Russian Muslim Community in the World Ummah

102
DOI: 10.20542/0131-2227-2020-64-3-98-104
Dialogue of Civilizations Research Institute (Moscow office), 42, bldg. 5, Pokrovka Str., Moscow, 105062, Russian Federation

Abstract. The article explores the current place and role of the Russian Muslim community in the global Islamic Ummah. The evolution of the community’s relations with Islamic countries in the post-Soviet era, along with the growing interest shown to it by Muslims worldwide, is studied. Perception of current events in the Middle East by Muslims in Russia, as well as their participation in these events, is analyzed. Here it is important to mention their presence and activity in the ranks of the Islamic State. According to some information, the number of mudjahids from Russia reached four thousand. Even after the defeat of the IS, some Russian Muslims stayed in the Middle East. Moscow declares that the existence of Muslim minorities contributes to the country’s good relations with the Islamic World. Russian Muslims support the official course in the foreign policy. However, the article also refers to the attempts of some Muslim politicians and representatives of the clergy, despite their loyalty to the authorities, to speak out in some cases and take an independent position that may differ from the official foreign policy course. Firstly, it concerns Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of the Chechen Republic, who makes attempts to establish direct ties with some Muslim countries, first of all, in the Persian Gulf. Moreover, Kadyrov expressed his disagreement with official position during the crisis in Myanmar, when Russia supported the fight of the country’s government against the Muslim opposition. Also there was a disappointment in the Republic of Tatarstan regarding Russian-Turkish conflict in 2015.

Keywords: Islam, Ummah, Middle East, Islamic State, Russian Muslims, Kadyrov, Tatarstan, foreign policy


REFERENCES

1. Shaml’. Illyustrirovannaya entsiklopediya [An Illustrated Encyclopedia]. Moscow, Fond “Sodruzhestvo”, 2005. 440 p.

2. Bennigsen А. Musul’mane v SSSR [Muslims in the USSR]. Panorama-Forum, Kazan’, 1995, no. 3, pp. 108-126.

3. Khadzh rossiiskikh musul’man. Ezhegodnyi sbornik putevykh zametok o khadzhe [Hajj of Russian Muslims. The Annual Collection of Travel Notes about the Hajj]. Nizhny Novgorod, Publishing House “Medina”, 2012, no. 4. 104 p.

4. US Experts Name Number of Russians in ISIS Ranks (In Russ.) Available at: https://versia.ru/amerikanskie-yeksperty-nazvali-chislo-rossiyan-v-ryadax-igil (accessed 21.12.2019).

5. ISIS Moves to the Caucasus (In Russ.) Available at: http://eurasianews.net/religiya/igildvizhetsya-na-kavkaz (accessed 21.12.2019).

6. Putin Called the Number of Russians, Who Became IS Fighters (In Russ.) Available at: https://riafan.ru/712388-putin-nazval-chislo-rossiyan-stavshih-boevikami-ig (accessed 21.12.2019).

7. “U menya est’ pravilo: ran’she vystrela ne padat’”. Interv’yu Ramazana Abdulatipova Elene Mukhametshinoi [“I Have a Rule: Do Not Fall before the Shot”. Helen Muhametshina’s Intreview with Ramazan Abdulatipov]. Vedomosti, 23.12.2015.

8. The Kremlin Will Assess the Kadyrov’s Statements Regarding the Events in Myanmar (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.interfax.ru/russia/577701 (accessed 21.12.2019).

9. Skryl’nikov P. Mezhdu ummoi i diplomatiei [Between Umma and Diplomacy]. NG Religii, 06.11.2018.

10. Tatarstan and Turkey: “Inseparable, Like a Nail and a Finger” (In Russ.) Available at: https://kazanreporter.ru/post/192_tatarstan_i_turciya-_-nerazluchny-_kak_nogot-_i_palec (accessed 22.12.2019).

11. Galimziyanov A. Rossiysko-Turetskiy konflikt i Tatarstan: s kem vy, prezident Minnikhanov? [The Russian-Turkish Conflict and Tatarstan: Who Do You Support, President Minnikhanov?] 27.11.2015. Available at: https://eadaily.com/ru/news/2015/11/27/rossiysko-tureckiy-konflikt-i-tatarstan-s-kem-vy-prezident-minnihanov (accessed 22.12.2019).

12. Kashevarova A. Glava Chechni ukreplyaet avtoritet Rossii v arabskom mire [The Head of Chechnya Strengthens Russia’s Authority in the Arab World]. Izvestia, 23.07.2015.

13. Islam na krayu sveta. Istoria islama v Sibiry. V 3-kh tomakh [Islam on the Edge of the World. History of Islam in Siberia. In 3 Volumes]. Yarkov A.P., ed. Tyumen’, Koleso, 2015. Vol. 3. 443 p.


Registered in System SCIENCE INDEX

For citation:
Malashenko A. Russian Muslim Community in the World Ummah. World Eсonomy and International Relations, 2020, vol. 64, no. 3, pp. 98-104. https://doi.org/10.20542/0131-2227-2020-64-3-98-104



Comments (0)

No comments

Add comment







Indexed

 

 

 

 

Dear authors! Please note that in the VAK List of peer-reviewed scientific journals, in which the main scientific results of dissertations for the degree of candidate and doctor of sciences should be published for the “MEMO Journal” the following specialties are recorded:
economic sciences:
5.2.5. World Economy.
5.2.1. Economic Theory
5.2.3. Regional and Branch Economics
political sciences:
5.5.4. International Relations
5.5.1. History and Theory of Politics
5.5.2. Political Institutions, Processes, Technologies

 

Current Issue
2025, vol. 69, No. 7
Topical Themes of the Issue:
  • Fragmentation of Global Social Capital
  • Türkiye and the Gulf Monarchies as Foreign Policy Balancers in Central Asia
  • African Vector of Italian Foreign Policy
  • Greater Middle East
Announcement

Dear authors of the journal!

Please note that the author's copies of the issues in which your texts are published are kept in the editorial office for no more than one year. After this period expires, the editorial office has the right to dispose of unclaimed copies at its own discretion.

Dear authors of the journal!

We would like to inform you that the materials proposed for publication in our journal must be submitted only through the form located on the journal website in the “Submit an article” section.

 

Submit an Article
INVITATION FOR PUBLICATION
The Editorial Board invites authors to write analytical articles on the following topics:
  • changes in the processes of globalization in modern conditions
  • formation of the new world order
  • shifts in civilization at the stage of transition to a digital society

The editors are also interested in publishing synthesis articles / scientific reviews revealing the main trends in the development of certain regions of the world - Latin America, Africa, South Asia, etc.