Pshikhachev: wrong Koran and Islam interpretation exists in Northern Caucasus

As stated by Shafig Pshikhachev, plenipotentiary of the Moslems' Coordination Centre of Northern Caucasus (MCC NC) located in Moscow, Northern Caucasus faces the need to liquidate the illiteracy displayed in perversed understanding of the Koran and principles of Islam. This was announced at the press conference held in Russian capital on the outcomes of the year.

Later, while answering journalists' questions, Mr Pshikhachev told about his actions to stop penetration of extremist literature into Kabardino-Balkaria, where he was mufti in the 1990s.

"In mid-1990s we arranged with the heads of religious and publishing organizations that they wouldn't accept literature for publication without prior review by the Spiritual department of Moslems (SDM) of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. Periodically, together with fiscal bodies we checked the bookshops. We suppressed dissemination of literature, which didn't reflect the true aims of Islam," said Mr Pshikhachev.

Now, according to his story, the courts are in charge of this activity, which, in the opinion of the religious leader, sometimes admit "overshooting". "Therefore, I repeatedly offered the religious organizations to set up a sort of expert's board, and I hope that it'll soon appear," he concluded.