Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Damascus, SANA – Activities of the cultural festival “An Eye on the Levant Mosques…Capitals of Civilization; Damascus, al-Quds and Aleppo” kicked off on Monday commemorating the 47th anniversary of the burning of al-Aqsa Mosque on August 21, 1969.
It also marked the global week of mosques, celebrated annually on August 21st.
Minister of Awqaf (Religious Endowments) Mohammad Abdul-Sattar al-Sayyed stressed that the Syrian people, rallying around their army and leadership, are making
victories over the Takfiri and extremist terrorists.
“The takfiris will never succeed to divert the message of the mosques of the Levant away from spreading the right meaning of Islam,” said al-Sayyed, adding that
once victory is achieved, the “one Syrian family” will work together to restore all the mosques, churches and places of worship that were damaged due to the terrorists’ acts.
Mufti of Damascus Abd al-Fattah al-Buzem reminded that all the religious messages call for the building of the human being and for dialogue and peace.
Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Vicar for Antioch and All the East Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury pointed out that the Syriacs have lived together with the Muslims in
good times and difficult times, stressing that national unity will not be affected by pressure.
Al-Khoury referred to the role which the Syriacs in Syria played in building mosques because they have realized the important role of mosques as a source of knowledge
and culture just like the churches.
On the 47th anniversary of burning al-Aqsa Mosque, “we should emphasize that al-Quds city is the most sacred place to Christians, and without it history would be
incomplete,” he said.
The festival, which was organized by the Ministry of Awqaf in cooperation with al-Fatah Islamic Complex, the Awqaf departments of Damascus and Aleppo and Noor Al-
Sham satellite channel, will run through next Tuesday.
The activities of the festival will be held in Damascus, Aleppo and Tartous.
H. Zain/ H. Said
