Muslim Imam in Crimea Accuses Cossacks of Using Children in Provocation

The website of the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Ukraine (SDMU) reported that the Cossacks of the Crimea incited minors to tear down the fence around the construction site of a mosque.

The incident occurred in the village of Pershotravneve of Kirovsk District. According to Chief Imam of the Kirovsk District and the city of Feodosia, Nariman Korohly, a part of the fence was damaged as early as six months ago and recently, police detained children there.

The imam is convinced that Cossacks are involved who, according to him, constantly carry out provocative actions and stir up the local population.

“A vivid example of this is the fact that the Cossacks already influence the parents of the detained children and accuse the police just of being allegedly Crimean Tatars and conducting the investigation 'with violations and bias.' This is not true. We are analyzing the incident and will take appropriate steps,” said the imam.

According to him, the Cossacks oppose the construction of the mosque and are constantly looking for ways to prevent it. He also noted that the police summoned the children’s parents before interrogating the children.

The imam assured that despite the Cossacks’ actions, the mosque would be built in the place.

The land plot of 0.49 hectares was allocated to the Muslim community of the village by the local authorities in 2009, and they received all the city development documents in 2012.