Meeting with German Ambassador Geza Andreas von Geir
On 6th of April, the Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation (RBM RF), the General Secretary of the Muslim International Forum, Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany, Geza Andreas von Geir. The conversation was devoted to the further development of cooperation in the field of Islamic studies and theology, interreligious and intercultural dialogue.
Germany is one of the states of modern Europe that has achieved the greatest results in the development of Muslim and Islamic studies, Islamic theology, intercultural and interreligious communication, including with the direct participation of state bodies and leading scientific and educational centers of the country. The relevance of this area increases in relation to the socio-political and demographic processes on the Eurasian continent and in the world as a whole.
The exchange of experience and academic achievements, the joint search for solutions for the development of Muslim communities and religious organizations, as well as religious and educational initiatives in the context of multicultural secular societies and states are the subject of cooperation between the Russian and German sides in the sphere of Muslim social and religious life.
Opening the meeting, the religious leader of Russian Muslims, Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, gave a brief overview of the history of the development of Islam in the territory of the modern Russian state and spoke about the modern life of Russian Muslims and their religious institutions. Mufti Gaynutdin highly appreciated the dynamics of the development of relations between Muslim organizations in Russia and partners in Germany from among government departments, research centers and religious institutions.He expressed gratitude to the German side, including in the person of the current ambassador's predecessor, Ruediger von Fritsch — Seerhausen, for many successfully implemented joint projects. These include the XV Muslim International Forum held in Berlin in December 2019, internships and joint research projects between the staff of the Moscow Islamic Institute and the Islamic research centers of Germany, the translation into Russian and the publication of the fundamental work of Professor Matthias Rohe "Islamic Law: History and Modernity".The book was prepared jointly by the Munich Institute of Eastern European Law, the Hermann Schweiger Foundation at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and the Moscow Islamic Institute and published by the Medina Publishing House.
In response, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Germany Gez Andreas von Geir expressed his gratitude for the invitation to visit the Moscow Cathedral Mosque and noted that Islamic culture is not new to him, since while working in the diplomatic service in Morocco, he had the opportunity to get acquainted with Islam and traditions. According to the diplomat, the German Embassy is ready to develop close cooperation with the Muslims of Russia, which will contribute to the further strengthening and development of friendly relations between the peoples of the two states. During the conversation, special attention was given to the importance of establishing a dialogue in different forms – state-religious, interreligious and intercultural, as well as modern formats of dialogue with young people. In particular, Mr. von Geir stressed that it is in the era of digital development and the crisis associated with the coronavirus pandemic that the idea of dialogue and the search for mutual understanding is of particular importance. The dialogue is especially important for the younger generation, which is in search of a purpose and meaning of life in the context of the pandemic.
"Young people are distinguished by their perception, vision and understanding of the world. Many movements and ideas, including destructive trends, totalitarian sects, are struggling for the attention and favor of young people. We convey to our young people the intellectual dimension of Islam, the ideas of Quranic humanism. We are working on understanding the writings of the greatest and most progressive theologians of the past.his should give an impetus to the renewal of modern Islamic theology and the education of a new generation of intellectuals of Islam," the religious leader of Russian Muslims said.
He recalled that in 2001, at the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Federal Chancellor G. Schroeder, the St. Petersburg Dialogue Forum was created. According to Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, the forum has been contributing to the strengthening of German-Russian relations for more than 20 years. He stressed that the Muslims of Russia are also participants in this project, in particular, the first Deputy Chairman of the RBM RF, Doctor of Theology Damir Mukhetdinov is a member of the Russian Coordinating Committee of the Forum of Civil Societies of Russia and Germany "Petersburg Dialogue".
Mufti Gaynutdin spoke about the plans for the upcoming celebration of the 1100th anniversary of the official adoption of Islam by the peoples of Volga Bulgaria in 2022, which are supported by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and invited the German side to actively participate in these major events.
