Chechen Mufti Salah Mezhiev has called for a radical branch of Islam to be registered as an “extremist sect” in a bid to stop its spread across Russia.
Mezhiev claimed that Wahhabism — the
fundamentalist branch of Sunni Islam which originates in Saudi Arabia —
should be declared an “extremist sect,” the Interfax news
agency reported Tuesday.
He called the movement a “phenomenon”
spreading throughout central Russia and Siberia, and called on Russian
Muslims to “make a stand.”
"Wahhabism should be recognized as
a sect and banned at a government level," Mezhiev told
Interfax.
The religious leader also called on the Russian media not to refer to terrorists as “jihadis.”
“Jihad is about
adhering to the norms of Islam,” he said. “These people should be
called devils.”
Mezhiev made the comments following the
World Conference of Muslim Scholars, which was held in late August in
Grozny. The conference issued a religious ruling which referred to
Wahhabism as a “misguided sect.”
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
