"We intend to create an all-Russian public-political organization that would protect the economic, political and religious rights of Russia's all ethnic minorities practicing Islam," Kamilzhan Kalandarov, the director general of the Human Rights Institute, a member of the human rights commission under the Russian President, said at a Monday press conference in Moscow dedicated to the recent pogrom at a market in Volgograd (the Volga area).
In his words, the Human Rights Institute, the Union of Moslem Journalists in Russia and the Islamic Rights Protection Center will be the organizations' founders.
The functions of the organization will be the improvement of the image of Moslem communities in Russia, mediation between the power and labor migrants, the establishment of closer contacts with law enforcement bodies and public control over their activity. Besides, the organization will render legal and material assistance to migrants, Moslem large families and invalids.
The press conference participants said they met with representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church and other traditional religions of Russia. "They unanimously condemn this pogrom (in Volgograd)," said the participants.
"Their support encourages us," Mr. Kalandarov said. The second encouraging fact is an instruction given by the president to Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev to pay heed to the problem of interethnic relations, he added.
"Moslems in Russia live much better than in some Moslem countries. And we want this to continue this way," the participants concluded.
The pogrom at a market in Volgograd happened on April 7. Representatives of local law enforcement bodies do not exclude it was an ordinary crime.
