SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Bafel Talabani, received a well-known Islamic preacher and the leader of Salafis in Kurdistan, Dr. Abdul Latif, on Sunday in Sulaimani.
“In a meeting, the two sides discussed deepening the spirit of coexistence,” read a statement from the media office of Talabani, adding they stressed further coordination to develop peace between the different components.
“President Talabani importantly pointed out the Islamic preachers’ role in awakening the society and directing the people toward harmony and coexistence,” it added.
Talabani also stated “Islamic preachers have had a significant role in the Kurdish revolutions. They were an important factor in succeeding them [the revolutions],” he said, according to the statement.
Moreover, the Kurdish leader called on the Kurdish Islamic scholars to continue with the same Kurdish and human spirit in guiding the society and avoiding the notion of extremism with deepening the harmony within the society.
Last December, the PUK president met with several other well-known Kurdish Islamic scholars at the headquarters of the PUK in Sulaimani, hoping the religious scholars to work to brighten the features of unity and coexistence in Kurdistan.
In the meantime, the religious scholars praised the efforts that the PUK President has taken to promote unity in the Kurdish house and unify efforts for the sake of Kurdistan’s stability.
The scholars further demanded the PUK continue on the frontline of defending the people’s rights and persisting the “national” steps that it has taken to secure a decent life and public good.
Back then, Talabani stated “Religious scholars have had a significant role in promoting the spirit of unity and brotherhood in the history of Kurdistan,” and “They had vital participation in rejecting the idea of extremism and reinforcing the spirit of kindness.”
