Tragically Torn Between Two Loyalties

In an attempt to fight further marginalisation of their communities, Muslim religious leaders increasingly pledge their support to hard-handed President Putin – in vain, it seems, as Svenja Üing and Ruth Dickhoven report

In Russia, as in many other European States, Islam is the second largest religious group. And, in contrast to other Russian groups of society, the number of Muslims is increasing – estimates of their number vary to a high degree, ranging between 8 and 20 million.

Among them are also migrant workers who want to escape the economic problems of their home countries. But in Russia, they are confronted with a growing hostility.

Ismail Shangariev and Muhammad Beshi-Ulum are members of the Council of Russian Muftis. They are dissatisfied about the current situation of Muslims in the country.

Muhammad Beshi-Ulum says that the war against Russia is also a war against Islam. "We, the Muslims, are the ones who have been suffering the most after the terror attack at the school in Beslan. Who gets stopped by the first militiaman who comes along?" he asks rhetorically. "Is it me with my oriental appearance or the Slav standing right next to me?"

According to the most recent census, there are about 14.5 million Muslims in Russia. Seven of Russia's 89 provinces are predominantly Muslim. These seven provinces lie along the river Volga and in the north Caucasian mountains. Until the mid 90s, radical Islamic groups had no support here.

More and more Muslims support the president

The two Chechen Wars lead to a radicalisation of religion. This prepared the ground for violence and makes it easier for terrorists such as Shamil Basayev, Chechen warlord and terrorist, to recruit new fighters.

Ever since Bassayev and others spread terror all across Russia, the Russian Muftis feel impelled to reassure the Kremlin of their loyalty. This means, they also support the controversial domestic reforms of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"It may sound odd, but the Muslims support the president in this respect. We are on the side of the president, because the terror is also directed against Muslims," explains Mufti spokesman Ismail Shangariev.

A community divided

Radical supporters of Russian Islam call those Muslims who are loyal to the Kremlin "Spies for Russian imperialism". The Kremlin, on the other hand, leaves the Muslim religious leaders, who support the Kremlin, alone in their dilemma between loyalty to the Russian state and their Islamic identity.

The Russian government says it wants more intercultural understanding. But political scientist Alexej Malashenko claims that's just empty words: "To give an example: In August our special forces staged a fake battle. And who were they fighting against? Muslims with scarves on which 'Alah Akbar' was written. There were many children in the audience. Things like these could have awful consequences."

In Russia fears of a militant Islam is strong and is currently producing strong anti-Muslim sentiments. It seems that the Kremlin has little interest to counteract those tendencies and it is not likely that future Islamist violence will have Vladimir Putin change his course.

Svenja Üing/Ruth Dickhoven