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TURKEY: THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MOSQUE, DEDICATED TO JESUS CHRIST, IS LAUNCHED IN DIYARBAKIR
Ferghana.ru
Sept 23 2009
The construction of the mosque, dedicated to Jesus Christ, is launched
in the south-east of Turkey in the city of Diyarbakir, Blagowest-info
reports with the reference to Turkish mass media, noting that "thereby,
Muslim community wants to make goodwill step towards the followers
of other religions".
There was big Christian community in Diyarbakir in the past (mainly
Armenian and Syrian Orthodox Churches). In 1915 this community was
exposed to cruel persecution and nearly disappeared in the following
years.
"Jesus is respected as the prophet both in our religions and among
Christians - Mustafa Uzun, the executive secretary noted. - It is a
great honor for us to dedicate the mosque to him".
Today, there are several mosques in Turkey that are named after Isa
(Jesus), but they are dedicated to Muslim clergyman, bearing this name,
but not Jesus Christ.
According to local mufti, the public reaction for this decision was
uncertain, but mostly positive. In his turn, the mufti underlined
that Isa was mention in Koran and, therefore, there are no reasons
why the mosque cannot be named after his name.
The Protestant Pastor Akhmet Gyuvener views the construction of the
mosque as the sign of tolerance towards Christians. Yusuf Akbulut,
the Syrian Priest of Orthodox Church in Diyarbakir, named this action
as "revolutionary", highlighting that this is, obviously, "the first
case in the history when the mosque is named after Jesus Christ".
Nonetheless, such mosque already exists: it was built in Jordanian
city of Madaba in 2008.
According to Interfax, the mosque is located near the church and
its walls indicate the quotes from Koran, mentioning Jesus and Holy
Mother. "Therefore, we would like to underline that Jesus is also
our prophet and he is respected by all Muslims", Djamal Safarati,
the local imam, shared with Al-Quds al-Arabi Arab newspaper.
Ferghana.ru
Sept 23 2009
The construction of the mosque, dedicated to Jesus Christ, is launched
in the south-east of Turkey in the city of Diyarbakir, Blagowest-info
reports with the reference to Turkish mass media, noting that "thereby,
Muslim community wants to make goodwill step towards the followers
of other religions".
There was big Christian community in Diyarbakir in the past (mainly
Armenian and Syrian Orthodox Churches). In 1915 this community was
exposed to cruel persecution and nearly disappeared in the following
years.
"Jesus is respected as the prophet both in our religions and among
Christians - Mustafa Uzun, the executive secretary noted. - It is a
great honor for us to dedicate the mosque to him".
Today, there are several mosques in Turkey that are named after Isa
(Jesus), but they are dedicated to Muslim clergyman, bearing this name,
but not Jesus Christ.
According to local mufti, the public reaction for this decision was
uncertain, but mostly positive. In his turn, the mufti underlined
that Isa was mention in Koran and, therefore, there are no reasons
why the mosque cannot be named after his name.
The Protestant Pastor Akhmet Gyuvener views the construction of the
mosque as the sign of tolerance towards Christians. Yusuf Akbulut,
the Syrian Priest of Orthodox Church in Diyarbakir, named this action
as "revolutionary", highlighting that this is, obviously, "the first
case in the history when the mosque is named after Jesus Christ".
Nonetheless, such mosque already exists: it was built in Jordanian
city of Madaba in 2008.
According to Interfax, the mosque is located near the church and
its walls indicate the quotes from Koran, mentioning Jesus and Holy
Mother. "Therefore, we would like to underline that Jesus is also
our prophet and he is respected by all Muslims", Djamal Safarati,
the local imam, shared with Al-Quds al-Arabi Arab newspaper.