Human capital, migration and modernity are the main topics of the traditional annual forum ‘Islam in a Multicultural World’, which is taking place these days. The event will bring together leading foreign and local scholars of Islamic studies, representatives of authorities of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan, the Muslim community, Russian Islamic universities and madrasahs. The forum will be held from 14 to 22 October both in online and offline formats.
As noted by the organizers themselves, during the week, it is expected to pay special attention to such topics as an Islamic factor in international and regional security policy, human capital and problems of socio-political development of the Middle East and North Africa, countering the spread of extremist ideology among young people, studying the nature of ideological countering confrontation between conventional Islam and quasi-religious associations. At the same time, world-renowned scholars will discuss some issues in the field of Islam and psychology within a multicultural context, as well as ways and prospects of economic cooperation between Russia and the Islamic world.
According to Dmitry Tayursky, Vice-Rector for Research at Kazan Federal University, back in 1804, Kazan University served as a bridge between the cultures of the West and the East. ‘The theme of this forum touches upon tree key issues: migration, human capital and security. Each state is concerned with the issues voiced today. It is important to reach a consensus in understanding of the ongoing processes in order to complete the tasks being set. This is the only way to find the right solution. We can go to extremes – for instance, banning migration or opening everything – but these extremes will never lead to anything good’.
In his turn, Ramazan Abdulatipov, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, stressed that the Islamic world contained a huge untapped potential, so it is extremely important to discuss all the topics that are presented at the forum, especially in such a composition. ‘It is very important that we are discussing topics of interaction between Russia and the Islamic world. The Group of Strategic Vision is a powerful organization, which largely determines the format of our relations with the Islamic world. The Islamic world contains a huge untapped potential, especially in terms of human capital. The realization of this potential is hindered by conflicts within the Islamic world itself. When we talk about Islam and the Islamic world, we should also consider spiritual, cultural and scientific potential of Islam, including the potential of Muslim peoples of Russia. At the same time, while speaking about security, we should also touch upon such topics as the security of Muslim communities in non-Muslim countries and the issue of Islamophobia’, Abdulatipov concluded.
Rafik Mukhametshin, Deputy Mufti of the Republic of Tatarstan for Education and Science, Rector of the Russian Islamic Institute, noted that Islam in a Multicultural World Forum included a discussion of problems of both Islamic and theological science and oriental studies. ‘The program of the forum is, as always, very diverse. The forum is unique in terms of great number of country studies. We are sometimes only interested in discussing only theoretical issues, while the forum pays much attention to considering the development of Islam and Muslim organizations, establishing confessional policy in this or that region. I do not know any other large-scale forum in Russia where these issues would be considered’, Mukhametshin noted.
Addressing the participants of the forum’s plenary session, Damir Mukhetdinov, First Deputy Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation, explained that we were witnessing a continuing and consolidating trend of interaction and cooperation between scientific and spiritual services for the sake of solving common humanitarian tasks.
‘The study of Islam as one of the main factors influencing political, economic, social and cultural processes in many countries around the world, including Russia, requires not only an objective academic approach and an independent view from the outside, but also a deep inner understanding and a meaningful reflection. It is this approach that is incorporated in the concept of the forum ‘Islam in a Multicultural World’’, the speaker noted, reading out the welcoming speech of Ravil Gaynutdin, Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation.
Forum ‘Islam in a Multicultural World’ will take place from 14 to 22 October and bring together leading foreign and local scholars of Islamic studies, representatives of authorities of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan, Muslim community, Russian Islamic universities and madrasahs. The main topics of the forum are such issues as an Islamic factor in international and regional security policy, countering the spread of extremist ideology among young people and studying the nature of ideological countering confrontation between conventional Islam and quasi-religious associations. Possible ways and prospects of economic interaction between Russia and the Islamic world will also be in the focus of attention of leading Islamic scholars, clerics and public.
Today the forum will continue with monitoring ‘Islamic Radicalism in the Russian Federation’ and the sections ‘Muslim Culture of Russia, Central Asia and the Caucasus: History and Modernity’ and ‘Islamic Factor in International and Regional Security Policy’. The scholars gathered in Kazan are also expected to discuss the issues of interaction between Islam and psychology.
Ilmira Gafiyatullina