DUSHANBE, October 16, 2012, Asia-Plus -- On Monday October 15, Saidmukarram Abduqodirzoda, Head of Tajikistan’s Council of Ulamo (a group of scholars and imams that provides interpretations of religious practice) met in Moscow with Rawil Gaynetdin, Head of the Russian Mufties’ Council, the Tajik migration service agency’s press center reports.

The sides reportedly considered a number of cooperation issues.  They also discussed the situation of Tajik labor migrants working in the Russian Federation.

Russian grand mufti, in particular, noted that Tajik nationals are quite active in religious life of Russia and stressed that they are the most well-brought-up parishioners of mosques in the Russian Federation, the source said.

Saidmukarram Abduqodirzoda appreciated Rawil Gaynetdin’s warm attitude towards Tajik nationals and called on representatives of the Russian Muslim community to provide support to Tajik labor migrants working in the Russian Federation.

In the course of the talks, the sides reportedly also touched upon the issue of visit of informal religious figures of Tajikistan to Russia.

Rawil Gaynetdin noted that the Union of Muslims of Russia does not provide religious facilities to political and religious figures from Tajikistan for expressing their political views.  Russian grand mufti stressed that they recognize only the Council of Ulamo of Tajikistan and collaborate only with official Muslim organizations, the press center noted.

Each Tajik national who wants to address parishioners in mosques must have permit from Tajikistan’s Council of Ulamo, Rawil Gaynetdin was quoted as saying by the Tajik migration service agency’s press center.

Rawil Gaynetdin reportedly noted that several unknown religious and political persons from Tajikistan had applied to them for permission to use religious facilities as a tribune for addressing Tajik labor migrants but they had been refused.  

Rawil Gaynetdin has served as the Grand Mufti of Russia since July 1, 1996.  He is one of the signatories of A Common Word between Us and You, an open letter by Islamic scholars to Christian leaders, calling for peace and understanding.

We will recall that Saidmukarram Abduqodirzoda heading a delegation of Tajik clerics is currently in the Russian Federation to hold meetings with Tajik labor migrants working there.

“The visit is lasting until October 17, and while in Russia, Tajik clerics have visited Ufa, Kazan and Moscow,” an official source at the Council of Ulamo told Asia-Plus in an interview.

The main purpose of the visit is for the delegation to study problems facing Tajik labor migrants in Russia, especially the spiritual situation, the source added.

On October 15, Tajik grand mufti attended an official ceremony of closing of the 13th Moscow International Quran Reciting Competition.  According to the Tajik Embassy in Moscow, the ceremony took place at Cosmos Hotel and Tajik grand mufti welcomed participants and congratulated winners.  Organized by the Russian Mufties’ Council, the competition took place on October 14 and 15.  The competition was reportedly open to memorizers aged 15 to 35.