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September 26, 2006
Russia: Imam Is Shot Dead
News from Radio Free Europe, Regnum, Interfax, Al Jazeera, Mosnews, Arab Times and Pravda report that an imam has been shot dead in the southern spa town of Kislovodsk in the republic/province of Stavropol Krai, Russsia.
The imam was shot outside his apartment in a housing block late yesterday, around 11 pm. The imam, 55-year old Abubakir Kurbijiyev (also spelled Abubakir Kudzhiyev), had been hit in the chest and back. The gunmen fled, and it appears that they were two men who were stopped shortly after by police, who wanted to check their identification. The gunmen then shot at the police officers, leaving one injured.
Abubakir Kurbijiyev was imam at the Kislovodsk city mosque. He had been about to enter his apartment when he was killed. The district of Stavropol Krai adjoins the predominantly Muslim federal republics of the Caucasus. Ismail Khadzi Berdiyev, mufti of Karachayevo-Cherkessia and Stavropol Krai, said that he thought the imam's killing was linked to his work.
Berdiyev said that it was especially cruel that the imam should be killed during the holy month of Ramadan. "Killing during Ramadan is a double sin and people who committed it....will face dreadful punishment and will be condemned by all."
According to Interfax-Religion, the Russian Council of Muftis has said that it is extremely concerned at the imam's murder. In a statement, the Council said: "What happened in Kislovodsk late on September 25 - the savage murder of an imam around his own house - comes as a follow-up to a recent series of tragic events: assassination attempts and the murder of Muslim clergymen in Dagestan and Chechnya and attacks on mosques and priests in Sergiyev Posad, Yakhroma and Yaroslavl."
It described these acts as "a blatant challenge that must not be left unpunished, since they represent an ugly incarnation of vile qualities such as xenophobia and fascism."
The Council of Muftis also urged Muslims not to become involved in conflicts and to remain vigilant.
Kislovodsk has a Christian community that is predominantly hostile to the arrival of Muslims from the poverty-afflicted Causasus region. Russia has had an increase of racist attacks recently. There have been four murders in ST Petersburg, in the northwest of the country. At the weekend, an Indian student became the latest fatality of Russia's racial violence.
However, this particular killing may be the work of Islamists. Pravda states that an unsigned statement was sent to reporters, said to be from a local leader of the Jamaat of Karachayevo-Cherkessiya. Karachayevo-Cherkessiya adjoins Stavropol Krai, and in August we reported that an imam had been killed for the heresy of using herbal healing. Six healers had been shot in the small republic before his attack.
The letter which was sent to reporters claimed that the Jamaat had carried out the killing of Abubakir Kudzhiyev. It warned that more attacks will continue. "There is a list of traitors who under the guise of Islam commit dirty crimes and hamper the victory of true Islam these are people who sold out and they are the ones we target," the letter read.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at September 26, 2006 7:55 AM
Comments
Am I understanding this report? This imam was not involved in jihad, but in fact was truly peace loving? Could it be he did something to offend Jamaat? I bet they are going to try and pin it on Christians in the region.
"It warned that more attacks will continue"
I thought that this was the RoP? They claim that they do not attack unless attacked. What utter BS ;-)
Posted by: Maggie4Life ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.westernresistance.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at September 27, 2006 5:29 AM
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