Crimean delegates learn how public and religious organizations work in Northern Caucasus under enhanced police control

A delegation of public figures from Crimea has visited the North-Caucasian republics during the visit organized by the Russian Congress of the Peoples of the Caucasus (RCPC) and the "Altair" Foundation. Within the period of August 15-20, the delegation visited Karachay-Cherkessia, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia, Ingushetia, Chechnya, and Dagestan.

The delegation was led by Sherif Osmanov, the head of the Ethnic Relations Section of the Saki City and the editor-in-chief of the magazine "Muslim".

"The visit has been made for information purposes. We met the Muftis of Dagestan and North Ossetia and shared experience and interaction with the public," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by the head of the Crimean delegation.

When comparing the situation in Crimea and in Northern Caucasus, Sherif Osmanov has emphasized that Crimea "faces no such phenomena as terrorism and extremism."

"Crimea lives in peace, and we have no militants, no bombings and no any aggressive religious attacks. However, when we returned from our trip, we learned about checks launched in the town of Saki. Of course, people do not like that. For them, it's frustrating and unclear: why should anyone conduct checks when everything is open and transparent to all interested parties? Earlier, there has been an incident in the village of Kolchugino, when FSB agents and OMON (riot police) fighters broke into a medrese and frightened children," Sherif Osman has stated.

At present, Crimea is unlikely to face the Caucasian scenario; however, the pressure on Muslims by law enforcers can lead them to radicalization and some individual events of the process are already take place on the peninsula. This opinion has been voiced by participants of the online discussion on the topic "Islam in Crimea. Is the Caucasian scenario possible in Crimea?" organized by the "Caucasian Knot" on June 24.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.