#6596
#4 - JRL 6596
Russia's top Muslim cleric "alarmed" by
spread of Islamic extremism
Interfax
Ufa, 10 December: The spread of the radical Islamic movement Wahhabism in some regions of Russia, including Penza, Ulyanovsk, Orenburg and Sverdlovsk Regions and the Republic of Tatarstan, is alarming, Talgat Tadzhuddin, the head of the spiritual board of Muslims of Russia and the European countries of the CIS, has said.
The plenum of this board opened in Ufa on Tuesday [10 December]. Muslim spiritual leaders and rectors of Muslim universities from 29 Russian regions are participating in this forum.
In the past decade, the number of followers of Wahhabism has exceeded 100,000 and continues to increase, in spite of the fact that official Islam has declared this doctrine heretical and misanthropic, Farit Salman, mufti of the Yamal Nenets Autonomous Area, told Interfax. In the past few years, Wahhabis have illegally taken over several mosques, he said.
"And this process is accelerating," the mufti said.
"The most danger to the state and peaceful coexistence of representatives of all religions and atheists in Russia is posed by the ultimate goal of Wahhabism - the destruction of people of different faiths. Traditional, true Islam teaches that all people are equal in the eyes of the Creator, that people should peacefully coexist with representatives of other confessions and that they should love their country," Salman said.
Tadzhuddin said the majority of Wahhabi followers are young people from 13 to 25 years old. "Islamic analysts believe that the most attractive thing about this heretical doctrine are the socioeconomic prospects, because every specific action is immediately followed by financial reward and promotion in the Wahhabi community hierarchy. In addition, Wahhabi leaders have taken advantage of the fact that Russia has not had a state ideology for the past 12 years. This temporary vacuum was immediately filled," Tadzhuddin said.
The plenum participants expressed their confidence that support from the state is needed in the fight against religious extremism, including Wahhabis. It is expected that a corresponding resolution will be adopted at the end of the forum and statements will be made to the administrations of Russia and Tatarstan.
Back to the Top Next Article
- Back to the Top -