May 31, 2008 - 15:25 AMT
'Muslim enclaves' may appear in Russia?
The suggestion by Nafigulla Ashirov, the chief mufti of the Asian part of Russia, to create Muslim housing estates in Russian megalopolises caused a hot public debate.

Not only majority of Muslims but also national minorities irrespective of religious affiliation support the idea to establish Muslim districts.

The survey showed that 46.83 per cent of respondents spoke out in favor and 44.7 per cent were against.

"From the viewpoint of Russian legislation, the project can be easily implemented," said the head of a real estate agency in Moscow.

"The housing estates Nafigulla Ashirov was speaking about represent a classic association of apartment owners who can live in one or several tenement buildings with fenced and guarded territory, which can include a kindergarten, school, polyclinic and other facilities," he said, Islam News reports.