Islamic scholars criticize anti-alcohol campaign in Chechnya

Islam prohibits drinking alcoholic beverages only for Muslims, without limiting people who profess other religions, note Islamic experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot". During anti-alcohol raids, Chechen law enforcers do not ask buyers of alcoholic beverages about their confession, local residents note.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that since October 2019, users of social networks regularly post reports about "preventive conversations" held by Chechen law enforcers with people detained for drinking alcoholic beverages and using psychotropic substances. So, on March 1, a video was posted in which Rustam Aguev, the chief of the Kurchaloi ROVD (District Interior Division), reproached detainees and equated them to terrorists.

During the anti-alcohol raids, Chechen law enforcers may prohibit a purchase of alcoholic beverages also for non-Muslims, notes Lidia Kurbanova, Professor at the Chechen State University (ChSU). "During raids, law enforcers may be rude and tactless, they may humiliate people, and they may not ask whether a person who buys alcoholic beverages is a Muslim or not," Lidia Kurbanova told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Islam does not prohibit drinking alcoholic beverages for people professing other religions, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has been told by Islamic scholar Yefim Rezvan, the deputy director of the Kunstkamera. "From the point of view of Islam, it is impossible to prohibit the use of alcoholic beverages to non-Muslims and atheists," Yefim Rezvan told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

In Chechnya, the fight against alcohol consumption is accompanied by the imposition of religious standards of behaviour on people professing other religions, believes Svetlana Gannushkina, the head of the "Civic Assistance Committee". "It is obvious that the authorities impose religious standards of behaviour in Chechnya on people of other confessions. The authorities want to dominate everywhere ... This is the basic nature of the totalitarian regime," Svetlana Gannushkina told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 4, 2020 at 12:18 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.