ZELENSKY SHARES IFTAR WITH MUSLIM SOLDIERS; SLAMS RUSSIAN ‘REPRESSION’ OF CRIMEA MUSLIMS

Sat 08 Apr 2023:

During a first official state iftar on Friday, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Russia for its treatment of the Muslim Tatar community in Crimea, which is under the control of the Kremlin, and vowed to retake the peninsula from Russia.

In 2014, Russia took over the territory bordering the Black Sea from Ukraine and forced through an annexation referendum that was denounced as fraudulent and illegitimate by both Ukraine and its Western allies.

“Russia’s attempt to enslave Ukraine … began exactly with the occupation of Crimea, exactly with repressions against Crimean, Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar freedom and of Crimean Muslims,” he told Ukrainian Muslim leaders and ambassadors from Muslim countries.

The two million Tatar inhabitants of Crimea, who made up 12–15% of the population, largely abstained from the 2014 election.

After declaring the Mejlis, the traditional assembly of the Tatar Muslim minority in Crimea, to be an extremist group, Moscow outlawed it and imprisoned members of the community out of security reasons.

Ukrainian President Zelensky hosts iftar, slams Russian 'repression' of Crimea Muslims

"Ukraine is grateful to the Muslims of our country and to everyone in the Muslim community of the world who, like us, longs for peace and protection from evil," Zelensky said #Ramadan2023 pic.twitter.com/4u4HtNO0AH

— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) April 8, 2023

Ukrainian President Zelensky hosts iftar, slams Russian 'repression' of Crimea Muslims

"Ukraine is grateful to the Muslims of our country and to everyone in the Muslim community of the world who, like us, longs for peace and protection from evil," Zelensky said.#Ramadan2023 pic.twitter.com/xSeJH2tQkF

— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) April 8, 2023

“There is no alternative for Ukraine, or for the world, other than the de-occupation of Crimea. We will return to Crimea,” Zelensky said, before handing out awards to several Muslim Ukrainian servicemen.

Zelensky, speaking at a mosque outside the centre of the capital, announced that Ukraine was beginning a new tradition of hosting an official iftar, the meal breaking the daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

Despite the sadness and pain of war, may the holy Ramadan be bright for you! May Iftar bring consolation to everyone in the world, in the Muslim community, wherever you happen to be now. The big world Muslim community can always rely on Ukraine, on our respect and solidarity. pic.twitter.com/BCWfZORBP2

— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 7, 2023

“Ukraine is grateful to the Muslims of our country and to everyone in the Muslim community of the world who, like us, longs for peace and protection from evil,” he added.

Several nations with a significant Muslim population, such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia, have positioned themselves as mediators in the Ukrainian conflict, arranging deals between Kiev and Moscow on grain exports or prisoner trades.

Ukrainian President Zelensky hosts iftar, slams Russian 'repression' of Crimea Muslims

"Ukraine is grateful to the Muslims of our country and to everyone in the Muslim community of the world who, like us, longs for peace and protection from evil," Volodymyr Zelensky said. pic.twitter.com/bLWqG5LfHn

— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) April 8, 2023

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:

TWITTER (CLICK HERE)
https://twitter.com/IpIndependent