Orientalists dispute on Kadyrov's aims of spreading alms in Mecca

The Orientalists interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" expressed different opinions on the political aims pursued by the head of Chechnya by organizing the spread of sacrificial animals to residents of Saudi Arabia.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the Akhmat Kadyrov Foundation distributed a thousand sacrificial animals to residents of Saudi Arabia on the occasion of Eid al-Adha. Instagram users offered to send this help to the needy residents of Chechnya.

The Kadyrov's help has been allocated under the existing custom of giving alms in Mecca, Professor Alexei Malashenko, the head of scientific studies of the "Civilizations' Dialogue" Institute, believes.

According to his version, it's notable why exactly now Ramzan Kadyrov organized such an action. "Most likely, Saudi Arabia will pay attention to in. Millions of people were unable to fly to the Hajj this year. Only ten thousand are able to be there; almost all of them are Saudis. And in this sense, Kadyrov's help may become some kind of event for Saudi Arabia and its residents," Mr Malashenko has stated.

Mikhail Roschin, a senior researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), is also sure that the Kadyrov's help has been allocated within the framework of the existing custom of distributing alms in Mecca.

According to Mr Roschin, Kadyrov is strengthening his influence by telling about his righteous deeds. "Reports on TV are intended to strengthen his position and influence as a noble Muslim who's giving out generous alms in the sacred place for Muslims. It's difficult to say to what extent this will strengthen his status as an unofficial Russia's emissary in the Middle East. Rather it helps than fails to affect this factor at all. But in general, the main message here is that Ramzan Kadyrov is the main Muslim in the Caucasus," Mr Roschin ha concluded.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 5, 2020 at 02:21 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.