Polish Muslims apologize for the map with "Russian Crimea"

03.12.2020, 08:45
Community
The Religious Association of Muslims of Poland said the caption "Russian Federation" under the image of Crimean mosques in the religious calendar for 2021 was an "editorial mistake".

According to Ukrinform, the text of the Mufti's statement was published by Nedim Useynov, member of the Executive Committee of the World Congress of Crimean Tatars from Poland, on Facebook.

"There was an editorial error at the preparation stage, the reason for this is the disastrous automatism and the transfer of the caption "Russian Federation" to all pages of the calendar. I apologize once again for this," the Mufti of Poland said in a statement.

The appeal also notes that the Association of Polish Muslims "wholeheartedly supports the free Crimea" and helps Crimean Tatars who came to Poland after 2014.

The corrected electronic version of the religious calendar for 2021, contains no caption "Russian Federation" on the website of the Association of Muslims of Poland under the images of Crimean mosques. Still, the note about the territorial affiliation of Crimea to Ukraine did not appear. In this context, Useynov wrote that the explanations of the spiritual leader of Polish Muslims are insufficient, since the statement does not mention that the Association of Polish Muslims recognizes Crimea as the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine.

A member of the executive committee of the World Congress of Crimean Tatars from Poland put forward several demands conveying the position of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people. In particular, the Mufti of Poland is required to publish an official statement that the mention of the Russian Federation under the names of Crimean mosques is an editorial error, and Crimea is the territory of Ukraine. At the same time, the application should be sent to everyone who has already received calendars. Also, this calendar must be withdrawn from the printing house, and all printed and electronic defective copies thereof must be destroyed.

As reported, in the religious calendar of Polish Muslims for 2021, a caption about territorial affiliation to the Russian Federation is placed under the images of mosques in Simferopol, Feodosia, Bakhchisarai and the old Crimea.

The Religious Association of Polish Muslims is headed by mufti Tomasz Miskiewicz. According to media reports, after the occupation of Crimea by Russia, in June 2014, he visited the peninsula to get acquainted with the situation of Muslims.