Mufti criticizes transfer of mosque building in Rostov-on-Don to school

The decision of the Mayoralty to hand the building of the cathedral mosque of Rostov-on-Don over to the jazz school is treated as unfair by Muslims who are outraged by this, Mukhammed Bikmaev, the head of the Muftiate of the Rostov Region, has stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the Mayoralty of Rostov-on-Don had handed the building of the cathedral mosque, built in early 20th century and rebuilt in Soviet years, for which believers had fought, over to the jazz school.

The current Rostov mosque fails to house all the believers; and Muslims of Rostov-on-Don have repeatedly tried to return the building of the historic cathedral mosque, which has now been transferred to the jazz school, Mukhammed Bikmaev, chairman of the Central Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of the Rostov Region, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"We did everything we could – we reached the Supreme Court and received a refusal. Thus, in the current situation, we can only express our indignation and disapproval at the unfair decision, when the building is transferred to the jazz school, and not to its initial owners," Mr Bikmaev has emphasized.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on January 4, 2021 at 10:23 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.