Participants of motor rally against caricatures on Prophet Muhammad arrive in Simferopol from Dagestan

The participants of the motor rally Makhachkala-Simferopol have reached the Crimea, where they performed their Friday namaz (prayer).

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 29 about 200 cars left Makhachkala to participate in the rally towards Simferopol under the motto "Russia honours its prophets and respects people!"

The motorcade includes two KamAZ trucks with humanitarian aid to Crimea residents, as well as bikers.

"The aim of the rally is to demonstrate solidarity of the country's Muslim community, strengthen ties and good neighbourly relations of regions of Russia, the unification of the regions of the NCFD and the Crimea in the revival of spiritual and moral values," said Suleiman Magomedov, the Chairman of the Committee for the Freedom of Conscience and Cooperation with Religious Organizations of Dagestan.

The total number of participants from Makhachkala is about 600 people; en route they were joined by activists from other cities in Dagestan and North-Caucasian republics.

The Crimea was chosen for the motor rally not by chance, said Magomedrasul Omarov, the director of information-analytical centre "Fikr". "In the centre of Simferopol, in the alley, a tank is standing on a pedestal, in front of which there is a marble plaque with the names of the crew. Among them – Abdulmanapov – a Hero of the Soviet Union, who died in the defence of the city. The father of the twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Amet-Khan Sultan is a Lak from the village of Tsovkra, and his mother is a Crimean Tatar. This glorious son of Dagestan and the Crimea has strengthened the friendly relations of our nations," said Omarov.

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