Russian Grand Mufti clarifies prohibition of books

Russian Grand Mufti Rawil Gaynetdin clarified the reasons for the prohibition of books during his visit to the Saratov Region on Sunday, Ansar reports.

The official said that the campaign to ban Islamic books started in 2007-2008. He calls it a “festival of district courts banning books”. A new expert council for state religious expertise was organized at the Russian Justice Ministry in March 2009. Gaynetdin says that the new structure did not inform Muslim administrations in the country and had an Islamophobic approach.

With the arrival of Vladimir Putin, the situation improved. The ban on Islamic books is studied at the Presidential Administration. Gaynetdin believes that the scandal over the Orenburg District Court’s decision is part of the old process.