Vladimir Zelensky meets with Muslim spiritual leaders of Ukraine
During the meeting, the newly elected head of state expressed the hope that religious leaders would contribute to the unification of Ukraine and Ukrainian society.
On May 2, 2019, Vladimir Zelensky met with the muftis and Muslim religious leaders of Ukraine. The conversation lasted about two hours, Said Ismagilov, the mufti of the Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine “Umma”, reported on his Facebook page.
“Vladimir Zelensky let everyone speak in turn. In my speech, I emphasized the importance of those highest religious rights and freedoms that are declared in the Constitution and laws of Ukraine, the active participation of Muslims in protecting the unity and freedom of Ukraine, our positive role in the development of civil society, active charitable work and openness to inter-religious dialogue and cooperation with Ukrainians of other ideological positions,” wrote Ismagilov.
According to him, during the conversation, Vladimir Zelensky stressed that Ukraine needs peace between believers of different denominations, that he seeks the unity of Ukraine and Ukrainian society, calls on all to reconcile and consolidate, and also hopes that religious leaders will contribute to this.
“In general, the impressions are positive. I was most surprised by the speed of the team’s reaction and the extraordinary openness of Mr. Zelensky, who talked with us for almost two hours and listened to each of those present,” the representative of the Islamic clergy concluded.
At the end of the meeting, Ismagilov presented the newly elected President of Ukraine with the Koran in the Ukrainian language and a ceramic picture with a traditional Muslim ornament.
Earlier, Vladimir Zelensky held meetings with the head of the OCU Epiphany Dumenko, the “Honorary Patriarch” of the OCU Filaret Denisenko, and the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine.
