Participants focused on the complex of challenges, understanding approaches and practices used in building relations between the state and religious community in Syria. Issues of religious administration and discourse formation in the conflict and post-conflict times were also discussed.

 

A highly productive, comprehensive discussion began with two papers by the Head of CAIS Dr. Vasily Kuznetsov and Senior Research Fellow Dr. Islam Zaripov. President of the Institute of Oriental Studies, Academician Vitaly Naumkin moderated the event.

 

The workshop attracted a number of authoritative researchers specializing in Islamic studies, social, political and economic development of the Arab countries, and renowned lecturers at leading centers of religious education from Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Makhachkala, Nalchik and Nizhny Novgorod. Experts and leaders of Russia's Islamic organizations made a particular contribution in the discussion and development of practical recommendations.

 

The main results of the workshop are supposed to be published.

 

The workshop was organized by the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies within the framework of the "MENA religions and societies in the history and modern times" research area.