Leader of Crimean Tatar Mejlis States Threat of Assimilation and Infringement of Religious Freedom

During a visit to Canada, the leader of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Mustafa Dzhemiliov, stated that there is a threat of assimilation of the Crimean Tatars as only one in ten children can get education in their native language. In addition, the leader of the Mejlis pointed to infringement of the religious freedom of the Crimean Tatars by the authorities.

According to Mustafa Dzhemiliov, of the 630 Mosques which existed in the Crimea before the arrival of the Bolsheviks in 1917, only a few dozen of the half-ruined mosques were returned to the Muslim communities. He also noted that more than 80 new mosques were bui

lt by the efforts of the believers.

"In response, the speaker of the Senate of Canada, Mr. Kinsella stated that declaring religious matters on paper is not enough to put the freedoms into effect: a weighed but active participation of the state is necessary for that," reports UNIAN with reference to the press service of the Mejlis.

The Canadian politician stressed the importance of a weighed approach to national questions and pointed to the necessity of application of the International Law and creation of mechanisms of monitoring and implementing the norms of human rights at the local level.

"Only one in ten children today has a chance to receive an education in the native language. It is a straight path to the loss of identity and quick assimilation of the Crimean Tatar people," stressed Mustafa Dzhemiliov during the meeting with the speaker of the Senate of Canada, Noel Kinsella. He stressed that during the twenty years of independence of Ukraine only 14 Crimean Tatar-language schools were opened.