In Chechnya, some kindergartens already teach basics of Islam

Till present, general study of the basics of Islam in kindergartens of Grozny, which was planned to be introduced, starting from November 1, has not been introduced. This was reported by the Mayoralty of Grozny. However, according to local residents, some pre-school institutions have been already conducting such studies for a long time.

According to a female resident of Grozny, who preferred to remain anonymous, private kindergartens of the Chechen capital teach Islam upon request of the children's parents; however, public kindergartens conduct no such classes.

"I would prefer that those classes were not introduced. I can tell my children everything they should know, and the namaz should be taught in family," the woman said.

Another female resident of Grozny, who also preferred to remain anonymous, says that many city residents do not approve the innovation. "However, no one will say that aloud. The leaders of the republic want to bring up 'untainted' generation, so, the children in the schools are forbidden to bring mobile phones, since it is believed that the children can pick up harmful information from the Internet," the woman says.

"My niece has learned in kindergarten several suras of the Quran. And once, nephews came and asked their mother why she did not pray. When she asked them questions, she found out the lessons with them were conducted by a man, a representative of the Centre for spiritual and moral education of young people of the Chechen Republic. He encourages boys to watch their sisters to ensure that they behave decently, and frightens children, saying that their parents will burn in hell, if they do not pray," the woman from Grozny says.

Magomed Khiytanaev, Deputy Mufti of Chechnya and Kadi of Grozny, one of the initiators of the innovation, has confirmed that some city kindergartens really teach basics of Islam. The in-depth study of Islam is not in question, since the kindergartens teach children how to read a prayer and how to do ablution.