Dagestan: Imam of Tsumada District replaced amid conflict

Following the change of the Imam of the village of Agvali, who failed to satisfy the local Muslim community, the Dagestani Muftiate appointed a new chairman of the Council of Imams of the Tsumada District. The Muftiate's statement about its right to appoint Imams indicates a conflict with Agvali villagers on this issue, Ziyautdin Uvaisov, a religious figure, has suggested.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 16, a brawl broke out in Agvali between the Imam of the local mosque and a villager. Law enforcers arrived in the village. Local believers had independently, without the participation of Dagestani Muftiate officials, proclaimed a new imam – Magomedsaigid Kadimagomedov. However, the council of religious figures made another decisions – to transfer Imam Yusup Gadjiev to Agvali.

In his turn, Ramazan Isaev, the former Imam, insists that there was no reason to replace him.

The situation in Agvali has normalized; the new Imam suits almost all the local residents, said Abdurakhim Mashtikhi, a council member of the Agvali mosque.

"The new Imam is a young and well-read man. He suits all the residents," local resident named Gusein has confirmed. According to his version, the Muftiate agreed to Gadjiev's appointment, since "there was no other way out."

Earlier, Instagram users accused Muslims of the Tsumada District of opposing themselves to Dagestani Muftiate supporters. The conflict has to do with the intention of the local jamaat to organize itself, said Rasul Assad, a blogger.