Ismael Geibadulin was born in 1986. He speaks of his personal life and the new path he has chosen, saying: “I was born a Muslim and was a Muslim by birth. Because The Tatarstan region consists of a mainly Muslim population.”

Ismael is familiar with Ayatollah Khamenei. He knows him and has followed his present-day viewpoints. I heard from his friends that he has even more scrupulously observed Ayatollah Khamenei’s viewpoints. So I asked: “Do you follow Ayatollah Khamenei’s discourse? What’s your view on his opinions about Iran’s and the world affairs?” He said:

“About Ayatollah Khamenei, I should say that I visited him three times back in Iran. Of course, I couldn’t speak to him directly, in person. One of these three visits was in Imam Khomeini’s memorial ceremony. Another was in the Islamic Awakening World Conference and the third was in another gathering. I’m familiar with the chief part of his viewpoints. One of them is his message, that is, his letter to the youth in the Western countries. I myself translated this letter some time ago. At first glance, this message is a reaction to the offence against Prophet Muhammad in Charlie Hebdo magazine, but it is really much beyond that; it isn’t limited to that incident. It is a criticism against the extremist thinking and propaganda in the media.

It is very similar to Imam Khomeini’s letter to Gorbachev. It is an open invitation to reading and asks the youth to read about Islam beyond the Western media’s propaganda. Ayatollah Khamenei in this letter suggests that the youth go and read about the truth, away from all the prejudices and fabricated stereotypes. Imam Khomeini, too, had warned in his letter about the Russian society’s transition to the West after the fall of Communism. He had recommended that they read about Islam, about Mulla Sadra, Suhrawardi, the Master of Illumination in Islamic philosophy, etc. and had even expressed that Iran is ready so that they can send individuals to study and later introduce true Islam to them. Imam Khomeini’s horizons were beyond a common thinker. In the near future, Russia will realize the truth of his words .”