Faith leaders back Syria raids

Russian religious leaders have vigorously supported President Vladimir Putin’s military intervention in Syria, despite protests and warnings by the United States and Western governments.

“The traditional religious communities have accepted with understanding this use of force to protect Syria’s peaceful inhabitants,” noted the Inter-Religious Council of Russia, grouping Orthodox, Muslim, Jewish and Buddhist leaders. “While strictly observing international law, Russia is again ready to support  people whose life, health and freedom are now in real danger.”

The council, chaired by Russia’s Orthodox Patriarch, Kirill I, said it hoped the airstrikes would “remove the threat of terrorism from Syria”, and accelerate “dialogue and concord between  ethnic, religious and ideological groups” across the Middle East.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Patriarch Kirill said his Church had observed the violence meted out against both Christians and Muslims in the Middle East “with pain in its heart”, and hoped Russia’s intervention would restore “long-awaited peace”.

The patriarch displayed a large November 2011 photograph of himself with President Bashar al-Assad during his press conference. “Russia has taken a responsible decision to use its military forces to protect the Syrian people from woes brought on by the tyranny of terrorists,”he said.

Russian jets launched intensive attacks on targets in Syria last week, prompting a warning by NATO that what the organisation called its “irresponsible behaviour” risked “extreme danger”.

Syrian Catholic Archbishop of Hassaké-Nisibi, Jacques Behnan Hindo told Fides news agency: “Western propaganda keeps talking about moderate rebels, who do not exist”. The Chaldean-Catholic Bishop of Aleppo, Antoine Audo SJ, told Kathpress in Salzburg where he was keynote speaker at the annual “Christian Orient Initiative” meeting that “We must find an interim solution – first with Assad and then with the different religious minorities.”