Discussing Islam in Astrakhan Region

The potential and development prospects of Islam in the world in general and in the Caspian Littoral Region in particular were under consideration at the roundtable “Islam in Caspian Littoral Region: Potential & Prospects”. It took place at the Astrakhan Municipal Administration on July 20, 2016.

The event was initiated jointly by the Center of Eurasian Political Research of Astrakhan State University, by the Astrakhan Municipal Administration, and by the Astrakhan Branch of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. Experts in religious issues, political scientists, the local Muslim clergy, and reps of local authorities took part in the roundtable.

The event participants concluded that one can achieve stability and peace in Islam only by stimulating dialogue and cooperation within this religion; various Muslim communities and their leaders should perceive each other not as rivals, but as partners. It is essential to feel the dynamics of processes that Islam in Russia undergoes. The Russian Islamic community is undergoing a contradictory transformation; its outcomes are not still obvious. As the participants agreed, it is necessary to develop distinct and clear approaches that the government should apply in its religious policy; those approaches must consider with the dynamics of processes taking place in the Muslim community, as well as with its mosaic structure.