Russia’s Chief Mufti urges Muslim community to unite in anti-IS fight

MOSCOW, September 30. /TASS/. Russia’s Chief Mufti Talgat Tadzhuddin has called on the Muslim community around the world to unite in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group. "We urge all the Muslim scientists, all the leaders of the Muslim countries…to unite and counter fully this insolent group of provocateurs, extremists and terrorists," Tadzhuddin said in comments to TASS. The Central Muslim Spiritual Board of Russia (CMSB Russia), a centralized religious organization of Muslims, adopted a decision on Wednesday saying its backs the decision of Russia’s authorities on using the country’s Air Force in the fight against the IS in Syria, he said. The CMSB supports "fight against international terrorism in Syria and the so-called IS which is no way an Islamic State or Islamic caliphate," Tadzhuddin said. "These are our neighbors, we have had brotherly relations and cooperated with them throughout the centuries. Their house is on fire, this is great trouble, and on our side, this is not interference, not any ambitions, but the aid to people, as thousands of them are now running through the seas and oceans and die while fleeing the motherland." Russia’s upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, unanimously backed the president’s request on Wednesday for using Russia's military force in Syria, Kremlin chief of staff Sergey Ivanov told reporters, saying that 162 votes were in favor of granting permission. Russia will use only its Air Force in Syria against the Islamic State terrorist group upon the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Ivanov said, stressing that no ground troops will be sent. Russia’s participation in the operation against the terrorists comes mainly in an effort to ensure national security and is not about "attaining foreign policy objectives or satisfying some ambitions," he said. Read more