Awkaf minister underlines role of mosques in combating Takfiri ideology

Damascus, SANA-Caretaker Minister of Awkaf (Religious Endowments) Mohammad Abdul-Sattar al-Sayyed underlined the role of mosques in combating Takfiri ideology and spreading moderate Islam.

Al-Sayyed’s comments came during a lecture he gave at al-Othman Mosque in Damascus as part of the activities of the cultural festival marking the International Mosques Week.

 The festival is organized by Ministry of Awkaf (Religious Endowments) and Damascus Awkaf Directorate, in cooperation with al-Quds International Foundation.

The minister pointed to the glaring double standards of countries which claim to be fighting terrorism while persisting in producing Takfiri thought. “Hence,” said the minister, “there must be correction of deviant thoughts through mosques whose role is becoming increasingly important in confronting Takfiri ideology.”

The minster bemoaned the aberrant trends that the current crisis has spawned, namely takfir, polarization and exclusion, citing attempts to politicize religion that made it necessary to formulate an understanding of the crisis in all its dimensions.

Manal Ismael