Valiulla Yakupov Explained

Valiulla Makhmutovich Yakupov Валиулла Махмутович Якупов Вәлиулла Мәхмүт улы Якупов
Birth Date:4 September 1963[1]
Birth Place:Dmitrievka, Russian SFSR, USSR
Death Place:Kazan, Russia
Death Cause:Assassination by gunshot
Nationality:Tatar
Occupation:Muslim cleric

Valiulla Makhmutovich Yakupov (4 September 1963 – 19 July 2012) was a prominent Muslim cleric in Tatarstan, Russia[2] and the deputy to the Muslim province's chief mufti.[3] He was also known as a strong critic of radical Islamist organisations which advocate Salafism, a radical form of Islam.[4] According to news agency Interfax, Yakupov founded Russia's first Islamic literary publishing house.[5]

Death

Assassination

Yakupov was shot dead while walking on the Zarya Street estate in Kazan, Tatarstan, where he lived, according to a statement released by Russia's Investigative Committee.[6] [7] However, there is another report that he was killed while sitting on his porch.[8] Shortly thereafter, the chief mufti, Ildus Faizov, was wounded in the legs after an explosive device blasted through his vehicle.[9] A day after Yakupov's assassination, Russian police detained five people suspected to be involved in Yakupov's killing.[10]

Response

Russia's Council of Muftis has branded the fateful murder of Yakupov as a terror attack. "Unfortunately, deadly attacks on religious leaders have become common," Vladimir Legoyda, the chief of the Synodal Information Department, said. Reports from the media suggest that Yakupov was an anti-extremist activist and the attack may have taken place due to his strong opposition to radicalism.[7]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Valiulla Yakupov | VK.
  2. Web site: Valiulla Yakupov Murder: Russian Imam's Suspected Killers Detained. Huffington Post. 20 July 2012. 22 July 2012.
  3. Web site: Top Muslim cleric Yakupov gunned down in Russia. Fox News. 19 July 2012. 22 July 2012.
  4. Tom Parfitt (19 July 2012) Russian Muslim leader injured in car bomb and deputy shot dead Telegraph; retrieved 22 July 2012.
  5. Web site: Russia Muslim leaders attacked in Tatarstan . BBC. 19 July 2012. 22 July 2012.
  6. Web site: Five Arrested in Tatar Attacks. The Journal of Turkish Weekly. 21 July 2012. 22 July 2012.
  7. http://indrus.in/articles/2012/07/19/terrorist_attack_has_shaken_tatarstans_religious_community_16469.html Terrorist attack has shaken Tatarstan's religious community
  8. News: Roggio. Bill. 'Black Widow' assassinates moderate Muslim cleric in Russia's Caucasus . 29 August 2012. Long War Journal. 29 August 2012.
  9. Web site: Suspected Killers of Russian Imam Are Detained. The Wall Street Journal. 20 July 2012. 22 July 2012.
  10. Web site: Russian imam's suspected killers detained. Associated Press. 21 July 2012. 22 July 2012.