
Iniciado por
Rodrigo
A todo esto, Kontra, tú que estás informado, me parece haber oído hace unos años que Putin les dijo a los saudíes que no les permitiría financiar la construcción de mezquitas en Rusia si ellos no permitían construir iglesias "ortodoxas" en Arabia Saudí, ¿es cierto?
Así, tal como lo cuentas, es un bulo, según lo que he podido averiguar. Explico cómo se gesta:
1) El 21 de noviembre de 2008 la agencia rusa Interfax informa de que se iba a iniciar la construcción en Moscú de una mezquita y un centro cultural patrocinados por Arabia Saudí:
Saudi Arabia to build a mosque in Moscow
Moscow, November 21, Interfax – King of Saudi Arabia has initiated construction of a mosque and Islamic cultural center in Moscow.
“If Russian authorities allocate a parcel of land, then Saudi Arabia will finance the building,” Head of Foreign Department at the Russian Muftis Council Rushan Abbyasov told
Interfax-Religion.
He went on to say that, the question of building a mosque was discussed in the Moscow meeting of the Chair of the Russian Muftis Council Ravil Gainutdin, with the Saudi Ambassador Ali Hassan Jafar.
The interviewee of the agency explained that Saudi Arabia practiced charitable mosque building in various countries, such mosques were built in Washington, Rome and London.
According to Abbyasov, once the Moscow mosque is built, it will be transferred under canonical administration of Spiritual Directorate of the Muslims of European Russia.
FUENTE:
Interfax-Religion
Cinco días después, el 26 de noviembre de 2008, la misma Interfax publica una carta firmada por la Unión de Ciudadanos Ortodoxos dirigida al Rey de Arabia Saudí. En esa carta se desarrolla ese argumento de la reciprocidad que luego se ha hecho famoso, pero curiosamente lo hace citando al cardenal Tauran, del Consejo Pontificio para el Diálogo Interreligioso (veáse lo marcado en negrita):
26 November 2008
Orthodox public organizations' address the King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
Your Majesty!
Moscow Orthodox believers have recently learned that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia plans to build one more mosque in our city. Historically, not only Orthodox churches were built in Moscow: our capital have synagogues, though there are enough Orthodox Churches in Israel; we have Catholic churches, but there are several Russian Churches in Italy; even two Shiite mosques are located in our city – however, both Baku and Teheran Orthodox believers have a place for prayer and they do not feel any prosecutions.
You often say that Islam is a religion of justice. However, if Saudi Arabia builds mosques in dozens of Christian countries, isn't it just to build a church for Christians living in Your Kingdom! Perhaps, Chairman of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue Jean-Louis Cardinal Tauran was right when he said that "if Muslims believe it right to have a great striking mosque in Rome, than it is right for Christians to build a church in Riyadh!"
It is common knowledge that preachers of true monotheism - Christians - came to Mecca and Medina several centuries before Muslims. Jews historically resided there. So do you believe it just not to allow them in the territories, where their ancestors lived, where their churches and cemeteries were located? Meanwhile, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Emir of Sharjah, gave a good example to all Muslim governors last year when he blessed a foundation of the Orthodox Church and thus proved his sincere good feelings to Christians.
Saudi Arabia, as any other country of the world, is a multiconfessional and policonfessional state. It would be just to grant the freedom of faith to Christian minority as their share exceeds 10 per cent. It is very important to lift restrictions on visits of Christians to Mecca and Medina, to permit them to wear crosses, to publish religious literature and preach their religion. Schools should give Christians an opportunity to study basics of Christian religion, as compulsory study of Islam only may become a delayed action mine in the foundation of Your country and provoke interethnic and interreligious discord. It would be just to create the same conditions for Saudi Christians as Muslims have in Russia.
Today relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia actively develop. You and Your associates urge to strengthen friendship between our countries and develop dialogue between Islam and Christianity. All these initiatives should be appreciated, but only in case, they are mutually useful. Alongside with fighting negative image of Islam among Christians, myths about Christianity should be renounced. If You offer to broadcast the
Mecca TV channel in Russia in order to preach "pure Islam" among Russians, then it would be just to give Your subjects a chance to watch Russian Orthodox channel that can simply explain Muslims that Christians do not believe in three gods, do not misquote Bible and do not pray to idols.
It is the only way to make interreligious dialogue honest and just.
Sincerely,
Moscow Division of the Union of Orthodox Citizens
Radonezh Society
Byzantium Club
November 24, 2008
FUENTE:
Interfax-Religion
Esta carta no es vinculante. Es una simple opinión de una asociación ortodoxa que no tiene por qué obligar a Putin ni a la Iglesia ortodoxa. Por otra parte, no sabemos si la mezquita con dinero saudí finalmente se construyó. No he encontrado ninguna negativa oficial que ordenase paralizar la construcción. ¿Podría ser que aquella mezquita de la que se hablaba en 2008 sea ésta que acaba de inaugurar Putin? Pues podría ser, pero en principio tampoco consta tal cosa.
3) Algún partidario de Putin se inventa que fue éste y no aquella asociación ortodoxa la que utilizó el argumento de la reciprocidad y que además puso las pelotas encima de la mesa ante el mismísimo rey saudí, lanzándole un tremendo órdago. Ahí empieza el bulo, que se extiende por toda Internet, especialmente en ambientes conservadores. Lo menciona en 2011 un blog de HazteOir, en 2014 el cura legionario Jorge Enrique Múgica y el periodista Luis María Ansón; aunque no he sido capaz de detectar el origen.
En resumen:
- Putin nunca dijo eso al rey de Arabia Saudí.
- El argumento era parte de una carta de una asociación ortodoxa, que además copiaba en esto al cardenal Tauran.
- Sí que se construyen mezquitas en Rusia, aunque no sabemos si hay dinero saudí de por medio.
Al margen de todo esto, el argumento de la reciprocidad no tendría mucho recorrido. Es cierto que Arabia Saudí no permite la construcción de iglesias, pero es el único país musulmán donde ocurre eso. Nos podrían argumentar que, incluso en Emiratos Árabes o en Qatar, que pasan por ser los más extremistas, se han podido construir iglesias católicas.
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