Experts to Assess Facts of Propagating Religious Hatred in Two Ukrainian Publications

The National Expert Committee for the Protection of Social Moral decided to check the articles of the Internet news site Observer and the magazine Maxim for possible signs of propagating religious hostility.

The National Expert Committee for the Protection of Social Moral decided to check the articles of the Internet news site Observer and the magazine Maxim for possible signs of propagating religious hostility. This decision was taken by the members of the committee at the of November 3 session, reports www.telekritika.ua.    

According to the head of the NEC, Vasyl Kostytskyi, the committee was addressed by the head of the Spiritual Board of Muslims of Ukraine, Sheikh Akhmed Tamim, as to the publication by the magazine Maxim in June 2009 and the Internet portal Observer on November 16, 2009, of materials which, in his opinion, offend the Muslims, stir up religious hatred, and humiliate Muslims because of their religion. In particular, it is about the publication “Islam, Be Opened!” by Matthew Vologzhanin (Maxim) and “Intolerant Article About Muslims” by Anatolii Sharii (Observer).