Prague, 19 November 1997 (RFE/RL) - A leading Mufti in Russia has condemned Monday's massacre in southern Egypt, in which militant Muslims gunned downed about 60 tourists.
Ravil Gaynutdin, the Mufti of Muslims in Central Russia, told RFE/RL in an interview in Moscow today that true Muslims must condemn any acts of violence. Gaynutdin denounced militant Islamic groups who carry out terrorism in the name of Islam, a religion which he said preaches tolerance and acceptance of different peoples' beliefs.
Gaynutdin said the Koran, Islam's leading religious work, teaches that all people are brothers, regardless of racial, religious and political differences.
Ravil Gaynutdin, the Mufti of Muslims in Central Russia, told RFE/RL in an interview in Moscow today that true Muslims must condemn any acts of violence. Gaynutdin denounced militant Islamic groups who carry out terrorism in the name of Islam, a religion which he said preaches tolerance and acceptance of different peoples' beliefs.
Gaynutdin said the Koran, Islam's leading religious work, teaches that all people are brothers, regardless of racial, religious and political differences.