Ismail Aliyevich Berdiyev (Karachay-Balkar: Бердилени Алиини джашы Исмаил-хаджи, romanized: Berdileni Aliini jashy Ismail-khaji; Russian: Исмаил Алиевич Бердиев; 27 February 1954 – 5 August 2024) was a Russian Sunni mufti from Karachay-Cherkessia. He gained worldwide attention when he proclaimed that "all women" should be subjected to the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM).[1]
Ismail Berdiyev | |
---|---|
Бердилени Исмаил-хаджи | |
Berdiyev in 2016 | |
Title | Mufti |
Personal | |
Born | |
Died | 5 August 2024 | (aged 70)
Religion | Islam |
Era | Modern |
Denomination | Sunni |
Alma mater | Mir-i Arab mаdrаsasi, Bukhara; Imam Ismail al-Bukhari Islamic Institute, Tashkent. |
Biography
editIsmail Berdiyev was born on 27 February 1954 in the village of Belye Body in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (now Aqsukent in Kazakhstan),[2] where his parents were expelled from North Caucasus with other Karachay people, when they were accused of collaboration with the Nazis in 1943 by Soviet regime. He returned to Karachay-Cherkessia with his family in 1957.
Berdiyev died on 5 August 2024, at the age of 70.[3]
Controversies
editFemale genital mutilation
editBerdiyev, the mufti of Russia's North Caucasus region of Karachayevo-Cherkessia,[4] stated that FGM 'does not contradict the dogmas of Islam',[citation needed] and that this was a way to 'eliminate sexual depravity'.[1] He also claimed this was a way to reduce 'lechery' and 'sexuality', stating that "All women should be cut, so that there is no depravity on Earth..." The mufti made his comments following publication of a report by the Russian Justice Initiative (RJI), stating that FGM is widespread in some parts of Dagestan.[5] He was supported by Vsevolod Chaplin, a former spokesman for the Russian Orthodox Church.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c Roland Oliphant (18 August 2016). "Outrage in Russia after religious leaders back female genital mutilation". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ^ "Бердиев Исмаил Алиевич" [Berdiyev, Ismail Aliyevich]. IslamRF.ru (in Russian). 8 August 2008. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ "Ушёл из жизни муфтий КЧР Исмаил Бердыев". Islam.ru. 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "North Caucasus Mufti Endorses Female Genital Mutilation". Rferl.org. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- ^ "Russian mufti: Carry out genital mutilation on ′all women′ | Europe | DW.COM | 18.08.2016". DW.COM. Retrieved 21 August 2016.