State prayers – Kommersant Kazan

Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (DUM) of Tatarstan Kamil Samigullin proposed opening prayer rooms in government institutions throughout Russia. As an example, he cited Tatarstan, where there are places for prayer in all correctional institutions. And yesterday a prayer room was opened at the military hospital of the Ministry of Defense in Kazan. According to experts, the organization of such rooms does not contradict the law, since “no one is forced to go there.” They note that such spaces are needed “where people are forced to spend a lot of time and do not have the opportunity to go to a mosque or temple.”

The head of the Muslim Spiritual Directorate of Tatarstan, Kamil Samigullin, said that prayer rooms should be opened in government institutions. As an example, he cited the republic’s hospitals and correctional institutions, where “there is both a temple and a mosque.” According to him, in Tatarstan they “maintain parity”: they open prayer rooms for both Muslims and Orthodox Christians. “Both faiths are not forgotten in the republic. A similar thing could be done for representatives of all traditional religions of Russia,” the mufti told RIA Novosti.

Mr. Samigullin emphasized that when using the experience of Tatarstan, “one must proceed from the needs.”

“If, for example, Buddhists do not live in a certain area, then, accordingly, there is no need for prayer spaces for them,” said the head of the Muslim Spiritual Directorate. However, if “in addition to the Orthodox, there are many Muslims in this area,” then the mufti believes that “it is quite logical to allow them to open prayer rooms in institutions.”

This week, a prayer room for Muslims was opened at the military hospital of the Russian Ministry of Defense in Kazan. Its area was 12 square meters. m, namaz can be read by 10 people at the same time. Sponsors’ funds were used to buy carpets, prayer materials and religious literature for the prayer room. At the opening of the room, the mufti delivered a sermon.

Previously, a room for Orthodox services was opened in the hospital. In addition, there is a house chapel at the hospital. The first Divine Liturgy took place on November 1 of this year. It was headed by Metropolitan Kirill (Nakonechny) of Kazan and Tatarstan.

The opening of prayer rooms in government institutions does not contradict the law, says Kazan lawyer, President of the National Association of Lawyers (NALA) Ruslan Nagiyev. “We have freedom of religion. Nobody forces anyone to go to prayer rooms,” he says. According to him, such rooms can be made even two meters by two meters and “without indicating that they are for Muslims or Orthodox Christians.” “Just a room. And there, whoever wants to, prays,” he believes.

According to Mr. Nagiyev, prayer rooms are needed “where people are forced to spend a lot of time and they do not have the opportunity to go to a mosque or temple.”

“Do smokers go out to smoke? It takes five minutes. Muslim prayer is the same, five minutes.

Moreover, during working hours you need only two times: lunchtime prayer and pre-evening prayer. Maybe three in the winter,” notes the lawyer.

He adds that “correctional facilities and hospitals are two such places where people start turning to God. “Especially if we are talking about oncology. In almost every room there are either icons or the Koran. People are praying,” Mr. Nagiyev points out. According to him, other government institutions can be equipped with prayer rooms if “there is a request.” “This happens not only in government institutions. There are Orthodox prayer houses, for example, at airports,” he concludes.

The Tatarstan authorities did not comment on Kamil Samigullin’s proposal to Kommersant-Kazan.

Kirill Antonov