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Published by Stetson
University Russia Religion News, September
4, 2004
Religious leaders express sympathy, anger over
hostage massacre
LETTER FROM PATRIARCH ALEXIS II TO
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT V.V. PUTIN WITH REGARD TO THE
MASS DESTRUCTION OF HOSTAGES IN BESLAN
Your
excellency, deeply esteemed Vladimir Vladimirovich!
News of the unprecedented brutality of the bandits
who seized civilian residents, women and children
in a school of Beslan, has shaken the entire world
community. Removing all masks, terrorism has shown
its satanic face. Having trampled down all that is
sacred, without fearing God or having shame before
people, the so-called "freedom fighters" have
lifted their hands stained with innocent blood
against children. There is not and there cannot be
any justification for their insane actions.
I know how much has been done by you personally
and members of the Russian government and power
structures in order to preserve the lives of these
people who are guilty of nothing. A supreme
example of sacrificial love for neighbors and of
courage was shown by people who were ready to
substitute themselves for the hostages. The past
days were filled with intense work, experiences,
and hope. However the actions of the terrorists
led to victims.
Grieving profoundly for the victims of this
tragedy, the Russian Orthodox church raises
prayers for the repose of their souls in the abode
of the righteous. In addition we pray for the
recovery of the wounded. May the Lord help them to
bear with dignity the tribulation that has
befallen them. It is our duty and the duty of
those who have been entrusted with authority to do
everything possible to alleviate their suffering.
May the Lord aid you in your labors for overcoming
the consequences of such great iniquity.
Remembering the victims of the tragedy, we will
devote yet greater efforts for the sake of
maintaining the peace and security of Russia.
With sincere respect
Alexis, Patriarch of Moscow and all-Russia
(tr. by PDS, posted 4 September 2004)
ECCLESIASTICAL BOARD OF MUSLIMS OF DAGESTAN
DISTRIBUTES STATEMENT
Mir religii, 3 September 2004 - The Ecclesiastical
Board of Muslims of Dagestan (DUMD) distributed
today a statement in connection with events that
have in recent days shaken all of Russia.
The appeal, signed by DUMD Chairman Mufti Akhmad
Abdulaev, says that "Muslims of Dagestan have
received with profound sorrow news about the
series of terrorist acts against the territory of
our homeland that have cost a multitude of lives
and brought grief to thousands and thousands of
our fellow countrymen." In connection with this,
the leadership of DUMD, in the name of Muslims of
Dagestan, expresses sincere condolences to
relatives and friends of the victims and deep
sympathy for all who have suffered.
"We cannot find the words to characterize those
who committed these terrorist acts, and especially
those who raised their hand against the children
in the city of Beslan. Those who did this evil
cannot even be called beasts." Beasts attack
children only in exceptional circumstances, the
statement stresses.
It is regrettable, the statement says, that the
terrorists call themselves Muslims. This causes
offense to the entire Islamic community and
provides occasion for all those who are interested
in the creation of a negative image of Muslims to
talk about Islamic terrorism. While according to
the canons of Sharia, life is sacred and nobody
has been given the right to infringe it and the
murder of one innocent faithful follower of the
Almighty is equivalent to the murder of the
entirety of humanity, and if all humanity takes
part in this murder, then all is subject to
punishment. Islam is against the infringement of
any human rights that have been granted by the
Creator, the authors of the statement emphasize.
In the situation that has arisen, Muslims of
Dagestan call all right-thinking people of the
planet to unite their efforts for eliminating evil
under the name of terrorism, no matter who
originates it or what a terrorist calls himself.
DUMD appeals to the power structures, who hold the
"levers of force," to use all possible methods and
means "for eliminating violence in any form." "And
those who plan in the future terrorist acts should
think about their responsibility before the
Almighty for their life of all innocent people
because no one can escape this responsibility,"
the document says. (tr. by PDS, posted 4 September
2004)
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