Ukrainian Muslims Take Active Participation in Maidan
The Mufti of the Ummah Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Ukraine Said Ismagilov commented to RISU on the situation on Maidan from the Islamic perspective. We note that the Muslims joined the group Clergy of Maidan, which hoped to negotiate with politicians and public figures.
“We are extremely concerned by the blatantly undemocratic laws that were passed on January 16 and which were passed with all imaginary and unreal violations of voting procedures. It was wild, for lack of a better word. Earlier we had free laws – it was decided to return us to the Middle Ages, which is not normal for a European society, except maybe for the heartland of Africa. These are very resonant, dishonest laws that violate basic freedoms, including religious ones,” he said.
According to Sheikh Said, Muslims from the Crimea and Kyiv who actively participated in peaceful demonstrations have been present on the main protest square of the country. Other protesters were glad to see Crimean Tatars on the square, because they immediately started to prepare delicious pilaf.
The last time Said Ismagilov was on the capital’s Maidan was January 17, when he gave a lecture on Islam on Khreschatyk Street. About 100 people listened to his lecture, and another 200 people followed and commented on the event online. In addition, according to recent reports, several hundred Crimean Tatars went to Kyiv to support the protesters.
“Both the government and opposition were responsible for the violent turn of events. The government angered the people by its unwillingness to listen to them, while the opposition in two months has not been able to find a resolution to the crisis. As a result, people fell into a state of desperation,” said the mufti.
Muslims in solidarity with Christians condemn any violence, calling to resolve the problem peacefully. Ismagilov believes that it is not too late to return to the legal field of resolving the problem and return to the democratic system.
