19:21, 3 June 2004

Problems of religious extremism under discussion in Kabardino-Balkaria

Head of the Kabardino-Balkarian Organized Crime Unit Beslan Mukozhev told a briefing on June 2 that 380 followers of radical Islam were on the lists of the republican Interior Ministry. This is a group of people who are openly opposed to the Spiritual Administration of Moslems of Kabardino-Balkaria. There were situations when they roughly interfered in Moslem funeral ceremonies. Participants in the briefing - representatives of state, non-governmental and religious organizations of Kabardino-Balkaria - admitted that there was a split among the Moslems in the republic and urged them to establish a dialogue.

Author: Luiza Orazayeva, CK correspondent

Source: Caucasian Knot