Moslem Hierarchs on Religious Education in Russia

Moscow, Russia -- The Council of Russia's Muftis comes out against the introduction of any special religious culture in state schools.

"Religious knowledge should be given without separation of text-books and schoolchildren according the religious principle," reads the Council's address to the Russian leadership.

This document was adopted following a two-day Moscow session of heads of Moslem spiritual departments and Islamic educational establishments, said spokesman for the Council of Russia's Muftis Radik Amirov.

"The teaching of religion by religious organizations at state and municipal schools may lead to unpredictable consequences, in particular, in the regions with mixed population," the document says.

Moreover, the council insists that "state bodies and relevant organizations should issue licenses to religious educational institutions."

"Private educational establishments of higher professional training set up by centralized religious organizations have the right to train clergymen," the council said.

Its members ask the authorities to consider the position of the Council of Russia's Muftis during the introduction of amendments and supplements to the Russian law On Education.