MosNews - 02.28.2007

Russian Jews Protest as Top Muslim Official Calls Israel Malignant Tumor

Russia’s Jewish Communities Federation, FEOR, has sharply criticized the Russian Council of Muftis’ Co-Chairman Nafigulla Ashirov, who called Israel “malignant tumor” the Interfax news agency reported on Wednesday. 

According to reports circulated earlier, the mufti made the statement during a rally protesting excavation works near the Al-Aqsa mosque . 

“We deem such statements absolutely unacceptable because they go entirely against the human truth, including the Muslim truth, and because religious leaders bear double responsibility for the words spoken,” FEOR’s public relations director Borukh Gorin told Interfax. 

In any situation, “instigating conflicts and wars is at absolute variance with a cleric’s mission,” he said. 

“Hopefully, the leaders of the country’s Muslim communities will not leave such statements without a commentary and will distance themselves from it,” Gorin said.

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Interfax - 02.28.2007

Russian Muslim council regrets mufti's insulting remark about Israelis

MOSCOW (Interfax) — The Russian Council of Muftis has expressed regret in relation to a remark made by its cochairman mufti Nafigullah Ashirov regarding the people of Israel.

Wednesday press reports said that the mufti called Israelis a "malignant tumor" during a Moscow rally protesting excavation works near the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.

"We are saddened by the improper wording used by mufti Nafigullah Ashirov," council press secretary Gulnur Gaziyeva told Interfax.

She said Council Chairman Ravil Gainutdin had asked Ashirov on several occasions "to observe the rules of conduct and to develop a correct attitude to brothers-in-faith and while protecting the interests of Muslims not to insult the sincere feelings of people of other religions despite issues that may be truly painful for Muslims."

"It is important that issues in the dialogue between religions do not develop into a conflict, but are instead constructive and produce true positive results," Gaziyeva said.