Anti-semitism in Ukraine muted by Russophobia

By Vestnik Kavkaza

Monitoring organized by the Russian Association of Religious Freedom showed that in Ukraine violation of Orthodox shrines has become more frequent, as well as cases of anti-Semitism and strengthening of radical Islamic movements. Experts warn that if nationalism is not eliminated strictly in Ukraine, radical tendencies will spread for the European space.

Meanwhile, Aaron Gurevich, the rabbi of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, thinks that today “open anti-Semitism which has always taken place in Ukraine during the whole history of the Jewish community is muted by Russophobia. But we are deeply concerned about events happening not only in the southeast of Ukraine, but in all regions of Ukraine. Ukraine takes first place in the sphere of religious pilgrimage – in Ukraine many generations of the righteous who lightened the land with their righteous way of life and were pastors, spiritual torches, being heads of communities. Big responsibility lies on the Jewish communities of Ukraine. We have always addressed them not to be a side in the conflict, not to be a factor of disintegration. The most reasonable thing for us is to be distant from politics and participate only in humanitarian actions. If the efforts of the Jewish communities of Ukraine are focused on this, it will be good for everybody.”

Albir Krganov, the Mufti of Moscow and the Moscow Region, says that the believers are concerned about the tendency of “establishing democracy” through a war with religions: “We thought the awful atheistic time had passed. But today the countries which say that they are establishing democracy are actually fighting the religious, faith, people’s souls. In building a new state, Ukraine decided that they should support foreign Islam by any means; the goal is that it should maximally differ from Russian Islam. They supported foreigners who spread various forms of Islam, including radical forms, Hizb ut-Tahrir and other movements which are forbidden in Russia, but operate in Ukraine.”

Albir Krganov has recently returned from Crimea. He says that the Crimean Tatars say: “Thank God, we avoided the Tatar project.” According to Krganov, “in Crimea the inter-ethnic topic was intended to be used as well to organize an inter-ethnic massacre. The Ukrainian authorities legitimize radical Islamic groups under the veil of adoption of liberal laws. Thousands of young people have been trained and are ready to fight. Thank God we avoided it there. But the events which are taking place in Novorossia concern everybody. Using religions to settle political tasks is unethical, amoral, and should be prevented.”