Researchers of Caucasus see no violations of Islam in Chechen "wedding" apologies

The people forced to apologize for their behaviour at wedding ceremonies in Chechnya hadn't violated any Islamic norms; and Ramzan Kadyrov's claims to them is just part of his "political behaviour", the experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 2, the Instagram posted a video clip, in which a resident of Chechnya apologized to Kadyrov for his tears at his sister's wedding party. The young man's apology was the fifth public repentance in nine days for the behaviour at wedding ceremonies.

In his comment to the "Caucasian Knot" on Ramzan Kadyrov's statements about the people, who had allegedly violated Muslim customs at weddings, Mikhail Roschin, a senior researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), has noted that the imputed "violations" – tears or playful behaviour at weddings, performing "wrong" songs and so on – have nothing to do with breaking the commandments of Islam.

According to the expert, under the law, Ramzan Kadyrov "has no right at all to put forward any claims against these people." "He is the head of the republic, not a Mufti; and Russia, of which Chechnya is a part, is a secular state," Mr Roschin has emphasized.

Alexei Malashenko, a political analyst and the head of scientific researches at the Civilizations' Dialogue Institute, has stressed that such Kadyrov's statements are "an absolutely standard situation for Chechnya, where he seeks to control everything." "This is an example of his political behaviour. Kadyrov uses this as his political tool. The situation, when one or another group of people is chosen for uttering public apologies is repeated from year to year and will last until he is in his post," said the expert, adding that any violation of Islamic norms in this case is out of question.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 6, 2019 at 00:31 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.