Experts do not exclude aggravation of conflict over mosque in Dagestan

In Dagestan, the events around the mosque in Kotrov Street are a part of measures to tighten the domestic policy in the country against the background of the war in Syria, and they can result in a confrontation within the republic and movement of young people to the underground. This opinion was expressed by experts, interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 20, the conflict occurred over the Salafi mosque located in Kotrov Street. On that day, according to believers, representatives of the Dagestani Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) dismissed the legitimately elected Imam and appointed their Imam. A fight occurred at the mosque. Some believers were brought to the police station.

"This tightening is observed not only in the religious sphere, but also in the information and in the public spheres. The war in Syria is conducted against the background of tightening of the control over all forms of the public life in Russia," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Ruslan Kurbanov, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS).

According to him, "the removal of the Salafi community in Dagestan from the administration of the mosque would entail a growth of protest wave in the region." "The protests are growing around the country, and not only in the religious sphere: just look at the protest action of truck drivers," Ruslan Kurbanov has said.

The consequences of the situation with the mosque in Kotrov Street can be unpredictable. This opinion was expressed by Akhmet Yarlykapov, Senior Researcher of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (known as MGIMO).

"The situation may develop in an unpredictable way. It is a positive sign that Salafis actually voice a lot of calls to restrain and to pay no attention to provocations. This gives hope that no serious aggravation will take place; although, we can expect everything in this situation," the expert has noted.

"I think that some peaceful actions are possible. However, I am still afraid that these people will not come to peaceful protests, but they will just go underground. And that will be very bad," Akhmet Yarlykapov has stated.

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