The meeting was attended by First Deputy Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation Damir Mukhetdinov, Deputy Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation for International Affairs Rushan Abbyasov, Head of the International Department Ildar Galeev, employees of the RBM RF and the Embassy of Germany.
Germany is one of the states of modern Europe that has achieved the greatest results in the development of Muslim and Islamic studies, Islamic theology, intercultural and interreligious communication, including with the direct participation of state bodies and leading scientific and educational centers of the country. The relevance of this area increases in relation to the socio-political and demographic processes on the Eurasian continent and in the world as a whole.
The exchange of experience and academic achievements, the joint search for solutions for the development of Muslim communities and religious organizations, as well as religious and educational initiatives in the context of multicultural secular societies and states are the subject of cooperation between the Russian and German sides in the sphere of Muslim social and religious life.
Opening the meeting, the religious leader of Russian Muslims, Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, gave a brief overview of the history of the development of Islam in the territory of the modern Russian state and spoke about the modern life of Russian Muslims and their religious institutions. Mufti Gaynutdin highly appreciated the dynamics of the development of relations between Muslim organizations in Russia and partners in Germany from among government departments, research centers and religious institutions.He expressed gratitude to the German side, including in the person of the current ambassador's predecessor, Ruediger von Fritsch — Seerhausen, for many successfully implemented joint projects. These include the XV Muslim International Forum held in Berlin in December 2019, internships and joint research projects between the staff of the Moscow Islamic Institute and the Islamic research centers of Germany, the translation into Russian and the publication of the fundamental work of Professor Matthias Rohe "Islamic Law: History and Modernity".The book was prepared jointly by the Munich Institute of Eastern European Law, the Hermann Schweiger Foundation at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and the Moscow Islamic Institute and published by the Medina Publishing House.
In response, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Germany Gez Andreas von Geir expressed his gratitude for the invitation to visit the Moscow Cathedral Mosque and noted that Islamic culture is not new to him, since while working in the diplomatic service in Morocco, he had the opportunity to get acquainted with Islam and traditions. According to the diplomat, the German Embassy is ready to develop close cooperation with the Muslims of Russia, which will contribute to the further strengthening and development of friendly relations between the peoples of the two states. During the conversation, special attention was given to the importance of establishing a dialogue in different forms – state-religious, interreligious and intercultural, as well as modern formats of dialogue with young people. In particular, Mr. von Geir stressed that it is in the era of digital development and the crisis associated with the coronavirus pandemic that the idea of dialogue and the search for mutual understanding is of particular importance. The dialogue is especially important for the younger generation, which is in search of a purpose and meaning of life in the context of the pandemic.
"Young people are distinguished by their perception, vision and understanding of the world. Many movements and ideas, including destructive trends, totalitarian sects, are struggling for the attention and favor of young people. We convey to our young people the intellectual dimension of Islam, the ideas of Quranic humanism. We are working on understanding the writings of the greatest and most progressive theologians of the past.his should give an impetus to the renewal of modern Islamic theology and the education of a new generation of intellectuals of Islam," the religious leader of Russian Muslims said.
He recalled that in 2001, at the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Federal Chancellor G. Schroeder, the St. Petersburg Dialogue Forum was created. According to Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin, the forum has been contributing to the strengthening of German-Russian relations for more than 20 years. He stressed that the Muslims of Russia are also participants in this project, in particular, the first Deputy Chairman of the RBM RF, Doctor of Theology Damir Mukhetdinov is a member of the Russian Coordinating Committee of the Forum of Civil Societies of Russia and Germany "Petersburg Dialogue".
Mufti Gaynutdin spoke about the plans for the upcoming celebration of the 1100th anniversary of the official adoption of Islam by the peoples of Volga Bulgaria in 2022, which are supported by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and invited the German side to actively participate in these major events.
The meeting was attended by First Deputy Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation Damir Mukhetdinov, Deputy Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation for International Affairs Rushan Abbyasov, Head of the International Department Ildar Galeev, employees of the RBM RF and the Embassy of Germany.