CRIMEAN MUSLIMS MARK 2ND RAMADAN UNDER RUSSIA

Simferopol, 7 Ramadan 1436/24 June 2015 (MINA) – Crimean Muslim Tatars gathered at the main mosque of Simferopol to break their fast in Ramadan, in the second year after Russia’s annexation of the peninsula.
The 300,000-strong Muslim minority makes up less than 15% of

Crimea’s population of 2 million and has so far been overwhelmingly opposed to Russia’s annexation of the peninsula, On Islam quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The Russian move to annex Crimea followed an earlier vote in March, 2013, on the peninsula’s future.

The referendum, approved by 96%, was followed by several steps from the pro-Moscow Crimean parliament, resulting in issuance of a law that allows Russia’s annexation of the disputed peninsula.

The hastily organized March 16 referendum was boycotted by Tatars who rejected it as they were held at gunpoint under the gaze of Russian soldiers.

After Russian annexation of Crimea, fears of Muslim Tatars were doubled, voicing concerns over losing freedom and reviving the memories of exile and prosecution they faced in 1940s. (T/P006/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)