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Islam shapes its model in Russia: Russian orientalist

Politics Materials 25 January 2010 18:38 (UTC +04:00)
Islam has already shaped its model in Russia, but the question to revive and adapt it to modern conditions still remains open, said Gumer Isayev, head of the St. Petersburg Center for the Study of the modern Middle East.
Islam shapes its model in Russia: Russian orientalist

Azerbaijan, Baku, 25 January / Trend , U.Sadikhova /

Islam has already shaped its model in Russia, but the question to revive and adapt it to modern conditions still remains open, said Gumer Isayev, head of the St. Petersburg Center for the Study of the modern Middle East.

"Russian Muslims have their own long-standing tradition, although partially interrupted, but not lost, preserved in the works and experiences of religious leaders and Islamists. Appeal to it will contribute to the development of fresh and effective concepts of relationships with government authorities, non-Muslim citizens, Muslims from other countries, Russian orientalist Isayev told Trend via e-mail. Russian Muslims have made a significant contribution to the formation of a special civilization posed by Russia and its multi-ethnic community." 
 
According to Russian analyst, twenty years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Muslim community in Russia has passed a difficult path, which was both positive - the construction of mosques and increase in the number of Islamic schools, as well as negative - the main one was the spread of Islamophobia in society because of the conflict in Chechnya and the appearance of radical forces, acting under the banner of Islam, most of which was of foreign origin.
 
"I hope that we will ever be able to talk about "Russian" model of Islam as we are now talking about the Saudi or Iranian," Isayev said. - Attempts to separate Russian Muslims from Russia under the banner of the policy of forced separation - segregation as the "conflict of civilizations" will be doomed to failure if the Muslims of Russia increase their role in the fate of Russia's state."

If it deals with relations between religion and state, religion and society, the modern Turkish experience of Islam, combining democratic views with religious beliefs, will be important for Russia.

"Formation and strengthening of own model of development within the Islamic tradition is a task to be pursued by modern Muslim elite of Russia," Isayev considers.

As a reason for the spread of extremist ideas among some Muslims, Isayev considers social instability, economic problems and the inability of local religious and political leaders to offer an alternative to the preachers of extremism.

In November, in his congratulation to the Muslims on the holy Holiday of Gurban (Sacrifice), the Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin indicated the active participation of the Muslim community in the country: in strengthening family values, acting against religious intolerance and extremism.

In his congratulation, Russian Prime Minister stressed that the Muslim holiday is "an integral part of the rich spiritual heritage of our multi-ethnic nation".

A few years ago, during his presidency term, Putin suggested that Russia could be considered part of the Muslim world because it is home to about two dozens of millions of Muslims.

In 2005, Russia gained observer status in the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and in early 2007 - the status of observer in the Islamic Organization for Education, Science and Culture.

 

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