Chechnya's SAM explains its attitude towards jihad against Israel

Residents of Chechnya have considered the Chechen Mufti's appeal to the Israeli authorities with the demand to restore the access for Muslim to the Al-Aqsa Mosque as a readiness for jihad. The head of the Chechen Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) called on the Israeli authorities to peacefully resolve the conflict, the Muftiate explained.

On July 21, Chechen Mufti Salakh-Khaji Mezhiev issued a statement concerning the closure by the Israeli authorities of the access for Muslims to the main Islamic shrine the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reported.

"We shall defend our sacred objects even at the cost of our lives and be to the last breath the defenders of the Prophet Muhammad's Ummah, and we are ready for that," the Chechen Mufti said.

Rizvan, a university student, believes such statements may lead to an increase in extremist attitudes among young people.

An official of the Chechen SAM has denied the version that the Mufti of the republic was talking about jihad. According to the Chechen SAM's official, the statement voiced by the Mufti was misinterpreted.

In his Instagram, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has stated that Muslims around the world took the closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque as an action against Islam, rather than terrorism.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.