Volgograd sitting offers attracting theatre and clergy to counter IS ideology

A sitting of the Commission on Harmonization of Interethnic and Interreligious Relations, and Cossack Affairs on the topic "ISIL – a Threat to Mankind" took place at the Public Chamber of the Volgograd Region on 31 October. The pretext of the sitting was a release of the brochure by Sergey Ordzhonikidze "ISIL – Threat to Mankind: Why It Is Necessary to Destroy Terrorism". (ISIL is one of the names of the terrorist organization "Islamic State" (IS), banned in the Russian Federation).

The discussion brought together activists of several national associations of the Volgograd Region, Cossacks, and culture and state officials.

Alexander Biryukov, the Ataman of the Cossack Volgograd District, expressed the opinion that the clergy should work with children to counter the spread of extremist ideas.

Andrei Zuev, Director of the Volgograd Cossack Theatre, offered to create works for each national public organization on his stage.

"Every organization has its own heroes; and we could tell about them with the help of the theatrical art," said Mr Zuev.

By the outcomes of the sitting, the commission will draft recommendations on the topic, said Archpriest Oleg Kirichenko, the chairman of the commission and a senior priest of the local religious organization "Parish Church of St John the Baptist of Volgograd".

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.