The long history of Islam in Russia is grand and glorious. Islam is currently the second most widely professed religion in the Russian Federation. The 2002 census found 14.5 million Muslims in Russia (around 10 percent of the population). However, in 2005, Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Seigei Lavrov advanced the number to 20 million.
Others claim that Russia could have as many as 26 million, including Azeri and Central Asian migrants. Not only important in numbers, the Muslim population of Russia is also very important historically. Islam arrived in Russia even before Christianity and it is only after long deliberations that Prince Vladimir of the Kievan Rus chose this second religion for his people in 987. After the conquests of Kazan and Astrakhan by Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century, Russia became a multi-ethnic and multi-confessional state in which Muslims and Christians have had to learn to live together.
Muslim communities are concentrated among minority nationalities residing between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea: Adyghe, Balkars, Chechens, Circassians, Ingush, Kabardin, Karachay and numerous Dagestanis. Also, in the middle of the Volga Basin reside populations of Tatars and Bashkirs, many of whom are Muslims. In the last few years, Russia has intensified its diplomatic engagement of the Muslim world and has clearly identified Muslim countries as an ideal ground to position itself favourably in the 21st century world order and to increase its influence in the Middle East.
This new dynamic in Russia’s foreign policy can be explained in part by the country’s growing Muslim population and the need to either accommodate or integrate them in Russia’s path to become again a major world power. The Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Karachi organised a photo exhibition at its premises on Tuesday titled “Muslims of Russia”. The event was aimed at highlighting the cultural impact of Islam on Russia and the significance of Muslim communities in development of the country.
The Muslim side of Russia captured through lens
