The Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation was visited today by a delegation of the Arab Parliament headed by the Chairman of the Arab Parliament Mohammed Ahmed Al-Yamahi (UAE). With the blessing of the Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation, Chief Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin, the delegation was met by Dr Damir Mukhetdinov, First Deputy Chairman of the RBM of the Russian Federation. The conversation was devoted to strengthening ties between Russia and the Islamic world, one of the important lines of which is co-operation between parliamentarians.

Greeting the distinguished guests on behalf of the spiritual leader of Russian Muslims, Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, Dr Damir Mukhetdinov briefed the guests on the state of Islam and Muslims in our country, the development of Islamic infrastructure, including the development of Islamic banking and halal products, and spoke about state-Islamic relations. ‘We are witnessing colossal changes in the policy of the Russian Federation both in relation to Muslim states and Islam and Muslims in general. At this moment, unique opportunities are emerging for strengthening and developing relations with Arab-Muslim countries. We must not miss them,’ he emphasised.

Touching upon the topic of inter-parliamentary cooperation between Russia and Arab countries, the First Deputy Chairman of the RBM of the Russian Federation informed the guests that Russia is the first country in Europe, where the first Islamic party - ‘Ittifaq al-Muslimin’ - was founded in 1906 with the introduction of the institution of parliament in the Russian Empire. He said that Muslims in Russia are now represented in all organs of power, including parliament, where they speak on behalf of Muslim republics. Many followers of Islam in government agencies are sincere believing and observant Muslims who both serve their homeland and do not forget their brothers. As an example, he cited Suleiman Kerimov, a member of the Federation Council and a Russian philanthropist, thanks to whose generous support the Moscow Cathedral Mosque, considered the largest in Europe, was reconstructed, and this year he paid for five thousand hajj vouchers for Muslims participating in the special military operation and their family members, as well as for those who cannot afford to buy a voucher on their own.
For their part, the guests said that they were ready to cooperate on many issues, as Russia has always defended the rights of Arab countries and has always stood up for Islam and Muslims.

After the conversation, the guests were given a tour of the Moscow Sobornaya Mosque, where they were introduced to the architecture and interior decoration of the main Muslim temple of the country, as well as told about the history of the mosque, the reconstruction period and the grand opening of the renovated complex in 2015 with the participation of the presidents of Russia, Turkey and Palestine.

The delegation included: Deputy Chairman of the Arab Parliament Tarek Noseir (Egypt), Chairman of the Committee on Foreign and Political Affairs and National Security of the Arab Parliament Hamad Al-Mulla (Qatar), member of the Committee on Legislative, Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Arab Parliament Tarek Al-Shammari (Saudi Arabia), member of the Committee on Legislative, Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Arab Parliament Yousef Rahmania (Algeria), Political Advisor to the Chairman of the Arab Parliament, Director of the Department of the Arab Parliament, Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs and National Security of the Arab Parliament.

The RBM of the Russian Federation was represented at the meeting by: Deputy Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation for International Affairs and Hajj Rushan Abbyasov, Deputy Chairman and Chief of Staff of the RBM of the Russian Federation Ildar Nurimanov, Deputy Chairman of the RBM of the Russian Federation, Head of the International Department Ildar Galeev and Deputy Chairman of the RBM of the Russian Federation for Internal Affairs Ravil Seifetdinov.

The visit of the delegation of the Arab Parliament is taking place at the invitation of the Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko.

Press service of the RBM of the Russian Federation