MeMyselfAndI
Oct 11th 2010, 09:47 PM
Moscow, Muslims may end up praying in churches
by Nina Achmatova
The mufti of the capital warns: lack of mosques, we would not want to end up celebrating in churches. The Russian Orthodox Patriarchate says it is "happy to accommodate our Muslim brothers." But these are superficial statements to content the government's policy of tolerance. Neither community is planning to arrive at such "extreme" solutions.
Moscow (AsiaNews) - Muslims in Moscow may be forced to pray in Orthodox churches because of a lack of mosques, though they would prefer not arrive at such an "extreme" decision. The warning comes from the imam of the main mosque in the Russian capital Ildar Ayautdinov, responding to citizens' protests against the planned construction of a place of Islamic worship in the district of Tekstilschiki. The Orthodox Church says it is ready to accept the Muslim faithful, but scholars of Islam argue that Muslim religious leaders are magnifying the situation which in reality is not so dramatic.
"Moscow is the only place in the world where over one million Muslims are served in only four mosques. We lack premises for praying. Muslims are allowed to conduct their religious ceremonies in Orthodox churches, but we would rather avoid this extreme measure, "he said yesterday in an interview with Russian daily Ayautdinov Metro. On Sept. 11, residents of Tekstilschiki took to the streets, along the Volga road, to say no to the plans to build a mosque in a green area, the only one for several kilometres. According to locals, who are gathering signatures for a petition, the mosque "would create parking problems and would represent a threat to the owners of dogs”, animals considered incarnation of the devil by the faithful of Islam. Previously, the residents themselves had asked to have an Orthodox chapel in the area, but permission was denied. For their part, supporters of the construction of the mosque, such as Arthur Urmanshin, ensure that originally there were more mosques in Moscow.
Dmitri Smirnov, head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for Relations with the Armed Forces, says that "the doors of our churches are open to our Muslim brothers." "Even now – he continues - some are Muslims involved in the construction of churches, Sunday schools and the restoration of our religious heritage, such as our Uzbek and Tajik brothers to whom we are very grateful."
The archpriest’s words are part of a strategy of tolerance towards the Muslim component, typical of the policy of premier Vladimir Putin concerned about containing separatist forces within the Muslim Caucasus. The Orthodox Church has adapted to the government policy in exchange for recognition of its supremacy at acultural and social level in Russia.
According to the expert on Islam Roman Silantyev, interviewed by Interfax, the demand for new mosques by Muslims in Moscow is baseless. "It 's time to end any speculation about discrimination against Muslims in the capital," he said. He corrects the mufti Ayautdinov, adding that the actual number of Muslims is estimated "around 400 thousand and there are not four mosques available, but six." Besides these, he continues, there are dozens of other small mosques and prayer rooms, which are sufficient for the entire community. According Silantyev, complaints about the shortage of mosques in Moscow "do not arise from the need to take care of the faithful, but by a desire to concentrate all donations in a few places controlled by a one Islamic organization rather than another."
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Moscow,-Muslims-may-end-up-praying-in-churches-19500.html
Well, today, near the cathedral mosque, were confrontations. 10,000 Muslims assembled there for prayer, ethnic Tatars mostly, as has been since 1904, when that mosque was built. But the mosque can only take in 2,000-3,000 people. The rest had to stand outside. They wanted to set up a large tent to pray in. There were maybe couple thousand of OMON paramilitary troops standing around in groups of 3 to 5, dressed in their distinctive blue camoufalge, with black masks on, bullet-proof vests, AKs. Standing and watching. Just staring at the Muslims. It's hard enough to pray when you have armed soldiers standing over you. But, also, nobody bothered to close down the road. So, when they had to move through the road to get around the mosque, or even to cross it, they had to dodge traffic. This created a number of conflicts between the parishioners and drivers, not all of which would have ended peacefully or well for either side if not for the OMON. They quickly separated any scuffles and prevented any violence. But Muslim leaders say their people were dealt with more forcefully, thrown to the ground, kicked, handcuffed; one man says he was hit on the head with the butt of an Kalashnikov.
http://www.ng.ru/moscow/2010-10-11/1_religion.html
It's not good.
But that is just a drop in the sea of misery for Moscow Muslims. In the article they say 'over a million', but really, counting all the Central Asian illegal migrants, it would me more like two and a half million. And four mosques, the biggest of them, Cathedral mosque, can take in only, as I said, 2 to 3 thousand; and Tatars usually do not let Uzbeks and Tajiks and such people into, what they consider, thier mosque. As a result, particularly the poorer Muslims are forced to pray in schools, after hours; in parks; even in parking lots of shopping centers!
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oqXpnURgYXo/TI3wl0oGIaI/AAAAAAAABZA/9_blknpCcAg/s1600/0_57473_f6ab4310_orig.jpg
They have to pray on the street, in the rain, or blazing summer heat, or freezing winter... If the governoment tried to treat Orthodox Christians this way... there would be rioting and pogroms in the streets. I have to say, the patience, and understanding and maturity of the Muslim community here is outstanding. It is a disgusting situation, really is.
by Nina Achmatova
The mufti of the capital warns: lack of mosques, we would not want to end up celebrating in churches. The Russian Orthodox Patriarchate says it is "happy to accommodate our Muslim brothers." But these are superficial statements to content the government's policy of tolerance. Neither community is planning to arrive at such "extreme" solutions.
