Tehran, April 22, The Iran Project – Head of the Russian Federal Agency for the Affairs of Nationalities says we don’t want Russian youth to study Islamic Sciences in Saudi Arabia.

In a visit to ?Qom's University of Religions and Denomination, at the head of a religious delegation on Tuesday, Igor Barinov, head of Federal Agency forNationalities affairs in Russia said we seek to establish an educational system for our Islamic schools so the Russian youth would not travel to pro-Salafi countries such as Saudi Arabia or Egypt anymore.

Barinov said they want to study different Islamic educational patterns in the Muslim countries neighboring Russia to choose the best model for their religious teachings.

The head of the Federal Agency for the Affairs of Nationalities also slammed pro-Salafi countries, like Saudi Arabia and Egypt, for spreading Salafi and Wahhabi Islam as well as terrorism, and said such thoughts have jeopardized Russia’s interest.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="699"] The April 18 photo shows Presidential aide Hojjatoleslam Ali Younessi receiving Igor Barinov Russia’s Director of the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs.[/caption]

The Russian official also stressed on the need for mutual scientific collaboration with Qom's University of Religions and Denominations, expressing hope that the university’s experience in approximating religions and their efforts to promote dialogue among religions would be transferred to Russia by exchanging professors and students.

Igor Barinov also visited Ali Younesi, the Iranian president’s adviser for minorities’ affairs in Tehran on Monday.