SARATOV, September 22 (RIA Novosti, Erik Batuyev) - An international Islamic anti-radicalism conference opens Thursday in Saratov, 450 miles southeast of Moscow, the regional culture ministry announced.
A ministry spokesperson said the forum would elaborate proposals to counter radical movements in Russia's 20 million-strong Muslim community.
"It is no secret that a significant part of society associate Islam with terrorism. Such views are unacceptable. At the same time, radical views are not uncommon amidst Muslims, which is not acceptable, either. These sentiments are possible to overcome only through an open, sincere dialogue," he said.
The conference will bring together prominent Islamic scholars, politicians and community activists from Moscow, St. Petersburg and constituent Russian republics with a predominantly Islamic population, like Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Daghestan, Kalmykia and Mordovia. Theologians and spiritual leaders from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Kuwait are also expected to attend.
