Orthodox Church to Be Built in Place of Former Muslim Cemetery

In Simferopol District in Crimea, the relations between the Muslim community and the administration of the Dobrov Village Council deteriorated as the deputies allowed to allocate a land plot of 25 ares for a church of the Crimean Eparchy in the village of Lozove.

In Simferopol District in Crimea, the relations between the Muslim community and the administration of the Dobrov Village Council deteriorated as the deputies allowed to allocate a land plot of 25 ares for a church of the Crimean Eparchy in the village of Lozove. It turned out, however, that the land is a former Muslim cemetery, reported the Segodnia newspaper.

“The grave stones were still here until 1944, and in 1949, the land was transferred to the Tavriiskyi Military District for a veterinary infirmary. We have an archive certificate,” said the leader of the Mejlis of the Eski-Sarai area, Server Kurtumerov.

The Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of the Crimea has approached Metropolitan Lazar of Simferopol with a request not to start the construction.

However, the local authorities state that the permission for the construction was issued 19 years ago.

“We are only extending the term of execution. And one cannot consider an archive page to be a proof of existence of the burial ground. If the commission of experts confirms the Muslims’ version, we will cancel the allocation of the land for the construction,” said Ihor Budanov, the head of the Dobrov Village Council, ru.tsn.ua reported.