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WASHINGTON (AP) — American Muslim leaders say Russia's intervention in Syria threatens to prolong that country's civil war and strengthen the Islamic State group.
At a news conference Thursday outside the Russian Embassy in Washington, officials with the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Public Affairs Council expressed particular concern over the Russian Orthodox Church's support for the intervention.
CAIR's National Executive Director Nihad Awad warned that making Russia appear to be fighting for Syrian Christians only fans religious extremism. He said, "ISIS could not get a better way to recruit more people."
Hoda Hawa, policy director for the Muslim Public Affairs Council, said Russian officials are "entering a danger zone by bringing about a rhetorical religious war using Russia's Orthodox church."
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