Religious leaders push for cohesive society rooted in mutual respect, tolerance Last updated: May 13, 2026 | 03:16 DAMASCUS: Dr Omar Habtoor Al Darei, Chairman of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat, met with Shaikh Osama Abdulkarim Al Rifai, Chairman of the Supreme Fatwa Council and Grand Mufti of the Syrian Arab Republic, on the sidelines of the Syrian-UAE Investment Forum being held in Damascus, in the presence of a number of officials from both sides. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the  Gulf News  app now - simply  click here . During the meeting, the two sides discussed a number of issues related to providing moderate fatwas that address people’s needs and various societal issues in a spirit of wisdom, moderation and facilitation. They stressed the importance of supporting the building of a cohesive society founded on mutual respect and cooperation among its members, while confronting extremist ideologies that lead to division and hatred.…