Jews and Muslims condemn cutting down of crosses
Representatives of Jewish and Muslim organizations have condemned the cutting down of Orthodox crosses. The cutting down of crosses in Russia, which followed a similar act of vandalism in Kyiv, are provocations and manifestations of uncivilizedness and disrespect for what is holy, believe representatives of traditional Judaism and Islam interviewed by RIA Novosti.
The first news about the cutting down of a cross in Kyiv by Femen activists appeared online Aug. 17 – the day of the sentencing of Pussy Riot for their performance in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The group Pussy Riot called their performance a “punk prayer” while the Khamovnichesky court in Moscow has described it as hooliganism. Last weekend crosses were cut down in the Arkhangelsk and Chelyabinsk regions of Russia.
The Russian Orthodox Church regarded the incidents as a challenge to the fundamental cultural values of Russia and Europe, which “goes beyond the usual bullying” and which is based not on freedom but on pride and permissiveness. “It's disgusting what is happening to Orthodox crosses, which are placed in areas important for history, for the history of Orthodoxy, and I regard it as a provocation.”
Such provocations occur with people and with tombstones and religious buildings, but I think one thing here is important. Whether you are an atheist or a religious person, if it is holy for your fellow citizens, then it should be holy for you. Maybe I am being presumptuous, but I think my opinion is shared by 99% of all Russians,” said the chairman of the Russian Congress of Jewish Religious Organizations and Associations Zinovy Kogan. He believes that such hooliganism should be prosecuted according to the law, which must be “above all.”
Kogan believes that the main task today is to maintain peaceful relations between Russian citizens. “You can restore the crosses, you can restore the places of worship, but it is very difficult to heal spiritual disorder, division, suspicion. So we have to be cautious, fair and compassionate.”
First Deputy Chairman of one of the largest Islamic organizations in Russia – the Central Spiritual Board of Muslims – Mufti of Moscow Albir Krganov also condemned the cutting down of crosses.
“Representatives of any denomination are in solidarity in their joys and woes. We Muslims know the definition of the Quran, which clearly states that you cannot deride the temples of God. Be it a mosque or a synagogue or a Christian church – there is a clear definition about this. And symbols of faith also cannot be disrespected – it is sacrilege to any religion,” said Krhanov.
He noted that such actions are immoral and an “element of an uncultured person.” “We believe that someone who respects himself – considers himself a human at all – would never do such an act,” said Krhanov, informs UNIAN.
