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Ahmad al-Shara Receives Delegation from the International Union of Muslim Scholars Listed as a Terrorist Organization
The transitional Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara received a delegation from the International Union of Muslim Scholars in the capital, Damascus, which sparked widespread reactions on social media platforms as images of President al-Shara with the delegation members circulated.
The International Union of Muslim Scholars is included on terrorist lists in several countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and Bahrain. The Saudi Press Agency issued a joint statement on November 20, 2017, reaffirming the commitment of the four countries to combat terrorism and cut off its funding sources, with the Union included among those lists.
Following the meeting, the Union's President, Ali Qaradaghi, wrote on his account on the X platform (formerly Twitter) that the visit comes within the framework of the role scholars and reformers should play amidst the ongoing transformations in Syria. He emphasized that the meeting with President al-Shara was significant, expressing his pride that it was “a response to the call of religious and moral duty.”
Qaradaghi noted that President al-Shara possesses a profound awareness of the challenges facing Syria, expressing optimism that the upcoming phase will be one of justice and reconciliation, not revenge, and highlighting the importance of building the state on solid foundations. He expressed hope that al-Shara would be a wise leader inspired by the objectives of Sharia in his decisions.
Qaradaghi also prayed for Syria to regain its health and security and to emerge from its crises to build a strong renaissance based on justice, knowledge, and freedom. He affirmed that this visit represents a step on a long journey, stressing that the role of scholars extends beyond preaching to active participation in healing wounds and building a homeland that Syrians deserve.
