Kurbedinov: It’s evidently the searches are authorized by Muslims Mufti of Crimea

Some documents proving the searches and repressions against Muslims in an annexed Crimea were found out and occurred with the signature and authorization of the Crimean Mufti. A member of the Crimean contact group on human rights and a lawyer of mainly all «religious prisoners» in Crimea, Emil Kurbedinov told.

«The searches in mosques are mostly taken place by the Muftiat initiative closely merging with the secret services. We have in our hands a number of documents signed by the Mufti where he wrote certain things. These documents will be made public later. It means that the searches and repressions against various categories Muslims who have an opinion are signed and authorized by the Mufti of Crimea», Kurbedinov shared it in an interview to the Ukrainian TV «Channel 5».

The lawyer reminded that Mufti system was created by Catherine II, and since that there has been a struggle against Islam and Muslims on a territory of the Russian Empire.

«To control somehow the struggle these institutions (muftiats) were established. Islam has no such things and terms as well as doesn’t have cathedral mosques and institutions. And these muftiats for centuries and nowadays serve as an instrument of state authority in Crimea. Thus they present themselves as the Muslims representatives to the state. However, it's indeed vice versa, they are the state representatives presenting state’s interests to the Muslims», the lawyer said.

According to him, there is no protection from the muftiat, they only represent the state’s interests.

«This is despite the fact that later on after the "referendum" in Crimea, Emirali Ablaev (Mufti of Crimea, − Ed.) stated that the mufti will be nobody made offended, and the members of Hizb ut-Tahrir are Muslims as well, and they will protect them. Just passing six months, Emirali Ablaev changed his colours and forgot his words», Kurbedinov said.

The lawyer also pointed out that attitude toward Muslims is biased, although Muslims in Russia are tried to be driven in a certain framework.

«Russia is trying to stop the Muslims, break them into multiple directions, and hung on them some labels. Some favourites of the Muslims looking at things more widely talk about Islam as a kind of management system, but they immediately hang the terrorist label on and sentenced to prison for 10-15 or 17 years. It’s Russian problem. They see the Muslims as their political and ideological opponents. This is the most important thing considered now», Kurbedinov added.