Appeal lodged on decision of Novorossiysk court to ban Koran translation

On September 23, Ravil Tugushev, the head of the board of the NGO "Centre for Legal Support of Population", filed an appeal complaint against the decision of the Oktiabrskiy District Court of Novorossiysk to treat the book by Elmir Kuliev "Conceptual Translation of Holy Koran into Russian" as extremist.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 17 the above District Court satisfied the lawsuit of the city's Transport Prosecutor's Office and found the book by the well-known Azerbaijani religious philosopher Elmir Kuliev "Conceptual Translation of Holy Koran into Russian" to be extremist.

On September 20, Ravil Gainutdin, the Chairman of the Russia's Council of Muftis, complained to the Russian leadership about the above decision of the Novorossiysk court; and the Spiritual Administrations of Muslims (SAMs) of Adygea and Krasnodar Territory have also expressed their disagreement with the court ruling.

Igor Alekseev, a Candidate of Historical Sciences and the head of scientific programmes of the Marjani Foundation, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that Elmir Kuliev is supported by Azerbaijani authorities as a preacher of moderate alternative to radicals. He is also closely cooperating with the Azerbaijani International Islamic Congress "Idrac", which is based on the principles of moderation.

Russian Muslim leaders differed in the opinions about the above court ruling on treating the Kuliev's translation of Koran as extremist, said Flyur Arslanov, the head of the Don Muftiate.

"Farid Salman, the Chairman of the Board of Ulemas of the All-Russian Muftiate has supported the ruling, while Ravil Gainutdin, the head of the Russia's Council of Muftis, has condemned it and sent a letter to Russian President in connection with the ban of the Koran translation," said Arslanov.