Closure of an important Islamic centre-Moscow seeks control of Islam

The Supreme Court ordered the Centre linked to the Council of muftis, to cease all activities. According to analysts and members of the Centre, the Kremlin wants to bring the Muslim community under the control of a single organization loyal to the state.
05/30/201
1 by Nina Achmatova
Moscow

 (AsiaNews) – According to analysts administrative irregularities, but also political motives are behind the Supreme Court decision to close, a popular Islamic organization with offices throughout Russia last week. They also maintain that the closure of the Centre for Islamic culture is linked to the Kremlin's desire to bring the large Muslim community in the country under the control of a single organisation loyal to the state.

On 25 May, the Supreme Court upheld the Ministry of Justice decision to close the center for "multiple violations of financial regulations." "This is a bureaucratic order given by people who want a puppet representatives for Muslims," the leader and founder , Abdul-Wahid Niyazov, told Russian media. He explained how documentation submitted by the Ministry for Justice was obtained under pressure from the Security Service (FSB), the notorious Russian secret services. Niyazov added that several directors of the Centre resigned following threatening phone-call by the FSB. The intention now is to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. the rest