Religious World against Terrorism panel session organized at KFU as part of Russia – Islamic World KazanForum 2024
The session was held by the Russia’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education with the assistance of the Foundation for Support of Islamic Culture, Science and Education and the Coordination Center of KFU. The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Ayrat Gatiyatov.
The event was held under the auspices of the Ministry’s Coordination Council for the formation of active citizenship among young people, prevention of interethnic and inter-religious conflicts, countering the ideology of terrorism and prevention of extremism.
Kazan Federal University was represented by Rishat Guzeirov, Vice-Rector for Comprehensive Security.
The welcoming speech was delivered by Ayrat Gatiyatov. He repeatedly emphasized the need to ensure comprehensive security in education and science.
“The Ministry implements a set of educational, informational, analytical and preventive measures aimed at preserving and strengthening traditional Russian values, forming civic identity and countering the spread of destructive ideology among young people. For example, the Ministry has created a network of coordination centers for the formation of active citizenship among young people, the prevention of inter-ethnic and inter-religious conflicts, countering the ideology of terrorism and preventing extremism. This year huge work has been done to train specialists in prevention, implementing such large-scale projects and events as the International Inter-religious Youth Forum, projects Our Common Home – Russia, Spiritual Mentor, and many others,” he said.
Currently, the network of coordination centers includes 9 vector centers and 83 centers in Russian provinces.
The event became a platform to exchange of opinions and experience, to share experience and to create an optimal strategy for further work. Modern preventive work should be effective, based on traditional values and take into account modern realities, concluded the Deputy Minister.
Vice-Retor Guzeirov noted the importance of holding the discussion at KFU.
“I believe that the topic of discussion is very relevant at present. Terrorism is, first of all, lack of spirituality,” he said.
On behalf of the Administration of the President of Russia, the participants were greeted by Yevgeny Yeryomin, Head of the Department for Cooperation with Religious Organizations of the Office of the President of Russia for Domestic Policy.
“The religious world opposes terrorism for a reason. The religious world of Russia is building its position on the basis of our traditional spiritual and moral values, which in many respects are common to all religions that are represented in our country, and to all ethnic groups that together make up the united and, I am sure, indivisible Russian people,” he said. “We are talking about something that does not exist in many countries – cooperation between different religions.”
The future of the country is shaped by the youth, emphasized Yeryomin.
“It is young people who perceive those values that are taught to them with a kind of challenge, because youth is inherent to doubt, and this is very good. As a philosopher, I would say that truth is tested in the struggle of contradictions,” said the representative of the Office of the President of Russia.
The vision of the problem was presented by Alexei Maslov, President of the Foundation for Assistance to Buddhist Education and Research, and Mikhail Gryaznov, Director of the Foundation for Support of Islamic Culture, Science and Education.
Participants of the panel session included representatives of the clergy.
First Deputy Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation, Rector of the Moscow Islamic Institute Damir Mukhetdinov emphasized that “without understanding the essence of terrorism, the roots of terror are inextricable.”
The academic community, represented by university rectors, also contributed.
“For many centuries Russia has been a multinational and multicultural country, where representatives of different ethnicities and cultures live in peace and harmony. We see its strength in this diversity,” said Zaurbek Saidov, Rector of Chechen State University.
Islamic education is developing rapidly in Russia, and the report of Rafik Mukhametshin, Rector of the Russian Islamic Institute, covered the topic.
“There are 80 registered Muslim educational institutions, 15 of them are universities. Today, Russian Islamic education is already represented by all levels – bachelor’s, master’s, post-graduate, more than 10 thousand people are studying,” said Dr Mukhametshin.
According to Mukhametshin, a subject on the formation of civil identity among Muslims has already been introduced into the curriculum, and relevant textbooks for universities and madrasahs are available. Mukhametshin is convinced that such measures contribute to the effective prevention of extremism among students.
It should be noted that during the panel session participants could voice their concerns and ideas, as well as exchange best practices. Andrey Melnikov, Director of the Coordination Center for the formation of active citizenship among young people, prevention of interethnic and interfaith conflicts, countering terrorist ideology and prevention of extremism at Kazan University, shared the achievements of Kazan University. First of all, he believes, monitoring activities are important.
Renat Mukayev, Head of the Coordination Center at Chechen State University, also made a report.
The event ended with a Q&A session.