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December 7, 2005

Russia: Reactions to Muslim Calls For Change of National Emblem

The image at left is the Romanov eagle, which was instituted as Russia's national emblem shortly after the fall of communism. We wrote yesterday of the opinions of the chairman of the Spiritual Board of Muslims of Asian Russia, Nafigulla Ashirov, who complained about the Christian symbols contained.

The Mufti's comments have met with some severe criticism from inside Russia. Interfax yesterday reported that the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church views attempts to alter the emblem as a provocation, which would lead to inter-faith conflict.

Archpriest Vsavolod Chaplin, spokesman for the Patriarchate, said "Nobody would benefit from a conflict, and least of all the Muslims, who are already suffering from unfair Islamic phobia".

"It would be beneficial only to those who receives money from abroad in order to sow hostility in Russia, radicalize the Islamic ummah, and simultaneously get rid of its traditional leadership and so come to the foreground. These people are in the shade so far, but we know them well. They should be stopped."

He said that calls to de-Christianize the nation, in its past history and in its future would draw a negative response from Orthodox Christians. "That is what the organisers of this publication are probably seeking.

Today, Interfax quotes from Sergey Markov, director of the Political Research Institute and member of the Public Chamber. He too viewed the statements as a provocation to draw out religious differences.

"It is a public-relations provocation by Islamic organizations and nationalist groupings who have as their aim to undermine the interreligious peace in Russia," he said, adding that one of the groups who agreed to the statement, the Tartar Public Center had actively called for Tatarstan to break away from Russia.

"‘I would like to underscore that it is by no means a demand of the Muslims in Russia. Though Muslims would be certainly glad to see Islamic symbols more pronounced," he said, observing also that as the Orthodox Church had been around for 1,000 years, he could not envisage it being "abandoned in the nearest future."

Interfax also reproduced criticisms of the demand to change the emblem from Radik Amirov, press secretary of the Russian Council of Muftis, who described the suggestion as "a personal problem of this narrow circle of people."

"Grievances against the National Emblem cannot be voiced on behalf of all the Muslims. The opinion of one religious leader does not at all mean that it is shared by the rest of the followers of Islam," he said. He also wondered if the Muslims of today have nothing else better to do but change the National Emblem.

The chairman of Russia's Islamic Human Rights Center, Mufti Ismagil Shangareyev, said that the eagle emblem "does not at all conflict with the Muslim norms and ethics."

"I do not support any change in the National Emblem. The Orthodox symbols are associated with the history of the country in which we live. We have built this country together. It has been historically Orthodox. For this reason I do no support any radical changes in the National Emblem," he pronounced.

Meanwhile, Novosti gives more opinions from Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin. "I am afraid that this is being done to sow hatred between believers since the calls to de-Christianize Russia's history, its symbols, its present and future have invariably provoked a backlash from the Orthodox," he stated. "Neither Muslims nor Russian Orthodox believers are interested in fomenting a conflict."

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at December 7, 2005 10:12 PM

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