Growth of Islam in Russia Brings Soviet Response

Muslims have never enjoyed as much freedom in Russia as they do today. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, there has been an Islamic revival of sorts in Russia. Muslims number 10 to 16 percent of the Russian population, and Islam is recognized as one of Russia’s four official religions. Yet that tolerance is tinged with suspicion, and some Muslims feel they are being persecuted. A perception, fueled by events in Europe, of Islam as a destabilizing force, is influencing the Russian government to take preventive measures against the threat, real or imagined, of Islamic militancy. Muslim citizens have, in some cases responded with violence to what they see as scrutiny, harassment, abuse and intimidation. Radical Islamists in Russia currently resemble revolutionaries more than terrorists, and the Islamic population is integrated to a greater extent into Russian society than Muslims in Europe are integrated there. Most of Russia’s Muslims are, in fact Russians, not immigrants. The question is whether efforts to contain or proscribe Islam will indeed breed the same classic, virulent form of militancy that has recently emerged in Europe. – YaleGlobal