Islam in Russia: Notes of a Political Scientist

Abstract

Sad as it may be, at the end of the nineties many Russians are developing a definite "Islamophobia," especially regarding the situation in the North Caucasus. The wars and conflicts in the North Caucasus, especially in Chechnya, are creating a certain aggressive image of the Muslim, which, one might add, is thoroughly supported by one segment of the mass media. On one hand, this is prompted by definite political calculation, while on the other, the motive is often to have "hot news." Such publications are "entertaining," and the reader reads all kinds of horrors about Muslim fundamentalism, terrorism, and so on with a mixture of interest and fear. It should be noted that our mass media, the electronic media included, show little, if any, competence in discussing Islam. Hence, to no mean degree a deliberately negative image of Islam is created, one that unfortunately is becoming increasingly entrenched.