Head of Dagestan Vladimir Vasiliev addressed the fourth annual RIW Group meeting in the region’s capital of Makhachkala.
DAGESTAN IS HOME TO MANY ETHNIC GROUPS AND IS THE PLACE WHERE ISLAM STARTED SPREADING ACROSS RUSSIA. THREE WORLD RELIGIONS – ISLAM, CHRISTIANITY AND JUDAISM – HAVE CO-EXISTED HERE IN A MUTUALLY FRIENDLY AND TOLERANT ENVIRONMENT.
He reitereted President Putin’s statement that Islam has become an important factor in Russia and has made a major contribution to the nation’s development both spiritually and culturally.
ISLAM IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF RUSSIAN STATEHOOD, ITS HISTORY AND CULTURE.
Dagestan now has 2,672 religious organizations, 1,337 cathedral mosques, 116 community mosques, and 158 prayer houses.
RUSSIA HAS LONG-LASTING EXPERIENCE IN DIALOGUE BETWEEN DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS GROUPS AND CULTURES THAT HAS HELPED TO SECURE PEACE AND STABILITY WITHIN AND BEYOND THE COUNTRY’S BORDERS. IN 1999, THE LOCAL MILITIA AND THE FEDERAL TROOPS DEALT A CRUSHING BLOW TO INTERNATIONAL TERRORISTS.
All countries need to work together to counter extremist narratives that permeate the media, Mr. Vasiliev went on to say.
I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND THE RIW GROUP FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO FIND A WAY TO EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE AND BUILD CAPACITY.
He then focused on the need to draft curriculum that would help youth develop spiritual and intellectual immunity to any extremist ideas.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"