Parishioners of mosque in Shamkhala report about ban of Friday namaz

The Salafi mosque in Shamkhala, a suburban settlement of Makhachkala, earlier closed power agents, is now functioning, but neither on February 5, nor on February 12 the authorities did not allowed to hold the Friday namaz (prayer) there, said the congregation.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the mosque was closed by power agents on January 29. The parishioners were told that the mosque would be reopened only after the appointment of the Imam by the Muftiat.

The mosque runs from February 4, said one of the mosque-goers, adding that the new Imam has not been elected yet.

"The official Imam of the mosque is Mukhammad Seifulaev; but he lives in the city and has almost resigned; his duties are performed by the Deputy Imam Vali-Mukhammad," he explained.

The parishioner believes that the Friday prayer is banned by demand of power agents.

Seifulaev has resigned, and the Friday prayer is not held because of the absence of the Imam, said a source from the Kirov ROVD (District Interior Division) of Makhachkala.

Since the start of 2015, the authorities have intervened in the work of 12 Salafi mosques, said Deputy Imam of one of republic's Salafi mosques.

"The reasons, presented as official ones, include problems with the documents on the land and the mosque building," he said. Another reason for closing mosques is the absence of Imams, who are "forced to resign under pressure," the source has added.

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