Kadyrov outraged by idea of banning namaz in one of districts in Stavropol Territory

When commenting on a document banning namaz (prayer) in the Andropovsky District of the Stavropol Territory that had already been cancelled by the district’s authorities, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has called the ban an “open discrimination and legal lawlessness.” The leader of Chechnya has suggested that the authorities of other regions should build more mosques if they do not want namaz in the street.

The letter about the inadmissibility of public namaz as mass events uncoordinated with the authorities was a mistake, announced the authorities of the Andropovsky District. There are no restrictions on religious rites in the region, assures a spokesperson of the Stavropol Territory’s authorities.

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov stated that he “felt indignation when he read the letter issued by the administration of the Andropovsky Municipal District of the Stavropol Territory” about the “inadmissibility of public namaz” and the threat of fines. The leader of Chechnya recalled the large number of Muslims in Russia and their participation in the special military operation (SMO).

Ramzan Kadyrov has emphasized that the geographical location of the Stavropol Territory also determines the special attitude towards Muslims. “The Stavropol Territory is part of the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD), surrounded by republics with a Muslim majority. <...> In the known conditions, such statements from the authorities sound not just illiterate, but absurd and dangerous,” the leader of Chechnya stated.

He has also claimed that “if the authorities do not want Muslims to pray in the streets, then they should let Muslims facilitate the construction of mosques.”

“I and millions of Muslims across the country are outraged by such actions. This undermines interethnic trust and provokes discord. Such things must be stopped harshly and in a principled manner,” the leader of Chechnya concluded.