WASHINGTON, March 17 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Change is in the offing in the Russian political scene as prominent Muslim leaders announced that they are going to form their own political party to advocate and safeguard Muslim interests in the country.
The moderate Refakh (welfare) organization announced Thursday that it is forming the Blagodenstviye (Prosperity) party so that its members can participate in elections.
The party has representatives in Russia's lower parliament, the Duma, but could only run their candidate's under the wing another party, the Unity party.
Since Refakh is not registered as a political party with Russia's Central Election Commission, the party loses out on many basic rights, such as being able to contest elections.
Traditionally, Russian Muslims have voted for the Communist party, but Refakh members unanimously supported current President Vladimir Putin in the last election.
Refakh leaders claim that the new party would not be exclusively Muslim, and people from other faiths were welcome to join it.
Refakh leader Abdul-Vakhed Niyazov told the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper, "The priority goes to Muslims, but at the same time we are open to representatives of all nationalities and confessions."
The party hopes to register 70,000 members by its first congress scheduled to be held on May 22nd.
Recently, Russian leaders have been making overtures to the country's seven million Muslims. Moscow Mayor Yuriy Luzhkov attended Eid al Adha festivities and greeted Muslims. Putin also sent congratulatory messages to the country's Muslim populace. It is only the second year that Russian government leaders have done this.
Despite being the second largest religion in Russia, Islam and Muslims are seen as "others" and have been much maligned in the media.
The ongoing Chechen conflict has further strained relations between Muslims and other communities in Russia.
Refakh organizers hope that the new political formation will help dispel negative images of Islam in the Russian mindset and help to build bridges with other communities.
