islamic-video.com

6/10/2006 9:00:00 AM GMT
 

In a press conference held Friday in Moscow in the wake of the abduction of four Russian diplomats in Iraq, Co-Chairman of Russian Council of Muftis Nafigullah Ashirov said that the incident could be the work of Western special services, reported Interfax.

"The Iraqi people and the Islamic world would not profit from such an act. Who would profit? Political analysis and common sense would suggest those who are dissatisfied with Russian policy, which runs counter to the hegemonic intentions of the U.S. and the Western world," Ashirov said.

He stated that the abduction of the Russian diplomats probably was "an act of revenge on Russia, on the Russian people, for their firm position that is supported by the majority of the world community."

"Islamic ideology and Sharia Law forbid such acts against diplomatic missions because Islam is based on the fact that every member of a community is responsible for his actions."

The kidnapping of the diplomats "could be an act developed by the special services which started the war in Iraq," said Abdul-Vakhed Niyazov, President of Islamic Cultural Center of Russia, who also stressed that the Iraqis "see Russia as their friend, because Russia repeatedly spoke against occupation."

The cleric also called on Iraqis help Russia’s Muslims secure the release of the Russians in Iraq.

In a joint appeal by the Russian Council of Muftis, the Central Muslim Department and the Coordinating Center of North Caucasian Muslims, Mufti Nafigulla Ashirov said also during the conference:

“Russian Muslims ask the people of Iraq and the international Islamic community to assist the search for and the release of the Russian diplomats,”

“On behalf of the Russian Muslim Ummah (community), we call on our Iraqi friends and coreligionists in the Middle East to help the search for and the release of the Russian citizens,” he said, adding that the Muslim Community in Russia is ready to send a delegate to Iraq in an attempt to save the four Russians.