GROZNY, April 25 (Itar-Tass) —— Head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov on Wednesday expressed indignation with provocative pronouncements of lawyer Khasavov about the need to introduce sharia courts in Russia. He believes such pronouncements were made under contract.
“We are extremely surprised and, to be frank, extremely indignant at lawyer Khasavov’s provocative statements. We have no doubt that they were made under contract,” Kadyrov stressed in his statement faxed to Itar-Tass.
He noted that “Khasavov is no expert on the sharia law, does not know what the sharia law means. Therefore, his pronouncements cannot be described as other than populist, having no theoretical or practical basis.”
“This is a thinly veiled attempt at presenting Islam in negative light, to prompt streams of criticism and even hatred addressed to religion and Muslims in Russia,” the head of the Chechen Republic said.
He said “Khasavov is unconcerned about the subject, has no notion about the meaning of the sharia law. He only aims to get attention.”
The head of Chechnya pointed out in this connection that “it takes decades even for Islamic countries to get prepared for the use of the sharia law. There is a need for thousands of people with the excellent knowledge of the religious law. And, the main thing, thousands of people must know the subtleties of the sharia law so as not to cross the line beyond which punishment is due.”
He believes “ill-considered public statements persons like Khasavov make only harm Islam.”
“There are absolutely no restrictions on Muslims in Russia. They are citizens with equal rights. There is every condition for professing Islam in Russia. Thousands of mosques are built. Islamic educational establishments function. Newspapers are published. TV channels work. Muslims have real opportunities to travel in thousands to holy places, to perform hajj. Russia not only created conditions for Muslims on its territory but also gives assistance to countries of the Islamic world,” the head of Chechnya said.
He believes “law enforcement bodies should scrutinize Khasavov’s extremist pronouncements as to their containing outright violations of norms of the Criminal Code.” (The Russian Interior Ministry is already doing this – Itar-Tass editor). A secular jurist “must concern himself with his tasks instead of trying to advertize himself by talking about things sacred to Muslims,” he noted.