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| Russia |
| Dagestani Duma turns down ban on Wahhabism |
| 2004-06-11 |
| The State Duma turned down a draft law on the ban of Wahhabism and any other extremist activities and tightening control for the activities of religious groups in Russia on Friday. The Dagestani Peopleâs Assembly submitted in the Duma the draft law on the amendments in the law âOn freedom of conscience and religious associationsâ that stipulates the ban on âsetting up and activities of Wahhabism and other extremist associations, religious groups which activities are aimed at the forcible change of constitutional order.â âThe events in Dagestan and Chechnya showed that if decisive measures are not taken the activities of religious extremists may pose a real threat not only for Dagestan and Russia but also the whole world,â the authors of the draft law emphasised. The Russian government and the Duma Committee for Public Associations and Religious Organisations drew negative conclusions on the draft law. âThe draft law actually regulates the activities not of religious associations but of anti-state and anti-public extremist organisations that should be regulated by the Criminal Code,â the Duma committee pointed out. Meanwhile, the Duma committee believes that the draft law introduces such new terms as Wahhabist activities and Wahhabist associations, the legal meaning of which is not explained. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |