Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin, chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation and the Russia Muftis Council, met with Secretary General of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought Ayatollah Hamid Shahriyari, who is participating in the 19th International Muslim Forum taking place in Moscow.

The meeting was attended by deputy muftis Rushan Abbyasov and Ildar Galeev, head of the Cultural Centre at the Iranian Embassy in the Russian Federation Masoud Ahmadvand and an employee of the Centre Idris Idrisov.

During the meeting the religious leader of Russian Muslims conveyed greetings to the leadership and the people of Iran and noted the intensity of development of Russian-Iranian relations. The parties emphasized the roles of the presidents of the two states, who develop close relations and establish mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, economic and political spheres. In this context, the meeting participants noted that the Muslims of both countries are enhancing cooperation in educational, humanitarian, religious and cultural spheres.

Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin and Ayatollah Hamid Shahriari also emphasised the fact that the stance of Russian and Iran with regard to global security challenges and the situation in Palestine are very similar. The parties once again mentioned that the only way to resolve the situation is to implement UN resolutions and establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem being its capital. They condemned the killings of civilians on the long-suffering Palestinian land, which is absolutely inhuman and unacceptable.

At the end of the meeting, Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin thanked Ayatollah Hamid Shahriyari for his participation in the Forum and expressed confidence that this meeting would contribute to the development of international dialogue and strengthening of the global Muslim community.