Muslim World League to Rus- Sia—A First-Ever Trip—And the Gathering of the MARCH 28, MOSCOW International Islamic Conference “Islam: a Mes- H.E
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MAY 2019 | VOLUME 45 | ISSUE 5 Contents I. Editorial Leaders Letter from the Editor . 7 New Zealand: The Intolerability of Intolerance . 9 Russia & Islam: The Power of Tradition . .13 Editorial Department: II. MWL and the World: The Month in Review Secretary General H.E. Dr. Muhammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa III. Feature Articles Supervisor General Geopolitics Media Affairs Dept. Moscow, Grozny, St. Petersburg, Kazan: Abdulwahab Alshehri MWL Reaches Hearts & Minds . .17 Editor Responsible The Chechnya Report: Marcia A. Christoff MWL Makes Inroads, Marks Influence . .29 P.O. Box 537 Russia Conference Keynote Speech of H.E. Sheikh Makkah, Saudi Arabia Dr. Al-Issa “Islam: A Message of Mercy and Peace” . 36 Tel: 0096 66 (012)560 0919 Email: [email protected] Cultural Affairs: Dazzling Gems and Hidden Treasures: Two Mosques of Russia . .42 Follow Us on Social Media: Islam & Orthodoxy: Cooperation Not Conflict . .48 @mwlorg_en | @mwlorg | Russia’s Powerful Muslim Spiritual Board . .52 @mwlorg_fr | @mwlorg_ur Economics/Business /mwlorg.en | /mwlorg Start-ups and Oligarchs: Russian-Muslim Entrepreneurship . .54 @mwlorg Technology and Medicine /themwlorg Russia’s Silicon Valley and Islamic World Investment ....................57 mwlorg IV. Historical Essays Kazan’s Most Famous Woman . .58 Count Leo Tolstoy: The Friend of Islam . .60 1 MWL in March/April Highlights of the Month in Review MARCH 28 and the Islamic world. The visit of the Muslim World League to Rus- sia—a first-ever trip—and the gathering of the MARCH 28, MOSCOW international Islamic conference “Islam: A Mes- H.E. Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa signed a cooperation sage of Mercy & Peace” began on this day at the agreement with the State Fund for the Promotion President Hotel in Moscow, closing in Grozny on of Culture, Science and Education in Russia. The March 30. This conference included participants agreement promotes moderation and tolerance. from 43 countries and the MWL highlighted the occasion with a formal resolution restating the MARCH 28, MOSCOW fundamental principles of the Islamic faith. On behalf of Salakh-Khadzhi Mezhiyev, the advisor to the Head of the Chechen Republic and Mufti The conference was organized with the sup- of the Chechen Republic; Turko Daudov, Chechen port of the Muslim World League, the Russian Deputy Mufti for foreign relations, H.E. Sheikh Dr. Academy of Sciences, the Regional Public Fund Al-Issa, and the honorary delegation of the MWL, and the State Fund for the Promotion of Culture, met with Mikhail Bogdanov, the special presiden- Science and Education. Public, political and reli- tial envoy for the Middle East and African coun- gious leaders of the Federal Subjects of Russia tries, the Deputy Russian Foreign Minister, and participated–including the State Duma, the Fed- Konstantin Shuvalov, the Ambassador-at-large of eral Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. the Russian Foreign Ministry. The MWL delegation continued its official visit to Russia with meetings in the legendary city Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa met with the Moscow Grand of St. Petersburg and Kazan, the capital of the Mufti, Sheikh Ravil Gaynetdin, at the Mos- cow Republic of Tatarstan. Cathedral Mosque, informing the Grand Mufti that he is on the list of the 70 most influential MARCH 28, MOSCOW people of the Muslim world. Mufti Sheikh Ravil Dr. Al-Issa met with the Chairman of the Russian Gaynetdin, Chairman of the Russian Muftis Coun- Parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, in Moscow to cil and the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of discuss the importance of religious tolerance the Russian Federation, has been a member of and peaceful coexistence. “The very fact of the Supreme Council of the Muslim World League such a great number of prominent scholars for more than ten years. In response, the spiritual gathering for the event indicates the authority of leader of Russian Muslims expressed his readi- the region,” said Mr. Volodin. ness to actively support Dr. Al-Issa in popularizing the true values of Islam, which are goodness, MARCH 28, MOSCOW peace, good-neighborliness, mutual respect and Valentina Matviyenko, Chairwoman of the Fed- humanism. Damir Gizatullin and Rushan Abb- eration Council of the Federal Assembly, praised yasov, the First Deputy Chairmen of Mufti Sheikh the Muslim World League’s humanitarian role Gaynetdin, as well as Ildar Galeyev, the head of the in Russia and around the world. She exchanged International Department of the Russian Muftis traditional gifts with H.E. Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa, not- Council, were present. Council, were present. ing the similarity of customs shared by Russia 2 MARCH 28, MOSCOW Peace.” A round-table talk on that theme was Sergey Ordzhonikidze, the Public Chamber Dep- reinforced by memories of the late Akhmad uty Secretary, and Albir Krganov, the head of the Khadzhi Kadyrov, who brought peace and order Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia, met to Chechnya following the Koran and Sunnah. H.E. Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa at the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation. The Deputy Secretary of The guests also spoke about the living stan- the Public Chamber drew attention to the work dards of the country’s population, noting that of the Assembly “for harmonization of intereth- today the Chechen Republic is one of Russia’s nic and inter-religious relations,” noting that this fastest-growing regions, with special attention body is “an important platform for the develop- paid to the spiritual sphere–particularly, the con- ment of state-confessional relations and for struction of new mosques both in the republic making decisions to improve legislation in the and outside. These participants also spoke of sphere of freedom of conscience and religion.” the Khalid Ibn Valid mosque in the Syrian city of Khoms, restored at the expense of the Kadyrov MARCH 28, MOSCOW Regional Public Fund. Grand Mufti Sheikh Nafigulla Shirov of the Re- public of Chechnya participated in the interna- APRIL 2, GROZNY tional Islamic conference, “Islam: A Message of The advisor to the Mufti of the Chechen Re- Mercy and Peace” at the invitation of Dr. Al-Issa. public, Salakh Khadzi Mezhiyev, met with the Chairman of the World Council of Muslim MARCH 29, GROZNY Communities, Dr. Ali Rashid Al-Nuami. Dr. Al-Nu- In Grozny, the participants in the conference, ami highlighted the major role of the national accompanied by the leader of Chechnya, were leader of the Chechen people in transforming invited to a Friday “Namaz,” and H.E. Shiekh Dr. the region. Dr. Al-Nuami is also Chairman of the Al-Issa gave a sermon. This event was orga- Governing Council of Hedayeh, an international nized by the Spiritual Administration of Muslims center on countering violent extremism. of the Chechen Republic. APRIL 2, GROZNY MARCH 29, GROZNY The international publication Eurasia Review re- Dr Al-Issa was awarded the highest honor of ports: “The Muslim World League conducted its Muslims of the Caucasus with the medal “For meetings in key parts of the Russian Federation, Merit to the Ummah” by the Coordinating Center including the Chechen capital of Grozny, where for Muslims of the North Caucasus. the mix of religious and ethnic communities is significant. Organized under the patronage of the APRIL 2, GROZNY Russian government and the presidency of the A talk show, “Kadryov Path,” was shot in the Chechen Republic, the MWL conference held spe- main office of the Akhmat Kadyrov television cial significance for both Moscow and Grozny.” and radio station in Grozny. The talk show participants discussed the international Islam- ic conference, “Islam: A Message Mercy and 3 APRIL 3, GROZNY APRIL 4, ST. PETERSBURG Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas awarded H.E. Sheikh Dr Al-Issa’s speech in St. Petersburg Ramzan Kadyrov the Star of Jerusalem medal. It on the theme of peace and civilization to the was presented by the advisor to President Abbas, students of the Oriental Studies Department of Dr. Mahmoud Khabbash. President Kadyrov, the St. Petersburg State University attracted a large leader of the Chechen Republic, confided that audience. “It is important to oppose the negative he “is ready to sacrifice his life for Jerusalem” things in the first place. Terrorism and extremism and warned against manipulating the Palestinian are the most pressing problems and we should problem, especially the theme of Jerusalem, and fight it together,” said Dr. Al-Issa to the students. urged everyone to comply with international con- ventions and laws regulating this issue. APRIL 4, ST. PETERSBURG The acting governor of St. Petersburg, Alexander APRIL 3, GROZNY Beglov, and H.E. Sheikh Dr Al-Issa met at Smolny, The advisor to President Ramzan Kadyrov, the the governor’s residence, to discuss MWL’s visit President of the Republic of Chechya, hosted and message, as well as cooperation on counter- Suleiman Afandi Radzhab, the Mufti of Northern terrorism and economic issues. Mr. Beglov said Macedonia, who arrived in the Chechen Repub- that St. Petersburg would like to develop closer lic to participate in the Islamic conference “Is- economic relations with the Kingdom of Saudi lam: a Message of Mercy and Peace.” The guest Arabia. The Kingdom has shown interest in invest- of honor said that his republic is distinguished ment in infrastructure projects in the St. Peters- by a significant ethnocultural diversity where burg region, such as development of the Pulkovo about 35% of all the residents are Muslim. There Airport. Mr. Beglov and Dr. Al-Issa also discussed are 425 mosques in Macedonia. the need to join efforts in counterterrorism. APRIL 3, GROZNY APRIL 5, KAZAN The Mufti of the Chechen Republic, Salakh The president of the Republic of Tatarstan, Khadzhi Mezhiyev met with his Serbian counter- Rustam Minnikhanov, met with H.E. Dr. Al-Issa as part Mevlad Dudic. The Serbian mufti expressed head of the Russia Islamic Strategic Vision Group his appreciation and gratitude to the leader of at the Kazan Kremlin.