In Tatarstan, a warning was issued for Sunnism “as a radical movement”

issued to him on April 14, 2009 by the republican prosecutor's office On November 24, the Supreme Court of Tatarstan refused to satisfy Airat Shakirov's complaint against the decision of the Vakhitovsky District Court of Kazan, which recognized as legitimate the warning about the inadmissibility of carrying out extremist activities.

According to the prosecutor's office, Shakirov made an attempt to create an organization that aims to create an Islamic state, "including using forceful methods and means of terror." According to the FSB and the prosecutor's office, during meetings with his supporters, Shakirov lectured on the book "The Personality of a Muslim", in 2007, by decision of the Buguruslan court, it was recognized as extremist. During the lectures, as follows from the text of the warning, he contrasted Salafism ("pure Islam") with "traditional" Islam.

The organization, which A. Shakirov is accused of creating, is called "Ahl al-Sunnah" ("Followers of the Sunnah") in the warning, which coincides with the name of the corresponding movement in Islam. However, in the text this name is used to designate a radical movement that contradicts "traditional for the Republic of Tatarstan Islam of the Hanafi persuasion."

Airat Shakirov and his representative lawyer Rustem Valiullin argue that despite the fact that Shakirov really belongs to the Sunni movement, he did not create any extremist organizations, did not aim to create a caliphate and did not oppose Salafism and "traditional" Islam. He only gave lessons in mosques, talking about the basics of Islam.

The warning was appealed , but the Vakhitovsky District Court, and then the Supreme Court of Tatarstan, found it justified.

In our opinion, in addition to obvious doubts about the legitimacy of accusing Shakirov of intending to create a Caliphate with weapons in his hands, this case demonstrates the illiteracy of the prosecutor and judges, as a result of which legal acts appeared, in which Sunnism is called a radical movement in Islam.

Sources

• The Supreme Court of Tatarstan upheld the ban on Sunni Islam // For the rule of law. 2009. November 24.
• Warning against extremist activity for Sunnis // There. April 2009
• Complaint about the warning about the inadmissibility of practicing Sunni Islam // There.