IRCICA Director General Prof. Mahmud Erol Kılıç was invited to address the 19th Muslim International Forum on the theme “The Role of Religious Leaders in Protecting Religious and Moral Values and Strengthening Peace and Security” which was organized by the “Muslim International Forum” and the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of the Russian Federation, in Moscow, on 12-13 December 2023. The forum was dedicated to the 200th Anniversary Commemoration of the Birth of the Outstanding Russian Muslim Theologian and Orientalist Husain Faizkhanov (1823–1866). The plenary opening session moderated by Prof. Damir Mukhetdinov, First Vice-Chairman of the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of the Russian Federation and Rector of the Moscow Islamic Institute, heard the inaugural addresses of Prof. Magomedsalam Magomedov, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation; Prof. Marat Khusnullin, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the International Economic Summit “Russia-Islamic World: Kazan Summit 2023”; Prof. Farit Mukhametshin, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation for International Affairs, Deputy Chairman of the Strategic Vision Group “Russia – Islamic World” (greetings on behalf of the Speaker of the Federation Council Ms. Valentina Matvienko). The forum’s working sessions heard presentations by scholars and dignitaries including Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin, Secretary General of the International Muslim Forum, Chairman of the Spiritual Department of Muslims of the Russian Federation (moderator); Dr. Youssef Belmehdi, Minister of Religious Affairs and Awqaf of Algeria; Shawki Allam, Grand Mufti of Egypt; Dr. Mahmoud Al-Habbash, Chief Judge of Palestine; Khalid Shaheen Al-Ghanim, First Deputy Minister of Islamic Affairs and Awqaf of Qatar; Mufti Nauryzbay Taganuly, Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims, Kazakhstan; Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman, and Dr. Mohammad Ali Bishari, Secretary General, World Council of Muslim Communities, U.A.E.; Dr. Ayatollah Hamid Shahriyari, Secretary General, World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, Iran; Dr. of Theology Jeyhun Mamedov, Deputy in the Azerbaijan Parliament; Mr. Ibrahim Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue, Qatar; Prof. Vitaly Naumkin, Scientific Director, Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences; Mufti Ildar Alyautdinov, Mufti of Moscow; Mufti Zamir Rakiev, Mufti of Kyrgyzstan; Prof. Murtaza Bedir, Director, Center for Islamic Studies, Religious Affairs Directorate, Türkiye; Mr. Abdul-Wahed Niyazov, President, European Muslim Forum, Russia; Prof. Nikita Anisimov, Rector of the Higher School of Economics, Russia; and other scholars and specialists from Algeria, Azerbaijan, Qatar, Russia, Tunisia and Uzbekistan. The forum themes included the following: the issues involved in preserving and strengthening peace and security in modern times; protection of religious and moral values and preventing the use of people’s religious feelings to incite conflicts and hostilities; the religious situation in the global world and analysis of modern challenges and trends; efforts made by religious, social, scientific and academic organizations to promote the values of dialogue and mutual respect between people of different faiths and cultures; challenges faced by religious institutions today; the role of religious and government leaders in encouraging moderation and promoting a just world order, among others.
