Syria's grand mufti meets Spanish ambassador
The Grand Mufti of Syria, Ahmad Badr Hassoun, stressed that "Islam is the religion of amity and tolerance, and underscored deep friendship and cooperation between Syria and Spain."
Hassoun, who met in Aleppo with the Spanish ambassador in Damascus, Juan Serat, the Spanish Honorary Consul in the city and the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development program (UNDP) in Syria, pointed out to the common cultural civilization between the two countries.
The Spanish ambassador, for his part, expressed denunciation of the cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, stressing that freedom of expression doesn't mean offending religious and humanitarian values.
Serat said that "we are all called to enhance the dialogue and understanding among civilizations so that the world can live in peace and safety, we urge for respect to the religions and their revered symbols."
His Eminence Archbishop Butros Mrayati of Armenian Catholics and His Eminence Archbishop Shahan Sarkisian of the Armenian Orthodox in Aleppo denounced the publication of the offending drawings of the Prophet Muhammad, stressing that this amount to inciting sedition and does not reflect the freedom of expression.
Later, the Grand Mufti of the Republic and the Spanish ambassador in Damascus presented a Spanish financial gift to three charity societies in Aleppo: The Elderly House for the Armenians, the Syrian Fraternity Family Society and the Medical Charity Society.
