Democratic Islam Congress integrates within Syrian Ministry of Endowments

As part of ongoing efforts to follow up on the integration process in Rojava, a meeting of mosque imams and preachers was held on Sunday at al-Shallah Mosque in Qamishlo. The meeting was organized by the Hasakah Endowments Directorate in coordination with its Qamishlo division and under the supervision of the director of Hasakah Endowments, Dr. Mazen Mohammed Harouni.

Speaking to ANHA agency, Deputy Director of Hasakah Endowments Mullah Suleiman Ali said the meeting addressed the directorate’s work in overseeing the affairs of imams, preachers and religious rituals, in addition to administrative and organizational matters related to their work across the governorate and its affiliated divisions.

Ali stressed the importance of strengthening the role of imams and preachers in regulating religious discourse and confronting hate speech, attempts to incite discord, and efforts to undermine community security and stability. He emphasized the need to promote peace and brotherhood, citing the Quranic verse: “O you who believe, enter into peace wholeheartedly, and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is a clear enemy to you.” He also cited a saying of the Prophet Muhammad: “Be servants of God and brothers to one another.”

He added that the meeting discussed ways to improve religious discourse to help maintain community stability and security, in addition to following up on the administrative and organizational responsibilities of imams and preachers throughout Hasakah Governorate and its affiliated divisions.

Regarding outstanding issues and matters requiring administrative and organizational follow-up, Ali said the meetings supervised by Hasakah Endowments Director Dr. Mazen Harouni had been productive and yielded positive results.

Democratic Islam Congress and the Integration Process

Ali also discussed the role of the Democratic Islam Congress during the years of the Syrian revolution, explaining that it had overseen the administrative, organizational and religious outreach affairs of imams and preachers in areas under the Autonomous Administration.

He confirmed that the congress was joining the integration process with all its administrative, organizational and religious outreach staff, following the example of other institutions affiliated with the Autonomous Administration. This includes both female and male staff members.

He noted that practical steps toward integration had begun through the incorporation of mosques, imams and preachers. Meetings held by the Hasakah Endowments Directorate in cities across the governorate aim to inform imams and preachers about the latest developments in the process and the mechanisms for implementing it.

Ali added that the institutions that had operated in the region for 14 years would assume responsibility for managing endowment affairs in Hasakah Governorate, together with the other affiliated endowments divisions.

Democratic Islam Congress to Continue as a Civil, Intellectual and Academic Institution

Ali explained that the Democratic Islam Congress would continue its work as a civil, intellectual and academic institution promoting a discourse of harmony and affection and strengthening bonds of goodwill among different communities, ethnic groups, religious communities and sects.

He stressed, however, that administrative and organizational responsibilities, including oversight of imams, preachers and religious education, would fall to the Hasakah Endowments Directorate, headed by Dr. Mazen Harouni. These responsibilities include managing mosques and overseeing religious personnel.

Imams and Preachers to Receive Salaries Through Ministry of Endowments

Regarding the salaries of imams and preachers, Ali revealed that the Syrian Ministry of Endowments would assume responsibility for paying them once their names had been submitted to the ministry’s administrative development department.

He added that all employees of the Democratic Islam Congress would be included in the integration program within the Ministry of Endowments according to their assigned positions. They would continue carrying out their duties and activities through the councils and institutions affiliated with the Hasakah Endowments Directorate.

A-H

ANHA