MOSCOW, May 28 (IslamOnline.net) - Hundreds of Russian Muslims protested against the court suspension of a case against a newspaper that had splashed out false claims on their religion.

Some 400 demonstrators converged in Chernishev Square in Povoljie neighborhood, 700 kilometers to the south of Moscow, where they chanted slogans against racism and Islamophobia.

"Islamophobia Threat To Society", "Lies on Islam Prohibited" and "Suspending Case Against Izvestia Unfair," read some of the banners waived by the angry protestors.

Izvestia published four articles in October and November 2002, in which a lot of misleading information on Islam and Muslims were written under the headline "If I were Osama Bin Laden".

Muslims filed the case with the Moscow Civil Court one year ago, but they complained that the court procedures are too slow and lack seriousness.

The demonstrators said that taking to the streets came to show the Muslims’ determination to restore their rights in the former Communist country.

"It is a declaration that Russian Muslims have inalienable rights, and that a trial should be held to take those responsible for the false claims published on Islam," said Mukadass Bibarsov, the Mufti of the Povoljie region.

"Suspending the case does not serve the interests of the Russian Federation, and there is no justification for turning a blind eye on this misinformation," the religious scholar said.

He also called for resuming the case as quickly as possible, warning that the wave of Islamophobic articles is still flowing.

For these articles to be halted, all people should know that we are at the heart pf events. We are not a sleep," he said.

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

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