The Muslim community reacts
The first Russian religious leader to issue a statement, just a few hours after the Hamas attack on Israel, was the chairman of Russia’s Spiritual Administration of Muslims, mufti Rawil Gaynetdin.
According to him, Russia had “been making decades-long efforts to peacefully resolve the deadly conflict within the borders of the historical land of Palestine”.
The mufti’s calls for peace are in stark contrast to his position on the war in Ukraine. Gaynetdin supported Putin’s mobilisation order in September 2022 by saying that Russia’s cause was “right and just”.
Now, Gaynetdin is calling on both sides in the fighting to “ensure safety, prevent civilian deaths, and move towards full-fledged dialogue”.
“We’re praying for the rapid end to the bloodshed and for peace and prosperity everywhere on Earth!” Gaynetdin said.