World

Russia's Muslim elite vows to tackle extremism

Two weeks after suicide bomb that killed 36, Russia's Muslims set up council of experts to tackle extremism.

Reuters February 10, 2011

MOSCOW: Russia's Muslims on Thursday set up a council of experts to devise ways to tackle extremism, two weeks after a suicide bomb attack on the country's busiest airport killed 36.

"People need to be protected from extremism and terrorism, and educated away from this," said Ravil Gaynutdin, the chief Mufti of Russia, which is home to some 20 million Muslims, or a seventh of the population.

"These experts will play a very important role towards making things better... for Muslims to be more involved in Russian society," Gaynutdin, clad in a flowing black robe and crowned by a silk white hat, told Reuters in an interview before chairing the council's first meeting.

He added that the council, comprised of 38 Russian Muslims involved in politics, law and media, will regularly meet to analyse how Muslims live in today's Russia and make recommendations to government on how their lives can improve.

Initiatives could include offering religious guidance to Muslim youths, setting up sports clubs, building more mosques and making sure Muslim literature is easy to find.

A decade after federal troops drove separatists out of power in a second war in Chechnya, the North Caucasus -- home to around half of Russia's Muslims -- is plagued with violence and rebels there want to carve out a separate Islamic state.

Earlier this week Islamic leader Doku Umarov said he had ordered the devastating attack on Moscow's Domodedovo airport. Authorities say the bomber was 20-year-old Magomed Yevloyev from Ingushetia, a sliver of impoverished land neighbouring Chechnya.

Umarov, a Chechen, said hundreds of men are ready for jihad (holy war) in Russia and he presently has dozens of suicide bombers ready to unleash on Russian cities.

President Dmitry Medvedev has told security officials terrorism is Russia's biggest threat.

Gaynutdin said Muslims must understand that "if you take a person's life, then you stand on Satan's path... These are not martyrs, but terrorists and suicide bombers."

Experts say feelings of rootlessness and a lack of acceptance by ethnic Russians add to a dispiriting mix that pushes young men into the insurgency.

In December, Moscow saw some of the worst racial violence since the Soviet collapse when thousands of neo-nationalists gathered near Red Square and attacked passersby who appeared to be from the North Caucasus.

The violence shocked both ordinary Russians and officials, and sparked outrage from Muslim regional leaders.

Gaynutdin added that he hopes the country's first Muslim television channel, proposed by Medvedev two years ago, will air in the second half of 2011.

COMMENTS (14)

Javed | 13 years ago | Reply @G.Din Ir doesn't matter what gives me a soothing feeling or not. I just told the truth that RSS in general and you in particual are Hindu terrorists. Not only Hindus are Terrorists but they are Cowards too. It was concluded by Nanawati commission that the Arsen in Hindu Train was not done by Muslims. It was work of People like you and then blame on minorities. This is not the first time RSS has done that and wont be the last either. To me who can do something like this, is a Confirmed Hindu terrorist and a sicko, a complete insane because first killed your own Hindu yatris , then killed Muslims and get your own Hindu killed as well involving Chief minister and political parties as well. This is such a sick behavior. Its always easy to do such act of terrorism against minorities. Take up with any majority and see how they slap your dark Hindu rears back, my dear coward Hindu terrorist.LOL. Are you telling me that you are taking revenge of those Muslim Rulers who came a thousand year back and ruled you? Then I can only mourn on your mental health. Go Plant more bombs and blame on others.

G.Din | 13 years ago | Reply @Javed "...You look like a confirmed RSS Terrorist to me. " Thank you. But do consider that looks can be deceiving. I will not dignify your immature abusive tirade with a response. But if it gives you a soothing feeling, you may indulge in frothing at your mouth to your heart's content. Just mind the warning that Muslims do not have a license to go berserk without expecting retaliation on a massive scale. Did you know Gujrat violence, after the idiocy of Godhra, resulted in 40 Muslim lives snuffed out for every Hindu life taken?

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Javed | 13 years ago | Reply You look like a confirmed RSS Terrorist to me. So, dont tell me there are no Hindu terrorist, You are the one right here,. Start the count and finish it at you. your views are just as the one RSS Terrorists views are. Let's tag right here with the ceremonial Medal of Hindu Terrorist. Read this Mr. Terrorist http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/ajmer-blast-key-accused-names-rss-leader-indresh-kumar-85124?pfrom=home-India Where you took the matter to War on Terror. You tell me if you are a Hindu RSS Terrorist or not and there are more like you?Period.

