23:08, 4 March 2004

Inspection of documents of prayers in Historic and Memorial Mosques in Moscow

Law-enforcement agencies conducted "total inspections" of documents of prayers in the Historical and Memorial Mosques in Moscow on February 27, Nafigulla Ashirov, co-chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia and chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Moslems of the Asiatic Part of Russia, reported to Ekho Moskvy Radio.

According to him, "posts were arranged in immediate proximity to the mosques, and documents of all those who left them were inspected."

"Some 80 people were taken to the nearest police department directly from the Historical Mosque," said Nafigulla Ashirov.

"Such operations conducted in such sacred places as mosques are rated by many as an unfriendly act towards the Moslems," he said. "Even if such measures arise from good intentions, they discredit the law-enforcement agencies in the opinion of the Moslem public."

"We take such operations with understanding, but they should not be so rude and one-sided in character. Mosques are not a place to search for criminals," added Nafigulla Ashirov.

Source: Ekho Moskvy Radio