"During the last year, we have witnessed many dreadful events. Among them is the capture of the city of Mosul by ISIL militants, destruction of all churches in Mosul, all 45 of them. It’s frightening to think that there are no Christian temples left in the city now. And when somebody says it was done in the name of Islam, I may only reply that it’s purposely done by someone who seeks to demonize Islam in the eyes of the whole world," said the representative of the Russian Patriarchate at an Easter reception in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to him, "there is no more effective way to turn Muslims into global outcasts."

"We are shown how they cut heads in the name of Islam, how they destroy churches and cultural heritage. Then the process takes its own course. Resentment grows, antagonism grows. That is why we feel obliged to strengthen our contacts with Islamic communities," he said.

The Patriarch considers necessary developing relations with the Arab world "so as to not let the extremists prevail in the Muslim community and not let the distorted image of Islam prevail among the general public.»

Source: www.patriarchia.ru; image courtesy of Wikipedia