G.Din | 13 years ago | Reply @Javed There are no Hindu terrorists. For instance violence perpetrated by Hindus in Gujrat after unprovoked Godhra burning by Muslims of returning Hindu pilgrims cannot be termed terrorism. Call it vendetta, if you will. Terrorism is randomly inflicted violence. Gujrat massacres were a retaliation and being reactionary, therefore eminently justified. You can rail as much as you want against RSS. Our own Muslim-appeasing pseudo-secularists will support you in that. But facts speak otherwise. Some of the leading pseudo-secularists who went after RSS after Gujrat riots (they were even awarded high state honours by pseudo-secularist government) have egg on their faces today as it comes out that they filed falsified and forged affidavits. This was brought to light by their own erstwhile Muslim cohorts. Muslims, in India and elsewhere, should not feel that they have a license to inflict violence, bloodshed and misery on non-Muslims without being called to account. The whole war on terror speaks to that. We in India will retaliate as was done in the case of Samjhauta Express. That is NOT terrorism. When the State fails to protect you, it is your bounden duty to take responsibility for your own defense and to retaliate.

Javed | 13 years ago | Reply @G.Din All Hindus may not be terroists but why it is so that every terrorist who is apprehended in India is RSS Hindu Terrorist? :)

PriyaSuraj | 13 years ago | Reply @ G Din - I get your point. I was expressing my feelings about the comments of the above and in no way censuring them. They are entitled to their opinions as are you and me. And had bvindh explained what he meant by 'tackling' the way you have may be I would never have written what I did. I just don't appreciate when something is just painted black/white. Mostly its not about what one says, but how one says it. So peace :)

bvindh | 13 years ago | Reply @PriyaSuraj, The Express Tribune team published my comments because they found them to be acceptable. Your statements actually question the integrity of the Express Tribune team. So, you already abused the privilege bestowed upon you by the Express Tribune team. Hope you could see the paradoxical/illogical nature of the position you have taken. Also, the way you interpreted my comments as being disrespectful to Pakistanis reflect your own personal prejudices about Islam. So, you are the one who needs to stop abusing the privileges extended to you by our hosts, the Express Tribune team!

G.Din | 13 years ago | Reply @PriyaSuraj What bvindh suggested is to look for the source of all this terrorism in the dogma of Islam. It is not a great secret that all terrorists who operate on the international stage are Muslims and all of them ostensibly are trying to further the cause of Islam. They are now highly educated people who come out of affluent families. It would be bad enough if they were all born-Muslims, even those who are recent converts who cannot be expected to have a full understanding of Islam take to terror right away. Those who are beyond the pale of intimidation/terror/ silencing by blasphemy laws have a duty to opine that there is something in that dogma that motivates those terrorists which ought to be investigated and "tackled". If that is not a constructive suggestion, I don't know what is. True that individual requests are not being sent by this newspaper for comments but the fact that the paper has opened up their space for comments is an invitation to the general readership. The only qualification/requirement of such comments is that they not be mean-spirited or abusive or else the whole purpose for inviting such comments is negated. True also is the fact that our comments may or may not benefit some or all but the comments offered are to inform so that informed conclusions can be drawn. No one who comments here can be sure that his/her opinion will swing the issue not are they offered with that intent. Well, if you are not tickled when you see your comments in print points to your maturity and wisdom. Not all of us are mature and/or wise to the same degree. This is a forum free for all to come in and contribute their mite within certain bounds of decency. But that does not exclude solidly-founded opinions that may not find favour with all but which ought to be considered. It is not good to discourage comments on any grounds but those which govern the moderators. They are doing a mighty good job of it and are in no great need of help in this regard, I assure you!

PriyaSuraj | 13 years ago | Reply @ G Din - Not sure how bvindh's comment was 'helpful' or 'constructive'. And I do consider this a privilege that I am allowed to give comments here. I personally don't feel we are doing a favour to them. It would have been a favour if they had requested us for our opinion and then we gave comments. Whether Express Tribune or its readers benefit from our comments is definitely debatable. And am I tickled to death to see my comments in print? Well I would have been if it were the first time I saw my words in print :). Are there others who feel tickled to death to see themselves in print, I would not know and I rather not judge.

Rahim J Khan | 13 years ago | Reply @Indian and Bvindh I agree with PriyaSuraj, if you want to express your feelings express in an intellectual manner, there is nothing wrong with Islam. It's the person who indulges him or herself in such acts. Russia has deep problems which they have to work on and this is one way forward to bring communities together by listening to them.

G.Din | 13 years ago | Reply @PriyaSuraj I thought bvindh's suggestion (comment) was quite helpful and constructive and not at all "unnecessary". "...Pls appreciate this and don’t abuse the privilege extended to us Indians." It is debatable if publishing comments from Indians is really a privilege extended to them by this paper. That Indians spend time offering their constructive comments giving an alternative viewpoint would/should normally be considered a favour by them. Of course, it would be considered a privilege by those who are tickled to death to see themselves in print.

PriyaSuraj | 13 years ago | Reply @indian and @bvindh - totally unnecessary comments. Go ahead and express your views but don't be disrespectful towards other people. Express Tribune team can block our comments if it wishes to do so, but it does not. Pls appreciate this and don't abuse the privilege extended to us Indians. I am encouraged when I read such news. This is probably the first step and if done properly will yield good results. It is an example that other countries plagued with terrorism can follow.

bvindh | 13 years ago | Reply Well, they could start with "tackling" islam itself!

indian | 13 years ago | Reply another proof

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