By Damir Ahmad, IOL Correspondent

MOSCOW, May 26 (IslamOnline.net) – Moscow municipality okayed Tuesday, May 25, the construction of a new mosque in the Russian capital, one day authorizing the expansion of another one.

The municipality gave a nod to a request from the Administrative Center of the Northern Caucus Muslims to build the new mosque and an adjacent building for classrooms on 1500 meters.

"The mosque will have two 35 and 25-meter minarets and will accommodate between 500-700 worshippers," Sheikh Shafiaa Bashikhashif, the acting chairman of the Administrative Center, was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

He said the new mosque will help better serve the two million Muslims in Moscow, as the current six mosques in the capital use only the Tatar language – unintelligible to Muslims hailing from the Northern Caucus, who make up 30 per cent of the community.

The Muslim leader thanked Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexei II, whose authorization was necessary for the initiative to materialize.

He also praised the stance of Moscow Mayor, Yuri Luzhkov, who did not opposes the construction of the new mosque.

Chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia, Ravil Gainutdin, said in press statements Tuesday the body will help speed up the construction works.

"There should be a mosque in every area of the capital, not just six," he noted.

Expansion

The move came one day after Moscow municipality approved a request to expand the Jumah Mosque, the largest in the capital.

The request was put forward by the Council of Russian Muftis because thousands of Muslim worshippers had to pray in the courtyard of the over-packed mosque.

Muslims will celebrate on May 26-28 the 100th anniversary of the mosque construction.

In the meantime, the Russian Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria saw a major ceremony Monday marking the inauguration of a mosque in the capital Nal'chik.

The inauguration was attended by senior officials and religious leaders in the republic.

"This helps increase cooperation between people of different faiths, all for the sake of federalism and freedom in the country," said Father Valentine, the director of the Council of Churches in Kabardino-Balkaria.

The 757,000 Muslim population make up 67 per cent of the country's overall population.

There are 58 mosques in Kabardino-Balkaria.

Russian Muslims had recently complained that local authorities in the country have prevented the construction of mosques for the Muslims even in areas which have none of them.

They also accused police of raiding mosques several times detaining worshippers on the pretext of foiling "terrorist operations".

However, Muslim human rights groups say the situation of community members is improving.

In April, Muslims set up the first ever rights group that will defend their economic, political and religious rights and clear stereotypes tarnishing their image.

Russia has a Muslim population of 23 million, representing roughly 15 percent of its 145 million population, according to a 2003 census.