18:03, 5 August 2013

Stavropol Territory: Muslims to challenge court decision on demolition of two mosques

Kislovodsk, Stavropol Territory. Photo: D.V.Mironov, http://ru.wikipedia.org/

A group of Muslim from Kislovodsk plans to appeal at higher instances against the decision of the Territorial Court to demolish two mosques in the villages of Belorechensky and Industriya, said Aslan Shamanov, the Imam of Kislovodsk.

According to the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of the Stavropol Territory, on May 22 the Kislovodsk City Court ruled to demolish the two mosques located in the above villages.

Aslan Shamanov appealed against the ruling of the City Court. However, on July 30 the Territorial Court upheld the decision of the Kislovodsk City Court.

Muslims intend to seek the abolition of the demolition at higher instances and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), the "IslamNews" reported on August 4.

According to Muhammad Rakhimov, the Mufti of the SAM of the Stavropol Territory, with the aim to draw the authorities' attention to their problems, on September 20, Muslims of the Stavropol Territory plan to hold a collective namaz in the central square of Pyatigorsk, the website of the Muftiate of the Stavropol Territory reported on August 2.