Moldovan Metropolitan's Office against official status of Islam

CHISINAU, April 23 (Itar-Tass) -- The office of Moldova's Metropolitan
is against the official status of Islam in the country, Metropolitan
Vladimir, of Chisinau and All Moldova, told the media this week.
"We regret that this religion has been registered in Moldova. Muslims
might provoke unrest in the country. I think, this step is belittling the
Orthodox Christians, who are in the majority in Moldova," said
Metropolitan Vladimir.
In March, the Justice Ministry registered the first Muslim
organization in Moldova - the Islamic League.
'Now the Muslims have the right to openly declare their religious
affiliation, to hold prayers and celebrate the holidays," said the head of
the organization, Mufti Sergei Sochirca. He assured that one of the main
goals, which the league set to itself was "spreading the true values of
Islam and opposition to extremist ideologies, which claim to be Islamic."
According to statistics, Moldova is a home for several thousand
Muslims, mostly Tatars and Turks, while an overwhelming majority of the
population - 98 percent - profess Orthodox Christianity.