Protest against 'Innocence of Muslims' video held in Simferopol

A protest against an anti-Islam video entitled "Innocence of Muslims" has been staged in Simferopol. The protesters stated that the video insults Allah and Muhammad, Interfax informs.

According to various estimates, around 500 people took place in the rally near the cultural center of trade unions in Simferopol. The event was organized by the autonomous Crimean Muslim community Davet.

The protesters held posters reading "The Dignity of the Prophet is Our Dignity!" "Hey, Islam and Muslim Haters! Allah's Punishment is Inevitable!" "America! Muhammad is Pure, You're Lying Low!"

"No Muslims in Crimea, Ukraine and the world can stand aside. We gathered here to express our protest against the anti-Islam policy," a representative of the Davet community, Ruslan Abliamitov, said at the rally.

Most of speeches at the rally were spoken in Russian, although some of the speakers spoke in Arabic.

Men and women took part in the protest. Most of the women protesting against the video wore the hijab and stood separately from the men.

The rally lasted for more than two hours and no violations of public order took place during it.

At the same time, the spiritual governance of Muslims in Crimea, which does not include the Davet community, earlier stated that any radical actions in response to the video are unacceptable.

The spiritual governance of Muslims in Crimea condemned the video and said that the video offends the religious and national feelings of people.