The Spoken and “Unspoken” Political Agenda in the Virtual Space of Russian Muslims

ABSTRACT

The article is devoted to the analysis of Russian Muslims’ communications in social networks. I show a unique mode of interdependence of online and offline, which takes shape in the special context of the dominant discourse of traditional Islam and the securitization of Islamic activism. The construction of “right” and “wrong” Islam determines the special structure of media consumption of Russian Muslims and the content of the political agenda. In addition to verbalized political agendas, I describe the phenomenon of an “unspoken” political agenda hidden beyond religious messages and identified precisely only through background by actors transmitting it.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. There is rather long discussion on key problems of contemporary anthropology of Islam that the author also participated in. See for example Schielke (2010), Fadil and Fernando (2015), Ragozina (2020).

2. See more: Alexeev and Ragozina (2017).

3. See the monitoring “Nepravomernyi extremism,” which is implemented by SOVA-Center: “Unlawful Anti-Extremism,” SOVA-Center. https://www.sova-center.ru/misuse/ (accessed January 30, 2021), in Russian.

4. There are quite a lot “dead” Islamic forums on the web, hosted for free, with the most recent posts from 2007–2008.

5. “Extremist Materials,” Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation. https://minjust.gov.ru/ru/extremist-materials/ (accessed January 30, 2021), in Russian.

6. For example, in 2012 amendments were made to the Law on Combating Extremist Activity, significantly expanding the power of law enforcement agencies to prosecute leaders and members of religious associations deemed to be extremist. “Amendments to the Law on Countering Extremist Activity Passed the First Reading,” SOVA-Center SOVA-Center, October 18, 2013. https://www.sova-center.ru/misuse/news/lawmaking/2013/10/d28196/ (accessed January 30, 2021), in Russian.

7. Sisler, “Cyber Counsellors,” 1145.

8. “Sobchak Started Receiving Threats for Supporting a Critic of Islam,” Lenta.ru, October 28, 2020. https://lenta.ru/news/2020/10/28/sobchak_ugrozy/ (accessed January 30, 2021), in Russian.

9. All materials from social media are in Russian, accessed January 30, 2021. Translations of publication titles or opening phrases are provided where possible. “Write the word I S L A M in columns in the comments,” islam_._koran, November 9, 2020. https://www.instagram.com/p/CHXkKGzjprQ/, in Russian.

10. “Make insulting Islam and Muslims a criminal offense,” islam_._koran, November 1, 2020. https://www.instagram.com/p/CHC61gtjZyV/, in Russian. In June 2013, amendments were passed to increase liability for insulting the feelings of believers” up to criminal liability.

11. “Bitter truth,” finikos_shop, May 6, 2020. https://www.instagram.com/p/B_3AbdvHwW2/, in Russian.

12. “Calling it all by other names the Messenger of Allah said … ,” potomki_muhammada, December 31, 2020. https://www.instagram.com/p/CJd5RX4DG4K/, in Russian.

13. “Siham Hamoud, 12 years old, from London, was suspended because of the length of her skirt,” islam_video_rolik, January 13, 2021. https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ_iQwVnzM6/, in Russian.

14. “In Yemen, 13.5 million people face the threat of death from starvation,” islam_video_rolik, January 11, 2021. https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ5-Na_H1pW/, in Russian.

15. “Ilhamdulillah the Collection for the sixth well in Africa is closed,” rauf_ibn_salyaf, September 26, 2019. https://www.instagram.com/p/B24vPISg1Zw/, in Russian; “Our #ecogrand team built a well in Africa on behalf of our company GREENWAY,” zubaydat.muradova_gm10, 1May 6, 2020. https://www.instagram.com/p/CAOg3GDgXo2/, in Russian.

16. “10 Rules on the War,” 5.stolpov_islama, August 13, 2020. https://www.instagram.com/p/CD1Wwy7KSRb/, in Russian.

17. “Islam and scientific and technological progress,” Telegram-channel @darulfikr, January 16, 2019, in Russian.

18. “Muslim received an international award for combating Internet bullying,” islam_video_rolik, January 6, 2021. https://www.instagram.com/p/CJtZ339HC_1/, in Russian.

19. “The number of Muslims in Japan is growing rapidly,” islam_video_rolik, January 12, 2021. https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ7_uI1ngtV/, in Russian.

20. “About 50 mosques opened in Crimea after reunification with Russia,” islam_video_rolik, January 6, 2021. https://www.instagram.com/p/CI-0fDnnsnN/, in Russian.

21. “Qadi of the Caucasus Emirate: Blogger Tumso Abdurakhmanov is the Best Mujahedeen,” Kavkaz.Realii, November 14, 2019. https://www.kavkazr.com/a/30271258.html, in Russian.

22. “Hunger strike in prison,” sasitlinsky, May 2, 2023. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrvT98zu4ut/, in Russian.

23. “Forced into the army,” sasitlinsky, May 27, 2023. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CsulHaUIPmn/, in Russian.

24. “Comment by ulanaytuarov under the publication ‘Question to the Muftiat,’” abdullah_kostekskiy, October 27, 2020. https://www.instagram.com/tv/CG0kBPpoMzr/, in Russian.

25. “Pocket imams,” abdullah_kostekskiy, September 21, 2020. https://www.instagram.com/p/CFZ_Nu4hSee/, in Russian.

26. See, for example, Sofya Ragozina, “The Internet space of radical political Islam in the North East Caucasus.”

27. See, for example: “Beware the Delusion! Abdullah Kosteksky,” YouTube, posted by “ALMASJID.RU,” August 1, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=is39mSxCUFc, in Russian.

Additional information

Funding

The research was funded by RFBR according to the research project [№ 22-78-00038], “Muslim social media in contemporary Russia: Old security challenges, new identities and discourses.” Available from https://rscf.ru/project/22-78-00038; Russian Science Foundation.