North-Caucasian Muftiates support Moscow action criticized by Kadyrov

The provocative law enforcers' actions in the Moscow Region, which demonstrated disrespect for Islam, and the absence of response to demands to bring the participants and organizers of raids in mosques to justice, have caused understandable indignation among Muslims. This was stated by officials of the Muftiates of North Ossetia and Adygea. They have stated the need to build new mosques in Moscow and other cities that have large Muslim communities.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 21, after the Friday namaz (prayer) in a historic mosque in Moscow, believers held a march against law enforcers' raids conducted in mosques in the Moscow Region. The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, condemned the unauthorized nature of the protest.

Khadjimurad Gatsalov, the Mufti of North Ossetia, has called law enforcers' actions to be fundamentally wrong. "It is unacceptable to treat believers in this way. If there are any questions, this can be done after namaz. It's even more unacceptable to walk in dirty shoes on the carpets on which people pray," he has stated.

Speaking about Kadyrov's reaction, Mufti Gatsalov has noted that "spontaneous indignation is caused precisely by such law enforcers' actions." He supported the idea of building a new mosque in Moscow.

Imam Asfar Myss, a member of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of Adygea, did not consider it reprehensible to express indignation of Muslims at a mosque in Moscow. According to his version, the criticism of Muslims' spontaneous action, including by Kadyrov, has to do with the fact that "they don't accept any expression of opinions."