KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim met with Russia’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin in Moscow today, right after official talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Anwar said his meeting with the mufti was to strengthen relations between Malaysia and Russia’s Muslim communities, while fostering closer ties with the 25 million Muslims in Russia.
“We exchanged views on a range of shared interests, including efforts to strengthen Islamic institutions, expand knowledge exchange, and empower the halal industry in Russia by leveraging Malaysia’s globally recognised leadership in halal certification,” Anwar said in a Facebook post.
The Prime Minister said that during the meeting, he expressed appreciation for Sheikh Ravil’s active role in promoting interfaith harmony and fostering understanding in Russia’s diverse society.
“This is an invaluable effort in a world increasingly marred by division, hatred, and prejudice,” he remarked.
As a symbol of friendship and Islamic outreach, Anwar presented Sheikh Ravil with a copy of the Quran and its Russian translation as part of the Madani Government’s initiative to endow one million Qurans worldwide, as well as deepen the global understanding of Islam and counter the rising tide of Islamophobia.
In return, Sheikh Ravil, who also chairs the Russian Federation’s Board of Muslims, gifted Anwar with a historically significant Uthmani-style Quran manuscript from Uzbekistan, symbolising the enduring legacy and transcontinental beauty of Islamic scholarship.
Anwar is on a four-day official visit to Russia at the invitation of Putin. He will continue the second leg of his trip today in Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan.
— Bernama
