Shaikh Said Ismagilov, Mufti of Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine “Umma” elicited a storm of applause at an International conference in Batumi (Georgia). Such reaction was caused by the fact that he made his report in Ukrainian. The Georgians said that this was the first time when a Ukrainian participant spoke Ukrainian, not Russian, at the event like that.

Mufti of RAMU “Umma” Mr.Said Ismagilov and Head of Severodonetsk Muslim Community Mr.Timur Beridze were appointed by the Georgian Muslim Union, the main facilitator of the event dedicated to Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.

More than 600 participants and guests from different countries came as well. There were Muslims of Bosnia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, religious leaders of different confessions of Georgia, state officials and members of the public. USA goodwill ambassador Mr. Johan Gandelin (famous for his defence of the Georgian Muslims’ rights), Mufti of Religious Administration of Muslims of Georgia Mr. jamal Paskadze and the Administration of Caucasus Muslims representative in Georgia Mr. Ali Aliev.

The facilitators said they wanted to show yet more proof that there’s a large Muslim community in Georgian, and to draw the wide publics’ and the officials’ attention to Georgian Muslims’ problems and needs.

Shaikh Said stressed that Muslims in Ukraine and Georgia have common religious tradition and similar situations within their countries. “We support the Georgian Muslims in their spiritual revival and will eagerly cooperate with them and support them,” he said. The Mufti’s report, at the same time, was mostly dedicated to Prophet Muhammad’s (peace and blessings be upon him) spiritual mission.

Mr.Timur Beridze, Head of Severodonetsk Muslim Community (which is a part of RAMU “Umma”) also presented his report. His speech in Georgian was devoted to the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) main principles.

After the conference, Mufti of Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine “Umma” Said Ismagilov and Head of the Georgian Muslim Union Mr Zurab Tsitshladze signed an agreement of friendship and cooperation between the two organisations.

Staff reporter