The Moscow Department for National and Religious Policy has reminded Muslims that the sacrifice of animals on the forthcoming holiday of Kurban-Bairam should be done only at dedicated sites outside the city limits.
The head of the department, Yuri Artyukh, announced the official position at the recent meeting with representatives of the Muslim communities dedicated to the celebrations of October 15 holiday of Kurban-Bairam.
“The participants of the working meeting again confirmed the unacceptability of performing the rites of sacrifice in the city. All city mosques are accepting orders for the meat from animals that would be slaughtered at specially agreed and equipped sites in the Moscow suburbs,” reads the statement posted on the website of the Council of Russian Muftis –an official body coordinating the affairs between the state and those who follow the Islam.
Religious tensions involving Muslims have surfaced in the Russian capital over the past decade – partially due to a huge influx of migrant workers from Central Asian states. According to the city police, about 150,000 people took part in festivities dedicated to the Uraza-Bairam holiday in August this year.
The objections against Muslim rituals became especially vocal when some of the believers began slaughtering sheep for the holiday right in the street near apartment blocks or, sometimes, in the bathrooms or on the balconies of apartments.
Read More: http://rt.com/politics/moscow-muslim-sacrifice-holiday-528/
The head of the department, Yuri Artyukh, announced the official position at the recent meeting with representatives of the Muslim communities dedicated to the celebrations of October 15 holiday of Kurban-Bairam.
“The participants of the working meeting again confirmed the unacceptability of performing the rites of sacrifice in the city. All city mosques are accepting orders for the meat from animals that would be slaughtered at specially agreed and equipped sites in the Moscow suburbs,” reads the statement posted on the website of the Council of Russian Muftis –an official body coordinating the affairs between the state and those who follow the Islam.
Religious tensions involving Muslims have surfaced in the Russian capital over the past decade – partially due to a huge influx of migrant workers from Central Asian states. According to the city police, about 150,000 people took part in festivities dedicated to the Uraza-Bairam holiday in August this year.
The objections against Muslim rituals became especially vocal when some of the believers began slaughtering sheep for the holiday right in the street near apartment blocks or, sometimes, in the bathrooms or on the balconies of apartments.
