Over 100 Muslim leaders fr om 35 Asian, Middle Eastern, European, African and American countries were invited to participate in the summit.

Under the instruction of Mufti shaikh Ravil Gaynutdin, Chairman of the Russian Muftis Council and the Spiritual Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation, Imam-muhtasib Rashid hazrat Bultacheev, member of the Presidium of the Spiritual Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation, Нead of the Spiritual Board of Muslims of the Ryazan region, participated in the summit and shared his impressions regarding this major event.

The summit was opened by Jusuf Kalla, Vice president of Indonesia. In his welcoming speech he called moderate Islamic countries for peace and unity. “Islam should be a blessing for the Universe”, — he said in the Conference centre of Jakarta, wh ere the summit took place. The speech of the Vice President of the most populated Muslim country was followed by the national anthem and recitation of the Qur’anic verses.

Maruf Amin, the President of Nahdat’ul-ulama, expressed confidence that the summit could offer solutions for overcoming the crisis in the Islamic world. In his welcoming speech he said: “This international summit plays an important role in promoting moderate Islam in the world, wh ere we witness an upsurge of extremist movements”.

In his report Aqil Siroj, General Director of Nahdat’ul Ulama, familiarized the summit participants with an outstanding figure of the Indonesian society — imam and sheikh Muhammad Hashim Ashari, who lived in the first half of the 20th century  and played a significant role in defending religion and national identity. “Sheikh Hashim Ashari devoted special attention to the religion status and national unity”, — he said, urging to oppose radical and extremist ideas, cultural degradation and destruction of religious identity with its principles and heritage by sticking with national identity and its principles.  Professor Siroj also emphasized the fact that radicalism and extremism represented a serious problem and a threat to the future human civilization.

All summit participants received Professor Siroj’s books entitled “Islam Nusantara: inspiration of world civilization”.

After zuhr prayer and lunch, the summit continued with a session called “Islam Nusantara: example and solution for the world civilization”.
General Hamidin, Chief police officer, presented a report on the strategy for preventing radical terrorist group formations among the youth. He told about the real activity of radical groups, mentioning 5 groups in Malaysia, 3 in Philippines and 21 in Indonesia. Showing the estimated number of ISIS participants on the screen, he noted that the number of Indonesian citizens in ISIS was relatively low compared to other countries (over 500 Russian and Saudi citizens), and they were mainly in the 18–25 age group. He also shared some safety prospects for opposing radicalism and extremism and suggested adopting some laws regarding radical movements and groups.


The general Sutiyoso, Director of the State Intelligence Agency, made a memorable report about Indonesia’s attitude towards radicalism and extremism, and called for law compliance and active international cooperation.

Experts from Sweden and Egypt also spoke at the session.

The next day the third session took place under the name “Renewal of Islamic mission for forming a human civilization based on sustainable peace and social justice”.
Lauren Booth, a British Muslim journalist spoke about European perception of Islam, Islamophobia and discrimination of Muslims. Dr Nico Proka from Austria, expert on ISIS, spoke about the sources of radicalism, ideological propaganda for radicalism and statements justified by Islam. After this speech Rashid hazrat Bultacheev, a Russian Muftis Council representative from Russia, made some comments.

At the closing ceremony Said Aqil Siroj, General Director of Nahdat’ul-ulama, read the final document — the declaration of the summit in Jakarta. This declaration composed of 17 articles was aimed at eliminating the wrong interpretation of jihad, since many people associated it with killing infidels, connecting their judgment with the battles of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

The declaration says: “Nahdat’ul-ulama offers to the world Islam Nuntasara’s ideas and experience to follow. Islam Nuntasara is not a new religion or a new legal school (madhab), but one of the Islamic practices developing within Nuntasara’s cultural society without contradicting it, in compliance with Islamic shariah followed by Sunni Muslims around the world. According to Islam Nuntasara, there are no contradictions between religion and national identity, and love to one’s mother country is a part of his faith. Whoever doesn’t have a national identity, doesn’t have a motherland. Whoever doesn’t have a motherland, doesn’t have a history. Whoever doesn’t have a history, doesn’t have a memory”.

Imam Aziz, Chairman of the summit organizing committee and session moderator, noted that Nahdat’ul-ulama wanted to raise the status of moderate Islam as opposed to radicalism. He is convinced the conflicts in the Muslim world are the source of radicalism. “As long as these conflicts are not resolved, radicalism will keep growing”, — he said. Poverty issue was also discussed at the summit. “Poverty in Islamic world is a contrast to Western well-being”, — he added.
After Qur’an recitation, duas and nasheeds the guests were treated with a dinner and a show of a folk group.

The international summit of moderate Islamic leaders was held in Jakarta for the first time in order to influence the state policy in terms of combatting radicalism and extremism.

About 300 moderate Islamic leaders from 35 countries took part in the summit conducted in Jakarta on 9–11 May and aimed at establishing peace in the Middle East.

Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin’s representative, Rashid hazrat Bultacheev, was interviewd by the Kompas TV channel and The Jakarta Post newspaper, and not only shared his stance, but also provided some information about life of Muslims in Russia.