SAM of Chechnya does not recommend Imams to take part in drunk drivers' funerals

Chechen Imams were advised not to participate in funerals of perished perpetrators of road accidents, who were in the state of intoxication, and not to engage in such cases in reconciliation of blood feudists. This recommendation of the Muftiate (the Spiritual Administration of Muslims – SAM) may cause an increase in the number of cases of blood feud, residents of the republic fear.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that at night on November 28, a road accident occurred near Grozny, which resulted in seven deaths. The driver named Alam Khadjaev, who was drunk, was the culprit of the accident. After that, the head of the republic Ramzan Kadyrov appealed to religious leaders not to deal with the funerals of the drivers, who died when they were drunk. Besides, the owners of the shops engaged in sale of alcoholic beverages ceased their operations, although Kadyrov said that there would be no official ban on sale of alcohol in the republic.

A source from the Chechen SAM has confirmed to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the Muftiate upheld the demand of the head of the republic. He said that in Islam believers are expressly forbidden to use intoxicants.

The interviewed residents of the republic diverged in their estimates of the SAM's initiative. Some of them have supported it; however, some others have stated that it is inadmissible to prohibit the clergy to participate in someone's funeral, let alone dealing with reconciliation issues.

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