Dagestani journalists doubt possibility of holding rallies in support of Palestine

The reason for the dispersal of a rally in Makhachkala in support of Palestine lies in its unsanctioned nature and the authorities’ fears for the deterioration of the situation in Dagestan. Meanwhile, the majority of the population of Dagestan sympathizes with the Palestinian people in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while the Jewish community in the republic is small, note journalists.

On October 17, it was reported that the police stopped a rally in support of Palestine, which residents of Dagestan tried to hold in Makhachkala. 

In her Telegram channel Gayana Garieva, the chief of the press service for the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Dagestan, reported that the information about “the detention of sixteen people in the central square of Makhachkala for attempting to hold a rally in support of Palestine” was not true.

Residents of Dagestan who gathered for the action in support of Palestine are people who are not indifferent to the situation, emphasizes Magomed Magomedov, a deputy editor-in-chief of the Dagestani weekly newspaper “Chernovik” (Rough Draft).

In case if the authorities of Dagestan had announced a rally in support of Palestine, that action would have involved a significant number of participants, noted the journalist.

The authorities of the republic do not allow holding any rallies, especially in support of Palestine, as they fear provocation and other unforeseen situations, suggests Milrad Fatullaev, the editor-in-chief of the “RIA Derbent” news agency.

According to journalist Idris Yusupov, an attempt to hold a rally in support of Palestine was made by the residents of Makhachkala who observe Muslim traditions. The police did not allow the rally to take place, since it was not sanctioned by the authorities, notes the journalist.

Magomed Magomedov, the deputy editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Chernovik”, believes that holding a rally in support of Israel would act as a provocation, as it would lead to unnecessary inter-religious aggravations. The journalist notes that the size of the Jewish community in Dagestan has noticeably decreased due to the mass exodus to Israel.

An action in support of Israel is difficult to imagine in Dagestan, since the majority of both religious and non-religious Dagestanis support Palestine and the idea of creating a Palestinian state, emphasizes journalist Idris Yusupov.