Residents of Novy Kurush report increased pressure on local Salafis

In the village of Novy Kurush, where Sufi Imam Magomed Khidirov was killed, clothes and books of Salafis were burnt after the close of their mosque. This was reported by local residents. According to the villagers, last year, the pressure on the Salafis in the village has increased significantly.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 9, Magomed Khidirov, Imam of the Sufi mosque in the village of Novy Kurush, was killed. Apart from the Sufi mosque, the village also has a Salafi mosque; however, according to local residents, the killed Imam had no conflicts with Salafis. On September 22, the SMS-service of the "Caucasian Knot" received a message reporting that the Salafi mosque in the village was closed and the Imam and 20 mosque-goers were detained. Besides, two local residents are wanted on suspicion of the murder of Magomed Khidirov.

In fact, on September 22, OMON (riot policemen) fighters arrived in the village of Novy Kurush and took away about 20 persons, including the Imam of the Salafi mosque. This was confirmed by Kemran Gadjimetov, a local resident.

According to the villager, the murder of the Imam was ordered by the people, who wanted to provoke a conflict on religious grounds among the local residents.

Alimurad Chelebov, a native of the village of Novy Kurush, reported that apart from clothes and possessions of the mosque, the books containing verses of the Koran were also thrown to the fire. According to the local resident, the conflict in the village has been lasting for more than a year; however, the situation has deteriorated after the murder of the Imam.

According to an employee of the village administration, the local residents closed the Salafi mosque, since its supporters used to engender radical ideas among young people.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.