Sufism

4 Posts

•

0 Followers

Chechnya

Ingush Mufti unexplainedly absent from North Caucasus Muftiate conference

by OC Media

•3 min read

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. The conference in Cherkessk, the capital of Karachay–Cherkessia, was dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Coordination Centre for Muslims of the North Cau

Georgia

Salafis and Sufis make peace in Pankisi

by Volodymyr Soboliev

•3 min read

The Salafi community and Sufi Council of Elders in Pankisi Valley, northeast Georgia, agreed to cooperate on 14 June and to work together on issues in the valley. OC Media has learned that for several weeks, the Council of Elders and Salafi community have been holding meetings to discuss a growing rift and alienation between the two communities. The Council of Elders had been dissatisfied with the Salafi community because in their opinion, for Salafis religion always comes first, even a

council of elders

Pankisi Elder: the Georgian government needs to choose a side

by Volodymyr Soboliev

•8 min read

Zaur Gumashvili, chairman of the board of Pankisi’s Council of Elders, discussed with OC Media the fading role of Elders in the valley, the rise of the Salafi movement, the subsequent cultural decline, and an action plan how to stop it. Since the 1990s, Pankisi Valley, in the northeast of Georgia, has attracted international attention as a wild and dangerous place, due to it’s association with Chechen fighters, drug trafficking, and violence. Although nowadays Pankisi is a peaceful rural

Feature Stories

Imam of Pankisi: There is no ‘radicalisation’ here

by Volodymyr Soboliev

•7 min read

Salafi imam of Pankisi, Bekkhan Pareulidze, sat down with OC Media for an exclusive interview, in which he discussed the region’s religious divisions, the outflow of young Kists to Syria, and the role civil society has to play in the valley. Since the 1990s, Pankisi Valley, in the northeast of Georgia, has attracted international attention as a wild and dangerous place, due to it’s association with Chechen fighters, drug trafficking, and violence. Although nowadays Pankisi is a peaceful rur