A LETTER FROM RUSSIA

This week, your Columnist was in Russia; first in Moscow and then mostly in Makhachkala, Republic of Dagestan, for the Fourth Meeting of the Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group which was established in 2006 after the Russian Federation joined the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as an observer. President of the Republic of Russian Republic […]

This week, your Columnist was in Russia; first in Moscow and then mostly in Makhachkala, Republic of Dagestan, for the Fourth Meeting of the Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group which was established in 2006 after the Russian Federation joined the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as an observer. President of the Republic of Russian Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam N. Minnikhanov, is the Chairman of the Strategic Vision Group.

The Strategic Vision Group Meeting is an annual gathering of religious and academic leaders from about 30 Muslim nations including Turkey, Iraq, Egypt, Senegal, Iran, Iraq, Indonesia, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and others. The 2018 Theme was “Discussing the Role of Education as a Strategic Tool to Counter Spread of Terrorist and Extremist Narratives Among Youths.”

In his message to the Opening Ceremony, Russian President Vladimir Putin said “Russia has always been the most loyal, reliable and consistent defender of the Islamic World. It puts a strong focus on nurturing friendly ties with Muslim nations, both bilaterally and as part of the OIC. Our positions on many pressing global and regional issues are quite close [with those of Muslim nations]. All of us favour the establishment of an equitable democratic world order governed by the rule of law and free from any forms of discrimination, use of force, economic and information pressure.”

Also in his message, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said “Russian and Islamic States have enjoyed a long-lasting cooperation based on commitment to fundamental principles enshrined in the UN Charter. This Meeting is a good chance to further the cooperation and collaboration between Russia and the Muslim world.”

With this Strategic Vision Group, it is evident that Russia, more than the United States, understands Islam and Muslims much better. Of course this could be because: first, there are millions of indigenous Muslims in the Russian Federation’s Caucasus Region; second, when the country was Soviet Union, it contained the now-independent Muslim states of Central Asia; and third, many of the countries bordering on Russia’s south are Muslim. Therefore, Russia has more at stake in relations with Muslims, unlike the America’s style seen in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and now progressively Iran. (The Syrian Delegate at the meeting explained Russia’s presence in his country – it was by invitation. No one invited America to Iraq or Afghanistan, for example.)

Another significant difference between Russia and America, and which was a subject of discussion, is how the two countries handle the Palestinian Issue. While America continues to back Israel in its impunity in the Occupied Lands, Russia is more pragmatic and understanding of the plight of the Palestinians.

An important part of this event was the excursion to the old city of Derbent, the first place on Russian territory where Islam arrived and from where it spread across Russia. In 2003, Derbent, the historical center with its citadel, was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Derbent has a recorded Islamic history claiming that forty Companions (Sahaba) of the Prophet, upon whom be peace had visited the city, beginning from the time of Second Caliph Umar ibn Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him).

An important activity on the Derbent excursion was walking up the steep steps and slippery slopes of the fortress which has stood for thousands of years and which rose hundreds of metres into the sky. (Your own ‘Sahabi’ Columnist survived the climb – albeit with some shortness of breath; and may Allah be pleased with me).

An address which resonated with many participants, and which particularly sounded as if it was coming from Nigeria and which could be used as a template for all other Muslim countries, was from Bangladesh Delegate Alhaj Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizvandary, Member of Parliament who stated, among others:

“We are living dangerously, the whole of the Middle East is on fire, and most capitals of the world are under terrorist threats – threats that have no shape, colour, religion, or creed. Western powers are executing proxy wars, drums of nuclear war are being beaten and, if ignited, the human race will perish from the face of this earth.

“We – members of the Russia-Islamic World Group are against all kinds of extremisms. The young minds are being brain-washed, with extremism taking away their innocence and sending them to war fronts with rifles in hands and bombs around their waists. We must unite to fight the bigots sending them to kill millions of innocent, helpless children, men and women in Asia, Africa or in Europe.

“The measures that have been taken in our country [Bangladesh] which I feel are worth sharing and could be used as ‘best practice’ include: Training and monitoring of Imams of all mosques by the Islamic Foundation, a government agency; Review of syllabuses in all schools, colleges and universities and incorporating subjects on anti-terrorism, religious harmony and peace; Qaumi Madrasa [equivalent of Nigeria’s Tsangaya-Almajiri Schools] which are independent are now assisted by government, including with certification and licensing; Production of literature in the light of Qur’an and Sunnah and distributing them among youths through NGOs and various channels.

“On Social Media which have no borders, Muslim nations must unite not only to protect the internet space but to also create awareness, built-in knowledge, counter extremist methodologies and promote the right messages to protect our youths.

“On Mental Health, we have come to realise through various reports that a lot of youngsters turning into terrorism are suffering from mental issues such as Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Lack of Social Acceptance, Parental and Peer Pressure, Educational Pressure, etc. Terrorist organisations capitalise on these in converting these youths to their ideologies. We need to focus on helping our youths to have healthy brains through functional education, sports, economic and cultural activation.”

The Nigerian Delegate (your Columnist) added to all these points the criminal proliferation of small arms in Muslim countries; and also announced the “International Conference on Boko Haram” organised by Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria (the subject of this page next week in sha Allah).

This Columnist’s gratitude goes to Prof. Auwal Hamisu Yadudu (original member of the Strategic Vision Group on behalf of the Nigerian Supreme Council on Islamic Affairs and who nominated me this year); Roman Poliakov and Magomed (Muhammad) Gamzatov of the Russian Embassy in Abuja; Gadji Murad and Rashiya Usmanova, my Guide and Interpreter/Translator in Russia respectively, Ibrahim Abdulaev of the Humanitarian Pedagogical College in Dagestan, Dr. Halit Eren of the OIC Research Centre in Instanbul, Turkey, Dr. Mustafa Barghouti from Palestine, among many others.