Russia's Muslim clerics concerned over court ruling on Islamic book
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 10 September 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russia's Muslim clerics concerned over court ruling on Islamic book, 10 September 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/561d04362e.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
September 10, 2015
A court decision on a book about Islam is sparking protests in Russia.
A judge in the Far Eastern city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Natalya Perchenko, banned the Russian-language book in August, saying it included verses of the Koran that are "extremist."
A co-chairman of the Russian Council of Muftis, Nafigulla Ashirov, said on September 10 that the council will appeal the ruling, saying it "damages Russia's image."
The statement comes a day after the leader of Russia's mainly Muslim region of Chechnya, Ramazan Kadyrov, harshly criticized the court's decision, calling it a "provocation that might cause mass protests across Russia and beyond."
The chairman of the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk City Court, Aleksandr Chukhrai, said on September 10 that the court's decision "might have been a mistake."
In 2013, a Russian court decision to ban a translation of the Koran was overturned following protests by Muslim clerics.
Based on reporting by govoritmoskva.ru and Interfax
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
