Islam in Ukraine - Shved

Fiasco: Reflections on Middle-Eastern Policy of Russia

oksana — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:41:50 +0000

The modern Middle East, and, first of all, its heart - the Arab world, endures the fatal period of its history. Tormently, in struggle, the new shape of this region which became the cradle of three religions — Judaism, Christianity and Islam, which was throughout many millennia one of the centers of world history and policy, is born. "The Arabian spring" leads to the large-scale transformation of all Arabian Orient on the basis of restoration of its civilization identity, comprehension of its place in world civilization process.

In the center of the present stage of "the Arabian spring" is Syria, its hardworking, courageous and distressful people which rose against tyranny, named "Asad's regime", not allowing the Syrians to straighten shoulders, to breathe freely and to live according to the laws of the Creator. The regime desperately resists, uses the powerful tool of oppression. Blood of many thousand Syrians was already shed.

Actually, nowadays the regime of B.Asad is in full isolation. In the region it is supported only by its principal — Iran, which transformed the present Syria into the obedient tool of its policy of expansion. On the international scene the regime, perhaps, has just one ally — Russia. The very Russia which in due time declared that it is the successor of the ex-Soviet Union and even kept from its times its hymn and the program "Time". But after all, the Soviet Union always tried to appear in the image of the Arabs' loyal friend protecting them from "intrigues of the American imperialism and world Zionism". How the leaders of the present Russia who loudly declared that liquidation of the Soviet Union is "one of the greatest geopolitical accidents", appear among those who are cursed by wide Arabian masses for their support to "the bloody butcher", B.Asad?

The present position of Russia in the Syrian question is far not casual. It is natural and caused. Let us remember, under what circumstances the "crowned" ascended to Russian throne. It was in 1999, under the roar of cannonade and bombing attacks on the distressful Chechen earth when in order to win the Kremlin B.Yeltsin's successor launched the second Chechen war. On purpose to bring down heat of the anti-Russian moods among the international public, especially in the countries of the Islamic world which launched wide international campaign in support of the Chechen people, the newly elected president of the Russian Federation, V.Putin, proclaimed that Russia is the strategic ally of the Islamic world and even its part, and started to advance the idea of introduction of the country into the Organization "Islamic Conference". In 2003 Russia even managed to achieve there the position of observer. Then were widely advertised visits of V.Putin to the countries of the Middle-Eastern region, friendship with HAMAS.

The maneuver was somehow successful — the Islamic world has considerably grown cold to the Chechen Republic that allowed the Russian power to "pacify" it. At the same time, already then in the Arabian public opinion these efforts of Moscow were perceived as insincere, false. Obvious discrepancy between official speeches of the Russian leaders and the present state of affairs, first of all - concerning Russian Muslims — their spiritual life, became isolated in strictly regulated frameworks imposed from above; in the country was actually established the special status of the Russian Orthodox Church. However, the Chechen Republic could not be pacified up to the end. Moreover, all Caucasus flared. Discrepancy between, say, invitation to Moscow of HAMAS leaders and proceeding listing of "Muslim Brotherhood" as a terrorist organization was obvious, too.

The Arabs started to understand all more clearly that they are just a change in geopolitical games for the Kremlin, means of pressure on the USA, the NATO and the European Union. The whole Arab world was shocked by cruel murder in far Qatar of the spiritual leader of the Chechen people, the ex-president of Ichkerian Republic, Z.Yandarbiev which was committed by Russian special agents. And after that Russia still dreamed that Qatar supported its far-reaching plans of full monopolization of all world gas market!

As bolt from the blue for the Kremlin rulers became the historic and epoch-making event - "the Arabian Spring".

Just recall what nonsense was born by the President of Russia, D.Medvedev and the Prime Minister of Russia — V.Putin! That "the events in the Middle East are directed at split of Russia", and so forth.

Obedient to the Kremlin state men of official Russian Arabic studies and lovers to talk with an intelligent view of everything that moves in unison howled ominously about "the insidious machinations of the U.S. imperialism," "the hand of CIA" on the "controlled chaos", started by masons and the like. Not so long ago the known Syrian legal expert and publicist living in Russia, O.Shaar, wrote a brilliant article under the well-aimed heading — "Fiasco of Russian political Arabic studies" in which he in details explained the reasons of such position of modern Russian political Arabic studies.

