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia says plans to visit Abkhazia with Ecumenical Patriarch (updated) 23 May 2013, 17:46
• CoE commissioner urges Georgian authorities to protect gays from homophobes 22 May 2013, 15:42
• Radical Islamism is the most real threat to Russia - General Kulikov 22 May 2013, 14:53
• Belarus dismisses U.S. report's criticism of religious freedom restrictions 22 May 2013, 14:39
• U.S. ambassador invited to State Duma to discuss NGO, religious organizations 22 May 2013, 12:18
• CoE secretary general urges Russia to protect gay rights to demonstrations, freedom of speech (updated) 22 May 2013, 11:28
• Discussions of interfaith problems must be intensified in UN, intl organizations - Lavrov 21 May 2013, 17:04
• Russian patriarch concerned about violence against Christians in Africa 21 May 2013, 17:01
• Tajik president calls on Islamic Development Bank to invest in regional infrastructure 21 May 2013, 15:53
• Patriarch Kirill tells CoE's secretary general same-sex marriage sinful 21 May 2013, 13:38
• Most Russians support non-intervention of church in state affairs - poll 21 May 2013, 10:12
• Suspected militants killed near Moscow may have belonged to Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan - source 21 May 2013, 10:00
• Hizb ut-Tahrir activist from Kyrgyzstan detained in Alma-Ata 20 May 2013, 11:43
• Anti-homophobia demo held in Kiev 20 May 2013, 10:05
• Georgian patriarch calls on supporters, opponents of gay movement to pray for each other 20 May 2013, 10:04
• 28 injured in Tbilisi in attack on rally in defense of gays 20 May 2013, 10:03
• Head of Consumer Right Protection Society fined 100,000 rubles for slandering Cathedral of Christ the Savior Fund 17 May 2013, 16:58
• LGBT rally in St. Petersburg draws 60 supporters, 200 opponents 17 May 2013, 16:55
• Georgian ombudsman fails to protect gay parade in Tbilisi 17 May 2013, 16:16
• Seventeen people injured amid gay parade in Tbilisi 17 May 2013, 16:08
• Orthodox Church, NGO of Moldova ask Chisinau mayor to cancel gay parade 17 May 2013, 15:06
• Police, special task forces save gay parade participants from outraged citizens in Tbilisi 17 May 2013, 14:23
• Three-fourths of Russians insist govt. should ban public display of homosexuality 17 May 2013, 13:14
• Suspected leader of Hizb ut-Tahrir Sakhalin unit detained 17 May 2013, 11:54

Other news