Deputy Chairman of the Strategic Vision Group “Russia – Islamic World” Farit Mukhametshin took part in the international conference organized by the Spiritual Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation and devoted to new challenges related to the coronavirus epidemic.
We would like to bring to your attention Farit Mukhametshin’s speech.
Dear Rushan Hazrat, dear participants of the conference, dear friends, let me speak on behalf of the leadership of the Strategic Vision Group “Russia – Islamic World”. I would like to welcome all the participants of the conference and to wish you lots of success in such a difficult time for all of us. Dear Mufti Sheikh Ravil Hazrat, thank you for such a bright and informative speech of yours. Naturally, it was clear to everybody how the Spiritual Board of Muslims of Russia is actively working on preserving calmness, consent and well-being of the Russian society. The Russian Federation, as before, attaches great importance to the establishment of friendly relations with Muslim countries both bilaterally and within international Muslim organizations, as well as within the framework of contacts with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
In the face of the global threat of the pandemic, the Strategic Vision Group is also limited to public events, overseas contacts. Therefore, we had to postpone many forums to a later date. These include the Group’s retreat scheduled for April this year in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the International Economic Forum “KazanSummit’20”, the International Muslim Film Festival and a dozen other events.
We are also moving to new forms of work, holding video conferences, round tables, online meetings and participating in such events by invitation as colleagues, as people working in the same direction.
Our nearest events include a video conference in June this year, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and 15th anniversary of the Russian Federation’s accession as an observer to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The Group’s website will host a photo exhibition dedicated to these dates, the conference dates and programme, the participants of the conference, as well as abstracts of key presentations for further discussion.
A number of other online events have been also planned. These include the International Forum of Writers and Intellectuals, a meeting of the Youth Discussion Club, conference “Bulgarian Dialogue of Cultures” and many others. We will inform you in advance and invite you to take part in these events if you find them interesting.
Dear friends! The global crisis caused by the coronavirus outbreak has the most serious consequences for many countries, especially for those that do not have sufficient resources to deal with it. In this regard, we welcome the initiative of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) to establish a fund for a comprehensive humanitarian coalition to combat the effects of the proliferation of COVID-19. We express our willingness to actively participate in ISESCO’s activities.
Dear friends! Let me on behalf of our Group, which consists of well-known people in the Russian Federation and abroad, and from myself congratulate you on the end of the Holy month of Ramadan and the holiday of Eid al-Fitr. This holiday not only symbolizes the end of fasting but also brings with it the joy of moral, spiritual purification, humility, self-improvement and strengthening in faith.
On these difficult days for the whole world, please accept my sincere wishes for good health, good spirits, peace and prosperity. Peace be upon you, the grace of Allah and His blessing.
Thank you for your attention.
