2012-04-25 16:05:00
Moscow, April 25, Interfax - The Moscow Patriarchate has condemned the statements made by lawyer Dagir Khasavov on the introduction of sharia courts in Russia.
"I consider threats of illegitimate use of force made by the lawyer to be unacceptable," Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, the head of the Synodal Department for Church and Society Relations, told Interfax-Religion on Wednesday.
He believes social rules and norms of religions law that exist in specific communities should not be introduced by force, "especially bearing in mind that it is not obvious from this statement if Mr. Khasavov approves of forcible enforcement of sharia law only to members of their communities, that is, Muslims, or other people as well," the priest said.
"It's absolutely wrong to suggest enforcing religions legal norms on those who do not belong to a specific religious community," the clergyman said.
He believes it is obvious that Muslims, Orthodox, Jews, and members of some other religious communities put the norms of religious law applying to human and communal relations, religious practices, family and societal models above everything. He said he is confident that Khasavov's statements will not lead to the disruption of religious and ethnic accord in Russia.
Khasavov earlier said on federal television that Muslims in Russia do not want to go to secular courts and therefore should use sharia courts. The lawyer said that there is a danger of bloodshed if sharia courts are not created in Russia.