In Moscow the true essence of "the Arabian spring"was not understood, its civilization component. In the expert Russian environment the leadership was taken by explicit Islamophobes like E.Satanovsky and A.Ignatenko, who spoke about horrible "Islamic threat", comparing Muslims with "killers". "Pernicious" Qatar suffered from them most. This small state in the Arabian (Persian) gulf not only shows surprising rates of development, standard of living, innovative approach to many issues of internal and foreign policy, but also, according to well-aimed expression of the Ukrainian president of V.Yanukovych, became "the catalyst of progressive ideas and reforms in the Arab world". Qatar renders huge support to many Arabs stirred to action with tyranny and injustice, even such dictators, as M.Qaddafi and B.Asad (which remains only support of the Russian policy in the region).

And here, under the decree from above, mister V.Lvov on the web-site of the Russian Institute of the Middle East which president is the mentioned E.Satanovsky, places the whole series of articles, having for an object to "expose" the authorities of Qatar which, you see, dared to defend honor, dignity and freedom of the Arab world. And here a new "lion" of Russian Arabic studies set off to the winds. So much he told about Qatar and the ruling dynasty of this Arabian monarchy. This "soap opera" has visually shown all wretchedness, moral degradation of the so-called "analysts" serving the Kremlin. And they, of course, copy their owners — those who now reign Russia and defines its policy in the Middle-Eastern region.

The present governors of the Russian Federation who entrenched in the Kremlin, firmly grasped the bloody regime of B.Asad promptly going to the bottom, having beheld in it a unique stronghold of the former and current influence of Russia in the region, except for, perhaps, Iranian regime. It is amazing, as dictators are drawn to dictators as if there works some kind of "dictatorial international".

Why the present Russian management with such a maniacal persistence clings to B.Asad? There are some important military-political moments. Syria is connected with Russia by multi-billion contracts on delivery of arms. Only during the last days Russia concluded the bargain with the present Syrian regime on 550 million dollars. Under this agreement it should deliver 130 warplanes. In the Syrian port Tartus there is the only naval base of Russia on the Mediterranean Sea which allows serving military Russian ships and is an original symbol of presence of the Russian Federation on the Middle East. Russia considers falling of B.Asad's regime as a personal accident, as display of crash of its presence at the region and as an evident indicator of qualitative change of balance of powers in the Middle East which is a disadvantage. From here stems absolutely irrational, mad position of Moscow — in every way to keep in power B.Аsad, at least at the expense of victims and blood of Syrian people.

A well-known Arabian publicist H.Al Madzhid with bitter sarcasm wrote that the actions of the leaders of Russia concerning Syria force to think that they "drink vodka while taking their political decisions".

From here stems shameful game of the Russian diplomacy in the United Nations when under any, even the most ridiculous pretexts, the Russian representative blocks acceptance of saving resolution for the Syrian people, capable to stop bloodshed and to open the way to political exit from deadlock of the Syrian tragedy. World powers as it was declared by the US representative to the United Nations, S. Rice, "with disgust" apprehended the last veto of Russia and China; the representative of Germany named the veto "a double shame". The Syrian national board which names itself the national government of Syria, directly accused Russia and China in "encouragement of murders and genocide", having specified "irresponsibility of rendering to the Syrian regime of license for the unpunished murders". The management of Jordanian "Muslim brotherhood" called for boycott in the whole Arab world of Russian goods, in front of embassies of Russia in different countries protest meetings passed.

Apparently, the position of Russia won't change till March, 4th — the day of presidential elections, after all, to the main applicant for the position of President of the Russian Federation, V.Putin, it is still important to support the image of a "cool guy" who wins all external and internal enemies of Russia up to the end.

Unfortunately, apparently, Syrian people should incur many victims. But they will surely win. And former influence of Russia in the region disgracefully disappears, bursts and dissolves. Perhaps, once historians will also remember about such influence and about vain attempts of Russia to play the main role in the Middle East, beginning from Peter I and up to now.

Good bye, amen!

Vyacheslav SHVED,

The leading research assistant of the department of Asia and Africa of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the NAS of Ukraine, the vice-president of the all-Ukraine Social Organization "Ukrainian Center of Islamic Studies".

