Ukrainian Muslims to gather for All-Ukrainian Congress of Muslim Communities

Ummah, the Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine, and the Religious Administration of Muslims of Crimea have issued a joint statement saying that to consolidate Muslims more intensively in the context of a larger need for a greater consolidation of the entire Ukrainian society, Muslim spiritual leaders -- in particular the Religious Administration of the Muslims of Crimea, the Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine Ummah, independent communities and other Muslim organizations of Ukraine -- will convene the All-Ukrainian Congress of Muslim Communities in the first half of 2019. All Muslim communities and organizations of Ukraine will be invited to participate in this event, reports Religion in Ukraine.

Ummah, the Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine, and the Religious Administration of Muslims of Crimea have issued a joint statement saying that to consolidate Muslims more intensively in the context of a larger need for a greater consolidation of the entire Ukrainian society, Muslim spiritual leaders -- in particular the Religious Administration of the Muslims of Crimea, the Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine Ummah, independent communities and other Muslim organizations of Ukraine -- will convene the All-Ukrainian Congress of Muslim Communities in the first half of 2019. All Muslim communities and organizations of Ukraine will be invited to participate in this event, reports Religion in Ukraine.

As soon as possible, an appropriate working group will be set up to organize the congress. Representatives of all Muslim organizations of Ukraine will be invited to become members.

“It is precisely this All-Ukrainian Congress which is called on to involve in the inter-confessional dialogue all Muslims in Ukraine, including the Muslims in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation, as well as certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, will allow to represent a worthy level of thought, desire and a common position of the Muslim communities and organizations of our country,” the organizers of the event emphasize.

The initiators of the appeal are confident that a broad inter-confessional dialogue between the Muslim organizations of Ukraine will contribute to strengthening peace, mutual respect, tolerance and protection of the national interests of the country, and will allow Ukrainian Muslims to fully participate in building a modern civil society.

It should be noted that the RAMU of Ukraine is a member of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (AUCCRO), de facto representing all Muslims of the country. Other influential religious authorities of Muslims of Ukraine – RAMU Ummah and RAM of Crimea - do not agree with this, also trying to be represented among the reputable religious associations of the country. However, the AUCCRO, being a non-governmental organization, denies them membership.