Salikh Kvaratskheliya: "30% of the population of Abkhazia do not consider themselves Muslims"

 

Salikh Kvaratskheliya: "30% of the population of Abkhazia do not consider themselves Muslims"Interview by the editor-in-chief of Vestnik Kavkaza, Maria SidelnikovaThe Tenth International Muslim Forum, "The mission of religion and the responsibility of its followers for modern challenges" has ended recently. The head of the United Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Abkhazia, Mufti Salikh Kvaratskheliya, talks about the forum and Muslims in Abkhazia.- How are events like the Muslim forum important for Russia?- It was my first time at a forum like that. It was the first time I was invited and I was happy to accept the invitation. This is an excellent platform to exchange views, ideas, to meet religious leaders from different nations, different communities, different countries. It is a platform to develop some solutions, some positions on current issues. It brings people together, promotes the development of a common understanding and assessment of the events occurring in the world.This is a very important event, especially for us, for Abkhazia, taking into account the political situation in our country, taking into account the fact that our republic is unrecognized.Only the Russian Federation has recognized our independence. For the Muslims of Abkhazia this forum is an access to the Muslim Ummah with our problems, networking, integration and the Russian Muslim Ummah and the Muslim Ummah all over the world.- How is the Ummah doing in Abkhazia? Are its problems similar to those faced by Muslims in Russia?- We have common problems, because Abkhazia is connected with Russia. Russia is Abkhazia's strategic partner. The economy and foreign policy are very much connected with the Russian Federation. Abkhazians have a mentality which is similar to the mentality of Russian Muslims across the North Caucasus, our brotherly peoples. Therefore, we have similar problems. Abkhazian Muslims live a life of their people, their sorrows and joys of their people and want to be productive members of society for the benefit of our country.- What impact do events in the Middle East have on Abkhazia?- Islamic State and similar extremist organizations have no effect on our country, fortunately. The problem of extremism is not acute in our country. We work with the help of education, preaching, we work on preventing such ideas and activities.- With which states do you have religious contacts?- First of all, we have relations with the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia and with the Office of Religious Affairs of the Turkish Republic. We have a large diaspora consisting of descendants of immigrants of the 19th century. We maintain contact with them, especially since many of them are returning to their historic homeland. Our Muslim community in Abkhazia largely consists of immigrants, particularly from Turkey. They are ethnic Abkhaz Muslims who have returned to their historic homeland.The Abkhaz community has grown at the expense of repatriates from Syria. They are also Muslims, many of them are religious and come to our mosque. We try to solve their problems, we are aware of our role in their adaptation to help them maintain their religion and perform their rites on Abkhaz land.- What percentage of the population in Abkhazia is Muslim?- Historically, a part of our people consider themselves Christians, and the other part Muslims. At various times the balance changed. Now we are talking about 30% of Muslims in Abkhazia, but this is not the exact figure, there are fewer practicing Muslims among them.

 

 

 

Interview by the editor-in-chief of Vestnik Kavkaza, Maria Sidelnikova
The Tenth International Muslim Forum, "The mission of religion and the responsibility of its followers for modern challenges" has ended recently. The head of the United Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Abkhazia, Mufti Salikh Kvaratskheliya, talks about the forum and Muslims in Abkhazia.
- How are events like the Muslim forum important for Russia?
- It was my first time at a forum like that. It was the first time I was invited and I was happy to accept the invitation. This is an excellent platform to exchange views, ideas, to meet religious leaders from different nations, different communities, different countries. It is a platform to develop some solutions, some positions on current issues. It brings people together, promotes the development of a common understanding and assessment of the events occurring in the world.
This is a very important event, especially for us, for Abkhazia, taking into account the political situation in our country, taking into account the fact that our republic is unrecognized.
Only the Russian Federation has recognized our independence. For the Muslims of Abkhazia this forum is an access to the Muslim Ummah with our problems, networking, integration and the Russian Muslim Ummah and the Muslim Ummah all over the world.
- How is the Ummah doing in Abkhazia? Are its problems similar to those faced by Muslims in Russia?
- We have common problems, because Abkhazia is connected with Russia. Russia is Abkhazia's strategic partner. The economy and foreign policy are very much connected with the Russian Federation. Abkhazians have a mentality which is similar to the mentality of Russian Muslims across the North Caucasus, our brotherly peoples. Therefore, we have similar problems. Abkhazian Muslims live a life of their people, their sorrows and joys of their people and want to be productive members of society for the benefit of our country.
- What impact do events in the Middle East have on Abkhazia?
- Islamic State and similar extremist organizations have no effect on our country, fortunately. The problem of extremism is not acute in our country. We work with the help of education, preaching, we work on preventing such ideas and activities.
- With which states do you have religious contacts?
- First of all, we have relations with the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia and with the Office of Religious Affairs of the Turkish Republic. We have a large diaspora consisting of descendants of immigrants of the 19th century. We maintain contact with them, especially since many of them are returning to their historic homeland. Our Muslim community in Abkhazia largely consists of immigrants, particularly from Turkey. They are ethnic Abkhaz Muslims who have returned to their historic homeland.
The Abkhaz community has grown at the expense of repatriates from Syria. They are also Muslims, many of them are religious and come to our mosque. We try to solve their problems, we are aware of our role in their adaptation to help them maintain their religion and perform their rites on Abkhaz land.
- What percentage of the population in Abkhazia is Muslim?
- Historically, a part of our people consider themselves Christians, and the other part Muslims. At various times the balance changed. Now we are talking about 30% of Muslims in Abkhazia, but this is not the exact figure, there are fewer practicing Muslims among them.