'Muslims to make up 30% of Russia's population by 2034'

Grand mufti Ravil Gainutdin highlights need for big mosques in the country

Muslims will make up 30 per cent of Russia's population by 2034, the country's grand mufti said on Monday.

Speaking at a conference in Moscow, Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin said the number of Muslims in Russia had been growing with every passing day.

"As per predictions of experts, 30 per cent of Russia's population will consist of Muslims after 15 years," Gainutdin said.

According to Anadolu Agency, the grand mufti recalled that during last year's Eidul Azha, more than 320,000 Muslims came to mosques in Moscow to perform their prayers, saying this was a "record".

Noting that the number of those performing prayers during the Islamic festivals were increasing compared to previous years, Gainutdin said it was an indicator of the rising numbers of Muslims in the country.

He added that there was a need for dozens of new mosques in Russia's big cities.

In an interview last year with Anadolu Agency, Gainutdin had said that the Muslim community in Russia was 25 million strong and continued to grow.

The reason for the increase is mainly due to two factors: the high birth rate among Muslim families and the arrival of people from Central Asia, he added.

Most Muslims in the country live in Moscow and other major metropolitan areas such as St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg, according to the grand mufti.