Ukrainian Jewish, Muslim leaders meet

April 19, 2009

KIEV, Ukraine (JTA) -- Jewish and Muslim leaders in Ukraine agreed to hold an interfaith conference later this year.

The leaders met Thursday to discuss having more interfaith contact and joint efforts to counteract religious extremism and hate crimes in Ukraine.

Ukrainian lawmaker Alexander Feldman, leader of the Ukrainian Jewish Committee, and Sheik Akhmed Tamim, the country’s mufti and head of the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims in Ukraine, met in Kiev.

“Jewish and Muslim communities and organizations should develop mutual understanding and protect themselves against such ultra-right parties as Svoboda, headed by Oleg Tyagnybok,” said Feldman.

Tamim spoke about the importance of developing Muslim-Jewish-Christian dialogue in Ukraine and counteracting extremism together.

The Ukrainian Jewish Committee organized the meeting.

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