The Chairman of the Russia Muftis Council and the Spiritual Board of Muslims of Russia Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin received a Swedish delegation led by Peter Ericson, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sweden in Russia.
The meeting was also attended by Konrad Rikardson (second secretary of the Political  Department of the Embassy), Elina Jonsson (second secretary of the Political  Department of the Embassy), Rushan Abbyasov (first deputy Chairman of the RMC and the SBMRF) and Ildar Galeyev (head of the International Department of the RMC).

In the beginning of the meeting the parties condemned the acts of terror in Berlin and Ankara and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

“Allah the Almighty forbids killing people. Terrorism is a major sin in Islam. But today nobody can be safe from terrorism, neither us nor our loved ones”, — said Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin. “Terrorism is aimed at ruining what Allah has created and what people have made”, — he added.

“Russian Muslims have always advocated for public policy. Integration in the Russian society, moderate conservatism, pluralism and multiculturalism intrinsic to Russian citizens, including Russian Muslims, help to maintain peace and stability. We are ready to share our experience, to expand our connections and to maintain a fruitful and mutually beneficial cooperation”, — noted the leader of Russian Muslims.

The Swedish Ambassador told about Islam in his country, mentioning that about 5% of the population were Muslims.  

Peter Ericson welcomed the initiative of Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, saying that Sweden would support connections between Russian and Swedish Muslims.

“The Swedish are very friendly to immigrants. We are sure that representatives of other cultures coming to our country do not represent a threat but enrich our culture”, — he said.

The parties agreed to maintain a long-term and productive cooperation.