Democratic Islam Conference: Kurdish identity not to contradict Islamic affiliation

The Democratic Islam Conference issued a statement on Tuesday entitled "A Call to Truth," in the presence of religious scholars, imams, and conference members.

The statement was read by Sheikh Hoger Mohamed Hussein; the administrator at the Democratic Islam Conference, as he addressed the current situation in the region and the unjustified attacks on areas of North and East Syria, accompanied by inflammatory media rhetoric aimed at undermining civil peace and inciting sectarian, ethnic, and racial discord among the various segments of society.

The statement affirmed that the foundation of relations among people is based on equality in rights and duties, and the sanctity of blood, money, and honor, citing verses from the Quran and Prophetic hadiths, emphasizing that attacks on civilians are contrary to the teachings and objectives of Islam.

The statement indicated that using religion to justify military attacks poses a grave threat to social unity. It criticized statements issued by the Ministry of Religious Endowments in Damascus, which described certain areas as "Fatah territories." The statement also addressed the Grand Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Osama al-Rifai, calling upon him and the scholars of Damascus to stand beside truth and defend the legitimate rights of the Kurdish people to their language, identity, culture, and land.

Furthermore, the statement emphasized that true Islam calls for brotherhood, co-existence, and peace, citing the Charter of Medina and affirming that Kurdish identity is not incompatible with Islamic affiliation, but rather an integral part of it.

The Democratic Islam Conference called upon the people to demonstrate awareness and religious and humanitarian responsibility, and not to be drawn into the sedition promoted in the name of religion, which aims to destabilize the region and ignite conflicts among its various communities.

In closing, the conference affirmed that self-defense is a legitimate right guaranteed by Islamic law, citing a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It also expressed its gratitude and appreciation to the dedicated religious scholars who have stood beside the oppressed peoples, particularly the scholars of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and the Muslim world.