Moscow (AsiaNews) - Muslims in Moscow may be forced to pray in Orthodox churches because of a lack of mosques, though they would prefer not arrive at such an "extreme" decision. The warning comes from the imam of the main mosque in the Russian capital Ildar Ayautdinov, responding to citizens' protests against the planned construction of a place of Islamic worship in the district of Tekstilschiki. The Orthodox Church says it is ready to accept the Muslim faithful, but scholars of Islam argue that Muslim religious leaders are magnifying the situation which in reality is not so dramatic.
"Moscow is the only place in the world where over one million Muslims are served in only four mosques. We lack premises for praying. Muslims are allowed to conduct their religious ceremonies in Orthodox churches, but we would rather avoid this extreme measure, "he said yesterday in an interview with Russian daily Ayautdinov Metro. On Sept. 11, residents of Tekstilschiki took to the streets, along the Volga road, to say no to the plans to build a mosque in a green area, the only one for several kilometres. According to locals, who are gathering signatures for a petition, the mosque "would create parking problems and would represent a threat to the owners of dogs”, animals considered incarnation of the devil by the faithful of Islam. Previously, the residents themselves had asked to have an Orthodox chapel in the area, but permission was denied. For their part, supporters of the construction of the mosque, such as Arthur Urmanshin, ensure that originally there were more mosques in Moscow.
Dmitri Smirnov, head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for Relations with the Armed Forces, says that "the doors of our churches are open to our Muslim brothers." "Even now – he continues - some are Muslims involved in the construction of churches, Sunday schools and the restoration of our religious heritage, such as our Uzbek and Tajik brothers to whom we are very grateful."
The archpriest’s words are part of a strategy of tolerance towards the Muslim component, typical of the policy of premier Vladimir Putin concerned about containing separatist forces within the Muslim Caucasus. The Orthodox Church has adapted to the government policy in exchange for recognition of its supremacy at acultural and social level in Russia.
According to the expert on Islam Roman Silantyev, interviewed by Interfax, the demand for new mosques by Muslims in Moscow is baseless. "It 's time to end any speculation about discrimination against Muslims in the capital," he said. He corrects the mufti Ayautdinov, adding that the actual number of Muslims is estimated "around 400 thousand and there are not four mosques available, but six." Besides these, he continues, there are dozens of other small mosques and prayer rooms, which are sufficient for the entire community. According Silantyev, complaints about the shortage of mosques in Moscow "do not arise from the need to take care of the faithful, but by a desire to concentrate all donations in a few places controlled by a one Islamic organization rather than another."
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Moscow,-Muslims-may-end-up-praying-in-churches-19500.html
Well, today, near the cathedral mosque, were confrontations. 10,000 Muslims assembled there for prayer, ethnic Tatars mostly, as has been since 1904, when that mosque was built. But the mosque can only take in 2,000-3,000 people. The rest had to stand outside. They wanted to set up a large tent to pray in. There were maybe couple thousand of OMON paramilitary troops standing around in groups of 3 to 5, dressed in their distinctive blue camoufalge, with black masks on, bullet-proof vests, AKs. Standing and watching. Just staring at the Muslims. It's hard enough to pray when you have armed soldiers standing over you. But, also, nobody bothered to close down the road. So, when they had to move through the road to get around the mosque, or even to cross it, they had to dodge traffic. This created a number of conflicts between the parishioners and drivers, not all of which would have ended peacefully or well for either side if not for the OMON. They quickly separated any scuffles and prevented any violence. But Muslim leaders say their people were dealt with more forcefully, thrown to the ground, kicked, handcuffed; one man says he was hit on the head with the butt of an Kalashnikov.
http://www.ng.ru/moscow/2010-10-11/1_religion.html
It's not good.
But that is just a drop in the sea of misery for Moscow Muslims. In the article they say 'over a million', but really, counting all the Central Asian illegal migrants, it would me more like two and a half million. And four mosques, the biggest of them, Cathedral mosque, can take in only, as I said, 2 to 3 thousand; and Tatars usually do not let Uzbeks and Tajiks and such people into, what they consider, thier mosque. As a result, particularly the poorer Muslims are forced to pray in schools, after hours; in parks; even in parking lots of shopping centers!
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oqXpnURgYXo/TI3wl0oGIaI/AAAAAAAABZA/9_blknpCcAg/s1600/0_57473_f6ab4310_orig.jpg
They have to pray on the street, in the rain, or blazing summer heat, or freezing winter... If the governoment tried to treat Orthodox Christians this way... there would be rioting and pogroms in the streets. I have to say, the patience, and understanding and maturity of the Muslim community here is outstanding. It is a disgusting situation, really is.