The head of the Tyumen kazyyat of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Asian part of Russia, Fatykh Garifullin, appealed to the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church with a request to provide Muslims with premises for Friday prayers in Orthodox churches, IA Islamnews reports . The imam emphasized that this practice exists in many European countries.

"The lack of a proper number of mosques in large cities forces Russian Muslims to perform Friday prayers in the open air both in summer and in winter. This is harmful to people's health, creates a certain social tension in society. In this regard, I would like to turn to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, esteemed Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II with a request to allow Muslims to hold services in Orthodox churches on Fridays. This step would not only be a manifestation of Christ's love for the neighbor and the suffering, but also a wonderful gesture towards establishing mutual understanding of Islam and Orthodoxy in Russia, "said F. Garifullin.

The imam stressed that "this practice has long existed in European countries, where Muslims buy empty Christian churches or rent them for Friday worship."

Sources

The head of the Muslims of Tyumen turned to Alexy II with a request to allow Muslims to pray in Orthodox churches // IA Islamnews. 2008. June 17.
An open letter from the head of the Tyumen kazyyat Fatykh Garifullin to Patriarch Alexy II // There. 2008. June 30.

The head of Tyumen Muslims asks the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church to allow Muslims to pray in Orthodox churches