Today the residence of the Russian Mufties Council hosted the meeting of the Chairman of RMC Mufti sheikh Ravil Gainutdin and the President of the Republic of Lebanon Michel Suleiman.

At the beginning of meeting Mufti Ravil Gainutdin said that the situation over the Russian Muslim ummah today in contrast with Soviet times has changed: “Before we were forbidden to publish religious literature, to get religious education. Today there are more than 7 000 mosques and more than 50 educational institutions – medrases. We have opportunity to send our students to famous institutions in Arab-Muslim world to get high Islamic education and deep learning of Arabic.  Nowadays Russian students study in Universities of Egypt, Syria, Malaysia, Turkey, Lebanon and many other countries".

The Head of RMC told about fruitful cooperation with the authorities of the Russian Federation: “We are members of the Presidential Council for Religious Affairs, work in the Commission under the Government of Russia for Religious Affairs, represent Muslims in the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation”; also he said about the international activities of the Russian Mufties Council, interethnic and interreligious dialogue and cooperation.

Mufti Ravil Gainutdin expressed his hope that the activity of the Government of Lebanon and personally of the President Michel Suleiman will contribute to the establishment of the peace and harmony in the Middle East.

In response the President of Lebanon Michel Suleiman thanked mufti  Ravil Gainutdin for warm welcome and said that it is his first official visit to Russia: “I was glad to hear from you about the situation of Muslims and representatives of other religions in Russia and I think that only dialogue  the society can peace and harmony”.

The President Michel Suleiman said about the situation in Lebanon: “Nowadays Lebanese state lives in opposition to Israel, as Israel maintains a policy of discrediting other religions, the leadership of Israel is trying to Judaize the Christian and Muslim shrines. Lebanon is a democratic state and its Constitution declares the rights and freedom to all religions, that creates effective dialogue between civilizations and religions”.