North Ossetian mufti to resign

The mufti of North Ossetia Ali-Khadji Yevteyev said that he will
resign because of an interview given to an Internet-publisher that
stirred the public and was criticized by Muslims. The prosecutors
office of North Ossetia is examining the interview for extremist
statements, RIA Novosti reports.

Yevteyev said that a clergy council of Muslims of the republic was
held at his request. In his interview, Yevteyev said that he was an
apprentice of the killed leaders of the underground resistance,
including Khattab, wished to live in a Muslim country, glorified armed
Jihad and allowed abusive statements addressed towards the Orthodox
clergy. The mufti made a public declaration that he was
misinterpreted. He denied any acquaintance with Khattab and apologized
to the Orthodox clergy. Moreover, Yevteyev said that he considered the
talk with the journalist to have been a ‘conversation’ and did not
expect the publication.