Cherkessk/Agency Caucasus – The Muslim imams, like the Christian priests, will be let in the prisons on a monthly basis in the capital city Cherkessk of Karachay-Cherkessia to preach prisoners.
Also, Muslim prisoners will be allowed to practice their faith in a separate room of the prison, said Ludmila Rijenkova, a spokesperson for the Federal Execution Administration of Karachay-Cherkessia.
“Actually it is not only the prisoners who need religious support. Even suspects think a lot about what happened to them. They tend to very pessimistic especially when they are in trouble,” said Rijenkova in words that showed tolerance towards people with different faiths.
“The prison is being repaired at the moment. The reparation will be followed by the construction of a separate room for Muslim prisoners to practice their faith,” said Rijenkova to show institutional tolerance towards Muslim prisoners.
“It has become a common practise among Christian priests to visit prisoners,” said Rijenkova and emphasized the need for Muslim imams to do likewise and be supportive of the prisoners in their faiths.
Ismail Bostanov, Deputy President of the Religious Secretariat of Karachay-Cherkessia, expressed approval as well as support on the part of his organization for Rijenkova’s idea:
“The Religious Secretariat of Karachay-Cherkessia supports the idea of having Muslim imams preach Muslim prisoners in hopes that it will help innocent prisoners to get their faiths secure and to leave the prison with a healthier psychological state of mind. It will also hopefully help convicted prisoners to realize the seriousness of their sinful mistakes, to repent and show determination not to make a similar mistake again.”
The Muslim Religious Secretariat officials will be available for prisoners to talk to last Thursdays of each month.
Bostanov lastly added that there would perhaps be more frequent chances for prisoners to meet with religious officials if these meetings prove effective.
KU/ÖZ/FT
