Islam in Ukraine - Interfaith dialogue

Respect among Muslim and Christian Chaplains will have positive impact on interconfessional dialogue, - Mufti Said Ismagilov.

Собкор — Sun, 28 Apr 2019 20:20:58 +0000

On April 18, the Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy held a round table meeting on “Chaplaincy in the context of Hybrid Conflict”. This event was attended by Said Ismagilov, the Mufti of Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine Ummah, Metropolitan Ioann (Yaremenko), Chairman of Military Clergy Synodal Directorate, Andrii Zelynskyi, Deputy Head of Military Chaplains Department at the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Oleksandr Petrenko, Chaplain of Evangelical Christian Baptists Churches All-Ukrainian Union, Oleksandr Kovtach, Head of Military Chaplains Cooperation Department at Moral and Psychological Support Center of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Izdebskyi, Head of Military Chaplains Service at the National Guards of Ukraine, Dmytro Tukalo, Chief of Chaplains Division at the State Border Service of Ukraine, Olha Vakuliuk-Lukashuk, psychologist at Women's Power of Ukraine NGO, Nataliia Didyk, psychologist and director of Women's Power of Ukraine NGO.

The special guests of the round table were Colonel Timothy Millard, the Chaplain-in-Chief of the US Army in Ukraine, Major Terry Bell, the US Army Chaplain, Cheryl Michel, the First Medical Advisor on Military Rehabilitation and Veteran Affairs, and sergeant major David Clarke.

In his report, Sheikh Said Ismagilov spoke about those Muslims, defending Ukraine in the ranks of the Armed Forces and volunteer battalions, about the creation and formation of the of Military Chaplaincy Office of Ukrainian Muslims, professional and personal requirements for imams-chaplains posts, how Muslims-chaplains provided co-religionists, who performed their duties at the front line, with spiritual support.

The Mufti predicted the importance of the chaplain service would not diminish even after the victory. He also recalled the mission the imams-chaplains of the Muslim Military Chaplaincy of Ukraine were carrying out, headed by Imam Chaplain Murad Putilin. He also noted the very warm and trust-based climate, arisen due to cooperation between chaplains of various religions; stressing that respect between Muslim and Christian chaplains in war would positively affect the interfaith dialogue in Ukraine.

The Military Chaplaincy Office of Muslims of Ukraine will continue to provide spiritual support to those Muslims, who are performing their civiс duty, and to the families of the fallen defenders, as well as take care of the wounded front-line soldiers in hospitals.

Let us remind, at the International scientific-practical conference called “Military Chaplaincy in Ukraine: the first stage results of institutionalization (2014-2015)" Mufti RAMU Ummah Said Ismagilov emphasized:

“Muslims as citizens of Ukraine fulfill their duty to the homeland not only during the war, but also in peacetime. <...> Ukraine is a religious, spiritual country, and I think that the priests’ spiritual support will be always necessary.”

20/04/2019

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The interreligious tolerance should be cultivated at schools

Islam in Ukraine — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 15:29:56 +0000

A fear and a rejection result from lack of knowledge. Xenophobia is like a poisonous mold. It occurs where enlightenment rays cannot truck through, and blight from the ignorance has existed over the years. At the last, this mold has eaten away its carrier. That is why it is so important to instil in children from early age a respect for the people’s otherness, to acquaint them with the diversity of the surrounding world, to talk about traditions, culture and customs of different nations, including religions, beliefs, and their histories.

The teachers of Ukrainian schools and higher educational institutions understand this simple truth. Moreover they put it into practice. They are trying to instill in their students the striving for inter-ethnic, inter-religious peace and cooperation. Often, in churches, preaching-houses, mosques, synagogues, dojoes, one can see not only the parishioners, but also guests, who came for information purposes. Recently, a group of children-pupils of a Kyiv private school has visited the Kyiv ICC mosque.

Tariq Sarhan, the head of the Islamic History and Culture Department of Kyiv Islamic Cultural Center met those small visitors. Schoolchildren learned about the countries, in which the most inhabitants were Muslims; Islam advent and its early days in the territory of Ukraine; principles of building up the relationships between different religious communities; approaches to establish friendship and cooperation between Muslims and non-Muslims.

It is pleasant to note that, according to the questions the children asked, they are less likely to demonize Muslims and identify Islam as terrorism, than some adults. Despite their young age, the children demonstrated a fairly good awareness of world religions and did not show any hostility towards believers of other faiths. Of course, this is not only due to their parents, but also due to their teachers’ efforts, who cultivate in their pupils a respectful and friendly attitude towards people.

12/02/2019

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Christian Priests Visited Iftars In Lviv

Tetyana — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 16:52:54 +0000

Greek-Catholic priests and their pupils, people with special needs, attended iftars at Lviv ICC. Having come in advance, long before the sunset, accompanied by father Morione from Italy and father Yuri, they watched how Muslims broke their fast with water and dates and pray Maghreb. After the prayer, they were invited to join the common meal as the dearest and most precious guests.

Christians had interest not only in the followers’ of Islam cooking skills; they asked about the peculiarities of fasting and the spiritual meaning of Ramadan. Muslims were happy to answer all those questions, and Imam Murat Suleimanov and Centre’s Director Alan Dekouree were also at their service.

The idea was conceived some time before Ramadan even began, when Lviv Muslims visited the neighbouring Christian communities to thank them for sharing the joy with Muslims at the solemn opening of the new Islamic Cultural Centre named after Muhammad Asad at 29a Abraham Lincoln street.

While learning each other better, followers of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, learned that there is a men’s monastery of Saint Peter and Andrew where the monks take care of a parish of God’s Providence at 12 Abraham Linkoln Street, where a workshop for physically disabled people and children is situated.

So when Ramadan was almost there, the Muslims invited the orionist fathers and their pupils to share a joint iftar with them, and were happy when the invitation was accepted.

The group counts 1,5 dozen people with special needs who embroider, draw and get involved in other creativity. Unfortunately, it was impossible to receive the whole group at once, as due to the late hour many people were already brought home by relatives.

Followers of Islam, however, don’t lose their hope to treat them all after Ramadan is over and the meals can be arranged a time more convenient for the guests. Father Morione and father Yuri already approved the idea.
Source: RAMU “Umma”

16/07/2015

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Extremism Is Not Islam — French Prime Minister

Tetyana — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 16:31:46 +0000

Mr.Manuel Valls, French Prime Minister, spoke of his perception of Islam when opening the conference on communication between the Muslims and the rest of the French society.

— We have to say that all this — the hate speech, anti-Semitism that hides behind anti-Zionism and hate for Israel... the self-proclaimed imams in our neighborhoods and our prisons who are promoting violence and terrorism — all that is not Islam, — “Al Arabiya” quotes.

More than hundred Muslim leaders, ministers and other officials attended the above-mentioned conference. It is reported that the agenda included security and safety of the old mosques, building new mosques, and image of Islam in the media.

At the same time, French Ministry of Interior stressed that the problem on radicalisation wasn’t on the agenda due to respect for the believers and in order to avoid negative associations towards Muslims.

22/06/2015

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