Rinat Mukhametov: information about 60 potential female suicide bombers in Astrakhan Region exaggerated

In the Astrakhan Region, there is a problem with radical Islam; however, the statements of representatives of the local FSB Department about 60 female residents of the Astrakhan Region, who are wives or already widows of militants and who are treated in this connection as potential terrorists, are exaggerations. This was stated by Rinat Mukhametov, a political analyst. The Muftiyat denies the existence of serious threats from followers of radical Islam.

According to the calculations of the "Caucasian Knot", since 2000, as of May 27, 2013, in the territory of Russia, 77 terror acts were committed involving, in total, 120 suicide bombers, including 51 female suicide bombers. Most often, wives and widows of militants became female suicide bombers.

The fact that 60 female residents of Astrakhan Region are wives or already widows of militants was stated in the story of the "Pervy Kanal" shown on June 30, reporting on the returning home of a 16-year female resident of the Astrakhan Region, who eloped from home to the Dagestani aul (village) and who secretly got married there. Three days after her eloping from home, she sent an SMS-message to her relatives asking for help. After that, staff members of the FSB Department for the Astrakhan Region and policemen from the Centre for Combating Extremism of the Regional Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) conducted a special operation to free the young woman.

Rinat Mukhametov, a political analyst and expert on Islam, the deputy director of the foundation to support humanitarian initiatives "Altair", believes that the statement made by the FSB representatives about 60 potential female suicide bombers in the Astrakhan Region is a clear exaggeration of the problem.

The political analyst calls on the authorities of the Astrakhan Region to pay more attention to the domestic problems. He points out that the Astrakhan Region is notorious for its scandals in the fight against "Islamic extremism".