MOSCOW: A rare conflict between spiritual and political leaders has damaged out in Russia's North Caucasus area, with Islamic imams accusing the local govt of corruption whilst authorities set up cameras in mosques to monitor sermons.
Tensions in Ingushetia started when local imams claimed politicians were syphoning off budget from construction of a large Islamic centre.
Such accusations are odd in a area the place strongmen leaders, comparable to Chechnya's Ramzan Kadyrov, rule with an iron fist and leave little if any room for dissent.
The deliberate challenge in the city of Magas includes a Muslim cultural centre and a university, as well as a mosque with a capacity of up to eight,000 worshipers, however it has been on hold for just about two years.
Religious leaders have pledged to hold a rally in Magas at the location of the deliberate mosque the following day, irking the regional govt which has banned the collection.
"The money was diverted, the madrasas (religious schools) are deprived of funding, the imams no longer get salaries," Magomed Khachtyrov, Ingushetia's deputy mufti (spiritual leader), informed AFP.
He stated the federal government of the bulk Muslim Russian republic was placing power at the spiritual leadership because of corruption which "has taken incredible dimensions" and has been criticised by the place of work of the mufti.
General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, who has led Ingushetia's govt since 2008, has referred to as for tighter oversight of spiritual sermons, installing cameras in mosques following an assault on one in Nazran in March 2016.
He defined to RBK information agency that surveillance guarantees preaching is according to the Koran.
Yevkurov "tries to use new forms of pressure against us," Ingushetia's Mufti Isa Khamkhoyev stated in a recent letter from spiritual leaders to Russian President Vladimir Putin's representative in the Caucasus, Oleg Belaventsev.
The mufti has also denounced what he calls attempts to "confiscate property" belonging to the spiritual leadership, the closure of its Angusht radio station, and making an attempt to near down Khamkhoyev's place of work altogether.
"The discrimination against religious leaders continues," stated the mufti, who revealed the letter to Belaventsev on his Facebook page.
Moscow will have to take measures against Yevkurov, he stated, accusing the regional chief of scary "discontent" and "aggravating the situation" in Ingushetia.
Yevkurov, who last month ordered local officers to "prevent politicisation of sermons" in the identify of balance, has referred to as repeatedly for the dismissal of Khamkhoyev.
"The mosque is a place of worship. Political discourse there is unacceptable... Imams must reinforce people's confidence in the authorities," Yevkurov's spokesman informed AFP.
This worry by the authorities has intensified forward of the Russian presidential election on March 18, but additionally the September local elections, which entail regional lawmakers vote casting for the head of the area, stated Grigory Shvedov, editor in chief of internet media Caucasus Knot, which focuses on the North Caucasus.
Tensions in Ingushetia started when local imams claimed politicians were syphoning off budget from construction of a large Islamic centre.
Such accusations are odd in a area the place strongmen leaders, comparable to Chechnya's Ramzan Kadyrov, rule with an iron fist and leave little if any room for dissent.
The deliberate challenge in the city of Magas includes a Muslim cultural centre and a university, as well as a mosque with a capacity of up to eight,000 worshipers, however it has been on hold for just about two years.
Religious leaders have pledged to hold a rally in Magas at the location of the deliberate mosque the following day, irking the regional govt which has banned the collection.
"The money was diverted, the madrasas (religious schools) are deprived of funding, the imams no longer get salaries," Magomed Khachtyrov, Ingushetia's deputy mufti (spiritual leader), informed AFP.
He stated the federal government of the bulk Muslim Russian republic was placing power at the spiritual leadership because of corruption which "has taken incredible dimensions" and has been criticised by the place of work of the mufti.
General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, who has led Ingushetia's govt since 2008, has referred to as for tighter oversight of spiritual sermons, installing cameras in mosques following an assault on one in Nazran in March 2016.
He defined to RBK information agency that surveillance guarantees preaching is according to the Koran.
Yevkurov "tries to use new forms of pressure against us," Ingushetia's Mufti Isa Khamkhoyev stated in a recent letter from spiritual leaders to Russian President Vladimir Putin's representative in the Caucasus, Oleg Belaventsev.
The mufti has also denounced what he calls attempts to "confiscate property" belonging to the spiritual leadership, the closure of its Angusht radio station, and making an attempt to near down Khamkhoyev's place of work altogether.
"The discrimination against religious leaders continues," stated the mufti, who revealed the letter to Belaventsev on his Facebook page.
Moscow will have to take measures against Yevkurov, he stated, accusing the regional chief of scary "discontent" and "aggravating the situation" in Ingushetia.
Yevkurov, who last month ordered local officers to "prevent politicisation of sermons" in the identify of balance, has referred to as repeatedly for the dismissal of Khamkhoyev.
"The mosque is a place of worship. Political discourse there is unacceptable... Imams must reinforce people's confidence in the authorities," Yevkurov's spokesman informed AFP.
This worry by the authorities has intensified forward of the Russian presidential election on March 18, but additionally the September local elections, which entail regional lawmakers vote casting for the head of the area, stated Grigory Shvedov, editor in chief of internet media Caucasus Knot, which focuses on the North Caucasus.
Religion and politics clash in Russia's North Caucasus
![Religion and politics clash in Russia's North Caucasus]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
March 03, 2018
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