Growing up in Ingushetia, Zarina (not her real name), struggled with traditions that she felt restricted her. After fights with her family, a brief marriage, and a religious awakening, Zarina says she has now finally accepted herself for who she is. [Read more…]
Court begins hearing Batumi mosque appeal after 2-year standstill
Friday prayer at Batumi's Orta mosque. Worshipers pray in the street outside the mosque. (Mari Nikuradze/OC Media)
A court in the city of Batumi, on Georgia’s Black Sea coast, has begun considering a lawsuit brought by a group of Muslims against the city authorities over their refusal to grant a construction permit for a mosque. [Read more…]
Georgian Muslim leader detained in Azerbaijan
Mirtaghi Asadov (Facebook)
Georgian Shia Muslim leader and frequent government critic Mirtaghi Asadov was arrested in Azerbaijan last week under unclear circumstances. Local rights groups have questioned the Azerbaijani Government account of his arrest and demanded Georgia intervene. [Read more…]
The green zone: where Russia’s Caucasian prisoners are fighting back
A Friday prayer at Prison No 10 in Saratov (ansar.ru)
Prisoners from the Caucasus in Russian jails receive a ‘special treatment’ of beatings, bullying, and torture from both prison authorities and their fellow inmates. But in the ‘green zone’ prisons, where Muslim inmates have developed a system of resistance — the North Caucasians are fighting back.
Ingush Mufti unexplainedly absent from North Caucasus Muftiate conference
Mufti of Karachay–Cherkessia Ismail Berdiyev and head of the Coordination Centre for Muslims of the North Caucasus speaking at the centre’s conference (/Muftiate of Tatarstan)
Ingushetia’s Muftiate was absent on Saturday at a conference of Muslim religious authorities from throughout the Russian North Caucasus, OC Media has learnt. While the Muftiates of all other republics attended, Ingushetia was represented by the state religious authorities, who have been in public conflict with the Mufti since 2015.
Voice | ‘I’m a second wife and I don’t care what you think’
Makhachkala (Dominik K. Cagara /OC Media)
A 35-year-old woman from Makhachkala tells Daptar that becoming a second wife is a dream come true. [Read more…]
Daghestani authorities investigate man for 5-year-old social media post
Mosque-goers being detained in Makhachkala (golosislama.com)
A resident of Daghestan has accused the authorities of pressuring him to confess to being an ‘extremist’ over a video he shared on social network VKontakte five years ago. The man, who asked not to be named, told OC Media he is being accused of inciting ethnic hatred over the post.
Violence against religious minorities ‘poorly investigated’ in Georgia
Muslims hold a prayer in front of the disputed building in Mokhe (Dato Parulava/Liberali)
Cases of violence based on religious intolerance between 2013–2016 went largely uninvestigated, according to the Georgian Public Defender’s 2017 human rights report. The report said it should be considered a ‘systematic problem’. [Read more…]
The continuing harassment of Arsen Gasanov
Makhachkala at night (Screenshot/ YouTube)
For a year and a half, Makhachkala resident Arsen Gasanov and his family have been harassed by police. Despite going to court for an explanation of why, and the register on which he was labelled an ‘extremist’ officially being disbanded, the harassment still continues.
Islamic literature confiscated at Georgian–Turkish border
Sarpi customs checkpoint (adjara.gov.ge)
Books about Islam, including the Quran, have been confiscated by border guards at the Sarpi customs checkpoint on the Turkish–Georgian border, according to an annual report by Georgia’s Public Defender.
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