Damascus, Feb. 15 (SANA) The Syrian Ministry of Endowments on Sunday launched a conference aimed at promoting a unified and moderate Islamic discourse at the capital’s Conference Palace.
Held under the patronage of the Syrian Presidency and the Higher Council for Fatwa, the gathering brought together religious figures and scholars to discuss the role of religion in fostering coexistence within Syria’s diverse society.
According to organizers, the conference seeks to emphasize religion’s role in supporting social harmony and to advance a balanced Islamic discourse that reflects the character of Syrian society.
In an address to the conference, Minister of Endowments Mohammad Abu al-Khair Shukri called for restoring unity to Islamic discourse through the drafting of what he described as a “comprehensive charter.” The proposed framework, he said, would bring together the various strands of Islamic religious identity in Syria and help regulate religious work in the face of current challenges.
Shukri emphasized that unity does not mean eliminating diversity or scholarly differences. Rather, he said, it involves managing diversity under a shared reference framework and recognizing that common ground outweighs divisions.
Sheikh Anas al-Mousa, head of the conference’s preparatory committee, described the event as the beginning of a “serious dialogue” aimed at reviving a constructive methodology of religious understanding. He said the initiative seeks to reflect Islam’s principles of moderation and tolerance.
Syria is home to a mix of religious and ethnic communities, a diversity that Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani described as a source of national strength during a dialogue session at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.
