A mosque in Tartarstan at dusk
Moscow, 27 March 2008 (Interfax):
The Russian Central Muslim Spiritual Administration condemned a statement by Nafigullah Ashirov, co-chairman of the Russian Council of Muftis, that Zionism is similar to fascism, an assertion that caused a rift between the council and the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia (FEOR). “By his words, Mufti Ashirov endangered interreligious peace in the country”, Rastam Valeyev, the Muslim Spiritual Administration’s representative in Moscow, told Interfax-Religion.
“This is not the first time that the self-styled ‘Supreme Mufti of the Asian Part of Russia’ provoked a scandal and inflicted serious damage on interreligious dialogue”, Mr Valeyev said. Much has been said recently about anti-Semitic and anti-Orthodox statements by Mufti Ashirov, but “it is Muslim leaders who have been the targets of the sharpest and most insulting statements made by Mufti Ashirov”, he said. “Since 1992, Mufti Ashirov has constantly, and in the dirtiest way possible, insulted the chairman of the Central Muslim Spiritual Administration, Supreme Mufti Sheikh ul-Islam Talgat Tajuddin, his associates, and North Caucasus Muslim leaders”, Mr Valeyev said. Mufti Ashirov “has brought discord into Muslim communities stretching from Yekaterinburg to Sakhalin”, and the Administration is sorry it “believed in his seemingly sincere repentance of his criminal past”, Mr Valeyev said.
Editor’s Note:
There one has it. Not all Muslims are fire-breathing fanatics. They are quite… NORMAL (GASP!). Get the smelling-salts, Herman… I think there are a few who fainted at that remark. Nevertheless, such is true. Russian Muslims have been patriotic and good citizens, and anyone who says otherwise is living in Cloud-Cuckoo Land. Of course, there are fanatics, but, unfortunately, we Orthodox have them as well! (Oh, bother… I think I dropped a few more with that remark).
Interfax-Religion
http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4459 (in English)
