THE EIGHTH PANEL: «HOW MUSLIMS ARE AFFECTED BY THE RUSSIAN AGGRESSION.POTENTIAL FOR GLOBAL SOLIDARITY»
The discussion about Muslim peoples who became victims of either Russian colonialism and imperialism or Russian disinformation and political influence took place today during one of the panels of the international conference «Crimea Global. Understanding Ukraine through the South».
The Mufti of Crimea, Chairman of the Religious Administration of Muslims in Crimea Aider Rustemov stated in his opening remarks that Russia is slowly killing the Crimean Tatar people. He recalled the deportations, murders and disappearances of Crimean Tatars organized by the Russian state at the beginning of the occupation of the peninsula, and the hundreds of children left without parents as a result. He described the prevailing climate of fear in Crimea caused by constant searches in the houses and mosques of Crimean Tatars, video surveillance in churches, forced collection of personal data, imprisonment due on fabricated charges and mockery of Muslims’ faith. In addition, the Mufti emphasized that not only Muslims are subjected to repression, but also, in particular, parishioners of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and members of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Mr. Rustemov added that after February 24, 2022, about 5 thousand Crimean Tatars were forced to leave the peninsula. And those men who remained in Crimea are subject to forced mobilization into Russia’s aggressive war.
However, the resistance to Russian military aggression has united Crimean Tatars, Ukrainians, and, in particular, and representatives of North Caucasian nations, contributing to mutual understanding and the development of tolerance in Ukraine.
«Now, Jews, Muslims, and Christians are together in the same trench,» Mr. Rustemov said, further emphasizing that Crimean Tatars are actively serving in the Armed Forces and Territorial Defense of Ukraine.
«It is essential to stand on the side of truth and humanity,» stated the Mufti of Crimea, highlighting that the defense against Russia is a «struggle for truth and humanity.» He also expressed his belief that «since the war began in Crimea, it should end there as well.» Aider Rustemov added that Muslim communities in Ukraine not only participate in combat but also provide humanitarian aid to war victims, and religious groups offer spiritual guidance and psychological support. The active role of Muslims, according to the Mufti, extends beyond Ukraine’s borders, with diaspora representatives in Muslim countries providing various forms of support to Ukraine.
One of the event’s attendees reminded the audience that Russia is mobilizing numerous representatives of Muslim nations from remote regions of the Russian state for its war against Ukraine. He emphasized that Russia is sending them to Ukraine to die and kill, including Ukrainian Muslims. In response, Mr. Rustemov stated that he has reached out to Russian Muslims and their families, urging them to refrain from participating in this imperialistic war. The panel’s moderator, Arsen Jumadilov, a Crimean Tatar activist, lecturer at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, and the head of the Crimean Institute of Strategic Studies, mentioned that within Russia, Muslims are also persecuted and their religious freedom is restricted. An audience member also pointed out Russia’s military interventions in Muslim countries such as Afghanistan, Ichkeria, and Syria.
Mokhammad Zaidiie, Head of the Syrian diaspora in Kyiv and Director of the Ukrainian Medical and Humanitarian Foundation of the Union of Organizations for Medical Aid and Care (UOSSM), confirmed that the war in Ukraine is not the only war that Russia is waging against Muslims. Thus, in 2015, the Russian state officially entered the war in Syria, leading to deaths of about 1.5 million people and displacing 7-8 million as refugees. According to Mr. Zaidiie, more than 11,000 Syrians were killed in Syria,with over 1,500 women and 2,000 were children, solely because of Russia’s actions. In addition, during the UN General Assembly sessions, Russia has already exercised its veto power «against the will of the Syrian people» on 15 occasions.
The head of the Syrian diaspora in Ukraine is convinced that the world must stop Russia, Iran and «other groups» that are killing civilians in Syria. He also said that Syrian human rights activists, together with Ukrainian ones, are currently working to hold Bashar al-Assad and Vladimir Putin accountable in the International Criminal Court. In addition, Mokhammad Zaidiie expressed gratitude to the Mission of the President of Ukraine in Crimea for their support of Syrian people.
«Victory is always for the truth, and the truth is for Ukraine!» said Diallo Issa Sadio, President of the African Council in Ukraine, a member of the Public Council under the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience, and member of the relevant expert council at the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights. He also expressed confidence that Ukraine’s victory in the war is not long in coming.
Mr. Issa Sadio said that people from Africa living in Ukraine are now either fighting in the Territorial Defense or have joined volunteer and charitable organizations to aid in the recovery of war-torn Ukrainian communities, and provide humanitarian assistance in the form of food and medicine to those in need.
The president of the African Council in Ukraine focused most of his speech on analysis of Russia’s tactics in dealing with Muslim populations worldwide . First, he stated that Russia systematically spreads disinformation about Ukraine, which influences African media and, in particular, young people. Some African dictators support Putin because he finances them and teaches them how to hold pseudo-elections of «presidents» to legitimize their power. Putin also promises to supply them with food and fertilizers stolen from the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia for free. The Russian state is also using Wagner Group mercenaries to control parts of the African continent. It also establishes Russian cultural centers in African countries to buy the loyalty of locals by providing opportunities to study in Russian educational institutions. At the same time, Diallo Issa Sadio expressed hope that all of Africa will stand with Ukraine.
The head of the African Council in Ukraine also strongly denied some of the myths about Ukraine imposed by Russia. He stated that he has been living in Ukraine since the 80s of the previous century, and he witnessed the evidence of tolerance and respect for religious freedom on the part of the Ukrainian state and Ukrainians. He gave the following example: despite the traditionally Muslim-majority region in the south, many in Crimea, almost all Ukrainian cities have either mosques or Islamic cultural centers, so all Muslims in Ukraine have the opportunity to practice their own religious rites and receive education.
Mohammad Fazril Bin Mohd Saleh, the General Secretary of the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM), also attempted to explain why Russian propaganda against Ukraine can be successful. He noted that Southeast Asia was colonized by other states, not Russia. Therefore, the viewpoint that if you criticize Russia, you support your historical colonizers as well as the cases of Islamophobia in these countries. In addition, relatively few Muslims are familiar with the details of the Russia-Ukraine war and the history of Russian-Ukrainian relations. Therefore, in Southeast Asia, it is necessary to explain that Ukraine has never had its own colonies, and that Muslims in Ukraine, in the occupied Crimea, face Russian repression.
«Ukraine’s victory should be the victory of all Muslims,» Mohammad Fazril Bin Mohd Saleh stated, and he wished Ukraine to achieve peace. In addition, he expressed confidence that Ukraine’s experience in overcoming Russian aggression would be useful to the Muslim world. Therefore, Crimea Gobal and the Crimean Platform are extremely valuable international initiatives.