In an exclusive interview with Assyria TV during his visit to Sweden, bishop Hazail Soumi explains the reasons behind his recent statement along with five other bishops where they denounce the supremacy of their patriarch.
Bishop Hazail says Patriarch Afrem II Karim has abused the fundamental pillars of the Christian faith when he kissed the Koran “in the contrary to thousands of faithful whom for centuries had sacrificed their lives refusing to kiss the Koran”, he says. Bishop Hazail insists that Patriarch Karim by doing so has made a big mistake against the Christian faith and therefore should apologize to his people.
As to the letter of bishop Augin Kaplan to his congregation two days after the joint statement, bishop Hazail says it was written by all six bishops together “in order to reach a dialogue with the patriarch and accept a meeting with him in accordance with the wish of the congregations to solve the conflict on neutral soil”.
Finally, we asked; in case no solution will be reached and the six of you will be banished by the patriarch or the Synod, what are you going to do then?
Bishop Hazail says in such a case the person who takes such a decision would be hold responsible for the consequences. “If the majority still will stay with the one who denies the faith, then we have same situation as Jesus and Barabbas”, bishop Hazail adds.
Assyria TV has tried to get a comment from the patriarch or, at least from the bishops in Sweden, but they refused.