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"Arabian spring" Phenomenon to be discussed on Colloquium in Kiev

oksana — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:14:09 +0000

On September, 28th, 2011 in the Islamic Social Cultural Centre of Kiev (Degtyarevskaya street, 25а) will take place a scientific colloquium "Main trends of the Islamic world against revolutions in the Arabin countries", organized by the AUASO "Alraid" together with the USO "The Ukrainian Centre of Islamic Studies" for discussion and judgment of the phenomenon of the "Arabian spring', and also those political transformations which take place in the Middle East.

All interested in this topic are invited to participation.

In the program of the colloquium there are the report of the master of Shariah sciences, Seyran Arifov, "Continuation of the analytical cycle about trends in the Islamic world"; the report of the leading scientific employee of the Branch of Asia and Africa of the Institute of Economic and International Relations of the NAS of Ukraine, the vice-president of the all-Ukraine social Organization "Institute of Islamic researches", the Candidate of Historical Sciences, associate professor, Vyacheslav Shved, on the topic "Muslim brotherhood" in modern political process of Egypt and the Middle-Eastern region"; and also free discussion of the above-stated topics.

The action will last for two hours and a half. After its termination for the participants will be arranged the entertainment in the best traditions of oriental hospitality.

Let us remind that this is not the first colloquium within the precincts of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Kiev. In 2007 here passed a colloquium about true understanding of Jihad.

By arraid.org

30/09/2011

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Vicarial Visit of Patriarch Kirill to Ukraine: Conclusions for Muslim Ummah

oksana — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 22:49:40 +0000

The vicarial visit of the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia to Ukraine became, certainly, major event of social-political life of the country. It made strong impact both on spiritual life of Ukraine, and on its internal and foreign policy, it civilization choice. In this context visit and its consequences are far not indifferent to Muslims of Ukraine, especially taking into account that among the themes discussed by the Patriarch, were also Islam statement in Europe, and Christian-Muslim dialogue. What lessons and conclusions should make the Muslim Ummah of Ukraine?

First, the personality of the Patriarch of Moscow, his oratory, erudition, firm upholding of his position and ability to conduct policy — all it forces to feel severe deficiency of heads of the Ukrainian Muslims meeting today's requirements. Therefore, nowadays the sharpest and the most topical is the issue of qualitative modernization of domestic Muslim elite. Without it, it is impossible to find new approaches in work of spiritual and social organizations of Muslims, it is impossible to solve successfully problems of the present stage of Islamic revival in Ukraine, connected with theology, ideology, social sphere, culture and science, and, at last, increase of contribution of Muslims in the country development.

In a close connection with the given problem is a question of qualitative updating, and actually — creation of educational system of spiritual elite of Muslims of Ukraine — systems which would not become concentrated on backward, group interests, and would operate as national.

Secondly, as for heads of spiritual and social organizations of Muslims of Ukraine, and for all Muslim Ummah, it is very important to analyze and draw corresponding conclusions from a number of performances and sermons of His Holiness Patriarch in which he directly addresses to the theme of Islam. Here again, first of all, is distinguished the Word of the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia at the meeting with the public of Odessa on July, 22nd, and answers of the Patriarch to questions of participants of the meeting in the Palace of students of the Dnepropetrovsk National University of Oles Gonchar on July, 24th. In the course of these performances were considered such major questions as the reasons of increase of authority and the influence of Islam in Europe, lacks and defects of existing in Europe model of a "multicultural" society, a condition of Muslim-Christian dialogue and partnership of the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

Analyzing the model of multicultural society realized in the Western Europe, Patriarch Kirill notices that its main defect consists in aspiration to construct a society which operates "on un-religious basis". Supporters of such multibody building aspire to make "the religious factor "invisible", to exclude it from a society and to transfer to the sphere of family, personal space of a person that this factor did not disturb those who do not concern it".

According to Patriarch Kirill this is "the most dangerous tendency", sometimes leading to funny things, and sometimes to tragedies. According to Kirill, an example of it is interdiction on Christmas-trees in some West European countries as it, ostensibly, may offend Muslims. The Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia mentioned the unpleasant moments from life of Christians. But it is possible to continue this theme and to recollect even more ridiculous examples in modern Europe when under a pretext of "identity protection", "observance of rights of a man and a society" they try to accept the laws forbidding niqab, or an ill-starred referendum in Switzerland against building of minarets.

As to growth of influence and authority of Islam on Europe, the Patriarch answers that interest to Islam in the West European countries is generated "by straight-out and concrete ethics of Islamic tradition". Conversion to Islam of many Europeans is explained by the Patriarch by refusal of many Europeans of excessive political correctness and vagueness. This, according to Kirill, is reaction to the deepest crisis of the Western Christianity, "If the faith and the Church cease to say to people accurately and clearly what is good and what is evil, they cease to be needed".

