The Crimean Muftiate won the case for the return of the Evpatoria Juma-Jami mosque
Simferopol, February 17 (PolitNavigator, Evgeniy Andreev) – On Tuesday, the final hearing in the case of the liberation of the Evpatoria Juma-Jami mosque from persons calling themselves representatives of the so-called “Tauride Muftiate”, who seized the mosque in August 2014, was held in the Evpatoria City Court.
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This was reported by the press service of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Crimea.
Based on the fact of the seizure of the SAMK on November 25, a corresponding lawsuit was filed in the Yevpatoria City Court. Following the results of several court hearings, on February 17, the claim of the Crimean Muftiate was satisfied in full.
“The truth has triumphed. The occupants of this mosque did not have any title documents. In turn, the Spiritual Administration confirmed that it is the owner of this mosque. These individuals have not yet vacated the mosque; they have a month to appeal the court decision. Of course, we don’t think that they will be satisfied with this court decision, but, I repeat, the Tauride Muftiate does not have any title documents for this mosque,” noted SDMK lawyer Kaymakan Ibraim.
The city administration of Yevpatoria and the local Muslim community “Khan Jami” of the SAMK participated in the case as third parties.
“This historical mosque was left to us from our ancestors, and it belongs to all the people. The SAMK is a body that is elected by the people by convening the Kurultai and represents the religious interests of the Muslims of Crimea. This is a system that has been working for decades, therefore, the motives for such aggressive behavior and the seizure of the property of the people's spiritual administration by these people are difficult to understand. I can say one thing, speaking against the existing spiritual leadership in Islam is considered schismatic, speaking against the existing spiritual leader is prohibited only if this leader has not left the faith, there cannot be any other reasons,” explained Deputy Mufti of Crimea Esadullah Bairov.
The conflict in the Juma-Jami mosque occurred at the end of the summer of 2014 due to the illegal re-election of members of the Khan-Jami community, which was initiated by the imam of the mosque Elmar Abdulganiev. He announced his withdrawal from subordination to the SAMK and his transfer to the newly created Tauride Muftiate. Among the newly elected members of the Khan-Jami community were mainly representatives of the Habashite movement, supporting the Spiritual Center of Muslims of Crimea, in the new realities, renamed the Tauride Muftiate.
Having appropriated the title documents and the seal of the Khan-Jami community, representatives of the Tauride Muftiate also took possession of funds that were kept in the mosque safe. According to information from the official chairman of the community, Riza Abkhairov, the safe contained 191 thousand rubles, about 8 thousand US dollars, 500 Turkish liras and 45 euros.
The Crimean Muftiate won a court case to return the Yevpatoria Juma-Jami mosque.