The signing of the “Declaration Against Domestic Violence” by the four Metropolitans and the three Muftis of Thrace took place at Anthimeio Cultural Center in Alexandroupolis on Thursday, November 28.
Specifically, the declaration was signed following the conference on domestic violence and violence against women, organized in Alexandroupolis last year with representatives of the Christian and Muslim religion.
All speakers expressed concern about the dimensions of the phenomenon of domestic violence in Greece.
In particular, Metropolitan Anthimos of Alexandroupolis expressed the view that “the problem of women in men’s society is unsolved” and cite the quota for women as an example, who are still placed in certain positions because they are women.
Metropolitan Panteleimon of Xanthi said that “Thrace is a model of peaceful coexistence of Christians and Muslims,” and that today’s message was that they could coexist when they respected each other.
As Metropolitan Athinagoras of Ilion mentioned, the conclusion was that religion can offer no justification for this violence.
Metropolitan Damaskinos of Didymoteicho noted that religion united people with God and their neighbor, enabling us to deal with any problem together.
Metropolitan Panteleimon of Maroneia described the region of Thrace as “university of life,” where everyone would be accepted to learn from how they could live together.
The Mufti of Didymoteicho, Osman Hamza, spoke of a very serious problem, which, unfortunately, nowadays, instead of diminishing, was becoming an increasingly serious issue.
The Mufti of Komotini, Khalil Jihaz, stated that he was proud to sign the declaration, saying that the harmonious and peaceful coexistence of Christians and Muslims “here on the edge of Europe” was a model to follow.