Nowadays Islam in Europe performs actually responsible work on rescue of the West European society from slipping in abyss of immorality, disbelief, impetuous pursuit of a profit. Islam is the important component of those powers which aspire to revive high ideals of morals, modesty, and ethical business. Many attendants of Christian churches specify this role of Islam, too.

Patriarch Kirill noticed development of Christian-Muslim dialogue in Russia and Ukraine. He mentioned the following factors promoting development of this dialogue: absence on the post-Soviet territory of serious conflicts, general concern in preservation of religious factor in human life, issues of morals, protection of the environment of human dwelling and many other things.

The Patriarch emphasized that the dialogue of the Orthodox Church with Islam is carried out not for the sake of creation of a "common religion", "super church". The church problem, according to the Patriarch, is "to be to loyal to your faith and to improve ourselves in it, and then its position and voice will be clearer to fair, pious representatives of other religions". The speech is not about doctrinal rapprochement, but of attempt to create a platform for expression of joint concern concerning what happens in the modern world.

Thus, in a number of his sermons during the vicarial visit to Ukraine, the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia formulated basic theoretical-methodological, conceptual approaches of Russian Orthodox Church to the problems of Islam in modern Europe and developments of Christian-Muslim dialogue on the territory of the former Soviet Union. And Muslims of Ukraine should understand it deeply and, accordingly, to formulate their vision of the model of inter-confessional, multidimensional world.

At last, thirdly, it is a question of influence which will render the given visit on formation of a state policy of Ukraine concerning Islam in a context of amplifying influence of Russian Orthodox Church.

Intense polemic in the expert environment, mass-media and politicum concerning the maintenance, the purposes and consequences of visit to Ukraine proceeds. The special attention is given to the idea of "The Russian world", its influences on formation of new forms and level of mutual relations between Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and corrections of models of the church-state relations in these countries. It is known that the concept of these relations which developed in Ukraine is differed by the consecutive upholding of freedom of worship as an inalienable law of a citizen and partnership of the state and religious organizations.

Any religion in Ukraine cannot be recognized as predominating, obligatory, any church cannot be recognized as a state one. These principles are fixed in the Constitution of Ukraine that, certainly, does not mean refusal of the further perfection of the legislation and mechanisms of its realization. So, for a long time ripened necessity for working out on the basis of principles of the state-confessional relations of the Concept of the state policy of Ukraine concerning Islam.

In the Russian Federation the problems solved by the country on international scene, problems of preservation of territorial integrity, searches of national ideology which would become uniting and mobilizing factor before requirements of modernization, actually deduced Russian Orthodox Church in position of "the first among the equal". It was also promoted by influence of the uncommon personality of the present Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill — outstanding state and public figure and recognized spiritual leader. The Russian Muslims aspire to be consolidated, to find their worthy place in these conditions in sociopolitical, economic and other spheres of a social life. Wide resonance in the Russian society called performances of the chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia Ravil Gaynutdin about the Golden Horde as the basis of the Russian statehood, that ignoring of the Slavic-Turkic, Orthodox-Muslim roots of the Russian state conducts to its destabilization, and, finally, to disintegration.

Whether realities of political life of Russia, features of system of mutual relations developing there between the state and leading faiths can influence Ukraine in the course of the present development of relations between our countries?

Degree and level of such influence, apparently, will be defined first of all by hardness and sequence of management of Ukraine in upholding of its national interests in relations with our neighbor. Notwithstanding his projects Patriarch Kirill perfectly understands that the sovereignty, statehood of Ukraine is the fact, or as he told, "God's will".

At the airport Borispol, on arrival in Kiev from Dnepropetrovsk, the Patriarch noticed that "Ukraine is awaited by very good future, and God grant to all of us to work for this future!"

In this plan to all of us living on the fertile Ukrainian land — to Christians, Muslims and representatives of other faiths - it is vital to keep stability, mutual respect and love to equip Ukraine — our general home and the Motherland according to the Divine precepts.

Vyacheslav SHVED, the leading scientific employee of the Institute of Economic and International Relations of the NSA of Ukraine, Vice-president of "The Ukrainian Centre of Islamic Studies".

By UNIAN

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