Rustam Minnikhanov, Rais of Tatarstan, held a meeting with Judge Mohamed Abdel-Salam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders.
The meeting took place as part of celebrations for Sabantuy, a traditional Tatar holiday.
Welcoming the guest, Minnikhanov expressed his pleasure at Abdel-Salam’s visit to the republic. He also conveyed his respects to Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Council of Muslim Elders, with whom he had met in 2022 during the Bahrain Dialogue Forum in Manama.
“We look forward to cooperating with the Council you lead,” Minnikhanov told Abdel-Salam.
The Rais of Tatarstan emphasized that, thanks to Russian President Vladimir Putin, all necessary conditions have been created for the development of Islam — one of Russia’s traditional religions. These include the construction of mosques and the growth of a multi-tiered Islamic education system, including madrasas, institutes, and academies. The republic is home to two higher education institutions focused on Islamic studies: the Russian Islamic Institute and Kazan Islamic University.
Minnikhanov also highlighted the region’s extensive work in developing the halal industry and promoting a halal lifestyle.
In response, Judge Mohamed Abdel-Salam thanked Minnikhanov for the invitation, noting that this was his first visit to Tatarstan and his first time attending the Sabantuy celebration.
He shared his positive impressions of Kazan’s modern infrastructure and architecture, saying he was impressed by what he saw and by the republic’s economic progress.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the Rais RT
Based on materials of the Press Service of the Rais RT