Religious tolerance promoted in Syria

Syria's Grand Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Hassoun said that Aleppo witnesses a unique coexistence and tolerance among different Islamic and Christian sects, adding that citizens in the city have lived within this atmosphere throughout history.

Christian sects in Aleppo on Sunday held a celebration honoring Sheikh Hassoun after he assumed his new post as Syria's Grand Mufti.

Patriarch of Syriac Orthodox in Aleppo Johanna Ibrahim, for his part, called for boosting the religious discourse to be an example to the present and future generations for a civilized and safe homeland.

Present at the celebration were Governor of Aleppo, Tamer al-Hajje, Director of Aleppo's Endowments, Rector of Aleppo University, in addition to a number of Christian and Islamic clergymen.

Meanwhile, University of Aleppo held a seminar on the multiculturalism and multi religions in Syria. It comes within the activities of "the summer school for oriental studies" in cooperation with British University of Exeter.

Researcher Mohammad Kajja said that Aleppo permanently was and still is an example of multiplicity, rapprochement and tolerance which witnessed different civilizations throughout history.

Patriarch Johanna Ibrahim, underlined that religion multiplicity in Syria makes Christians and Muslims work sincerely to build the homeland and defend it. Mahmoud Akkam, for his part, said that multiculturalism and multi religions are a healthy human situation Islam is calling for, underlying that Islam has committed to diversify knowledge resources.