Kremlin frets as Russia's once restive Islamist region takes up political Islam

The Christian Science Monitor ^ | September 20, 2017 | Fred Weir

[Jagermonster]

SEARCH FOR SOLUTIONS   Strongman Ramzan Kadyrov was installed by Putin to squelch Chechnya's Islamist insurrection. But Kadyrov's adoption of sharia and political Islam in the region are challenging Russia's secular constitutional order.

MOSCOW—Russia fought two bloody wars in its Caucasus republic of Chechnya, ostensibly to crush an emerging threat of Islamist extremism on its own soil.

So it is with no small irony that the strongman Moscow installed to run a pacified Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, is increasingly posing a similar challenge to Russia's secular constitutional order. Mr. Kadyrov is imposing sharia (Islamic law) on his population – and lately, even defying the Kremlin's foreign policy – with an apparent eye on a global, Islamic stage.

“Kadyrov wants to be considered a leader among world Muslims. His ambitions are very high,” says Alexei Malashenko, an Islam expert with the Moscow Carnegie Center. “He has introduced politicized Islam in Chechnya, and this is definitely a problem for the Kremlin. [President Vladimir] Putin clearly does not like it.”

Kadyrov has always been one of the most, if not the most, noteworthy of Russia's regional leaders, though often for less than positive reasons.

Sometimes his antics look simply baffling to outsiders, as when he recently ordered almost 1,000 divorced Chechen couples to reunite “for the sake of the children,” his ongoing efforts to force Chechen women to adhere to a “Muslim dress code,” or his endorsement of polygamy in Chechnya – which is strictly against Russian law.

[Jagermonster]

Excerpted per rules.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks so much for your support to this point... I personally apprecaite it...
FReepers, what the hell?  It's far beyond time to wrap up this FReep-a-thon.  Lets do it...

President Donald J. Trump and the Free Republic of the United States of America
President Donald J. Trump's address to the United Nations on 09/19/2017.

Ramirez political cartoon:  Football Referee Signals LARGE VERSION 09/20/2017: LINK  LINK to regular sized versions of his political cartoons (archive).
Garrison political cartoon:  Irrelevence Park LARGE VERSION 09/19/2017: LINK  LINK (scroll down) to regular sized versions of his political cartoons (archive).


Please join the monthlies, an automated and the best way to help support Free Republic.  If you opt not to join the automated monthly support program, please consider joining the One One Done project.  LINK

FReepers, 93.50% of the Third Quarter FReep-a-thon goal has been met.  Click above and pencil in your donation now.  Please folks, lets end this FReepathon.  Thank you!
...this is a general all-purpose message, and should not be seen as targeting any individual I am responding to...

Just $442.00 dollars and cents to 94.00%

[DIRTYSECRET]

Help us with the Norks and we’ll help you in that department.

[BenLurkin]

Islam is a cancer everywhere it spreads.

[DoughtyOne]

This very problem is why I think it’s so whacked out for Russia to help Iran get the bomb. Do they have half a clue that Iran happily arms terrorists?

[VietVet876]

They’ll find some halal Polonium 210 or torture some imam to certify the haram stuff.

[Red Badger]

Play footsies with Islam, you get athlete’s foot.............

[PGR88]

Help us with the Norks and we’ll help you in that department.

Russia is an enemy of globalists and western socialists, and no doubt our deep-state encourages the Saudis to stir up trouble with Wahabbist troglodytes in the Russian "stans"

[samtheman]

This very problem is why I think it’s so whacked out for Russia to help Iran get the bomb. Do they have half a clue that Iran happily arms terrorists?

---

They are extremely short-sighted in this regard. They are operating on a long-standing policy, going back to the 50s, to support all challenges to Israel and the US in the Mideast. But as you point out, they are in denial about the blowback they are courting.

[elcid1970]

Chechens are the worst of the worst among Muslims. Another Beslan massacre is on the way, I fear.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks samtheman...

We're on the same page there.

[lodi90]

Islam is a cancer everywhere it spreads.

---

And abortion is a cancer everywhere it spreads. Sadly, it seems Russian women love abortions almost as much as they love vodka.

[ek_hornbeck]

This very problem is why I think it’s so whacked out for Russia to help Iran get the bomb. Do they have half a clue that Iran happily arms terrorists?

I think that the Chechens are Sunni, so Iran wants nothing to do with them and vice-versa. During their wars with Russia, the Chechen rebels were mostly getting money and arms from Saudi Arabia.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks ek_hornbeck. I am presented with these types of distinctions, but I am not a big fan of the arguments.

Terrorism takes place between and across the Islamic sect lines IMO.

Those guys are very fluid between the terrorist organizations. One day they're fighting for one group. The next they are fighting with another.

[BlueLancer]

[samtheman]

I believe we are.

[DoughtyOne]

“:^)

[ek_hornbeck]

I don’t believe it’s nearly as fluid as you’re claiming. Iran doesn’t generally support Sunni organizations, and Saudi Arabia doesn’t to my knowledge ever support Shias. These two sects of Islam hate one another at least as much as they hate non-Muslim “infidels.” Furthermore, Iran perceives the Chechens (not incorrectly) as clients of their Saudi enemies. At one point, the Saudis even tried to strike a deal with Putin where they offered to stop aiding Chechen and Dagestani jihadis if Putin stopped aiding Assad in Syria.

[Navy Patriot]

So it is with no small irony that the strongman Moscow installed to run a pacified Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, is increasingly posing a similar challenge to Russia's secular constitutional order.

Sometimes ya gotta outright castrate your dog, and sometimes ya gotta go back and castrate your dog.

Just make sure you CAN castrate your dog whenever ya want.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Mr. Kadyrov is imposing sharia (Islamic law) on his population

---

Not at all good. Why did Russia fight them in the first place if this was going to be the result.