21.10.2002
Muslim Organizations Say Islam In Ukraine Not Associated With Terrorism
09.12.02 – Dr. Ashur Faruk, head of “Arraid,” the Ukrainian Muslim Interregional Association of Civic Organizations, announced that none of the Muslim organizations in Ukraine is associated with Islamic extremists or Osama Bin Laden’s organization. The announcement was made at a press conference after a meeting organized by “Arraid” dedicated to the first anniversary of the 11 September tragedy in the USA. This news was reported by the newspaper “The Day” on 11 September 2002.
Muslim and secular scholars, journalists, representatives of the civil authorities, as well as Muslim and Christian clergy took part in the conference. All the speakers stated unanimously that there was no association between Islam and terrorism in Ukraine and the two cannot be identified.
According to Dr. Ashur, “relations between Christians and Muslims in Ukraine haven’t worsened and tolerance and cooperation reign in the Ukrainian society.”
Viacheslav Shved, member of the Council for National Security of Ukraine, also reported that according to different estimations, Ukraine has from 1.2 to 2 million Muslims. They also constitute 13 per cent of the total population of Crimea. Ukraine has the fifth-largest Muslim population in Europe.
www.day.kiev.ua
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Association members