The holy Qur'an

By Dhamir Ahmed, IOL Russia Correspondent

DAGESTAN, May 17 (IslamOnline.net) - The religious administration of the Muslims of Dagestan, a republic of the Russian Federation, has decided to ban circulation of the Russian versions of the holy Qur'an as well as a number of Islamic books published in Russian, under the pretext of "fighting terrorist and fanatic ideas" these books are alleged to promote.

In a statement, a copy of which was obtained by IslamOnline.net Sunday May 16, the religious administration of the Muslims in Dagestan said that it has decided to ban all Russian versions of the holy Qur'an and books of prophetic Sunna (Tradition) as well as some Islamic books that are available in different parts of the Russian Federation .

It is worth noting that versions of the Qur'an have only been previously banned in Dagestan during the Communist regime in Russia between 1923 and 1991.

In its statement published also in al-Salam monthly newspaper, the religious administration reiterated that the decision was due to its keenness on "fighting terrorist and fanatic ideas," in reference to the Wahabbi beliefs adopted by several Islamic schools and movements in Dagestan .

Dagestan Wahabbis call for setting up an Islamic State. They are supporters of Chechen fighters in the war currently underway against the Russian troops.

According to a 2002 report made by the research center of the governmental Dagestan University , Wahabbi followers in Dagestan represent 3% of the total Muslim population, who, in turn, represent 84% of the two-million total population of Dagestan .

Wahabbi movements appeared in Dagestan between 1980-1985. The "United Islamic Socialist Party," led by Ahmed Qadhi Ahtayev is one of the greatest Wahabbi movements and it has several offices in south Dagestan .

The number of religious schools teaching Wahabbi ideas are 14, including two in the Dagestani capital "Makhg el-Qalaa."

Extremely Surprising

Commenting on the decision of the religious administration of the Muslims in Dagestan , an official source in the Russian Mufti Council told IslamOnline.net that such a decision is "extremely surprising," pointing out that most of the banned religious books are widely circulated in most of the Russian Federation .

The source, who refused to be named, added, "the books banned by the religious administration of Dagestan do not include any fanatic or terrorist ideas, as it has been claimed."