Russians fuming with Muslim migrants praying in public as Putin's cities 'don't have enough mosques'

Russians are expressing growing frustration and resentment towards Muslim migrants who are praying in public spaces. This issue arises as the Muslim population in Russia, now the second most popular religion, continues to increase, partly due to labor migration from countries like Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Incidents have been reported of individuals praying in streets, near buildings, and even rubbish bins, causing inconvenience to the public. One notable case involved a bus driver in Khabarovsk who prayed at a bus terminal during his break, delaying passengers. While cleared of wrongdoing, the incident sparked widespread discussion and criticism on social media. Valery Fadeev, head of the Presidential Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights, acknowledged the growing sentiment, stating that public prayer in such locations is considered unusual and disruptive. The core reason cited for public prayer is the insufficient number of mosques, particularly in major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg. With Muslims required to pray five times daily, often during working hours, long commutes to mosques can be impractical. Migrant workers, many of whom are taxi drivers, feel pressured to pray where they are to avoid missing prayer times, leading to situations that draw negative attention and foster animosity. This frustration has been exacerbated by the deadly terror attack at Crocus City Hall in March 2024, which was linked to ISIS and carried out by Central Asian migrants. In the aftermath, these migrants have faced increased scrutiny, police raids, deportations, and mistreatment. Consequently, public prayer is sometimes perceived as provocative, contributing to a rise in hostility and isolated incidents o... download the app to read more