On November 10, 2020, the Russian media circled the news that the spiritual department of Muslims of Russia banned marriages with Gentiles. The message caused a mass commotion, because it looks like a restriction of the rights and freedoms of citizens. We found out if this is so.

The resolution referred to by authoritative news agencies is: “Interfaith marriages, in particular with representatives of the Scriptures, are unacceptable and possible in certain single cases by the decision of the local mufti, which considers and takes into account all the circumstances of this particular case.” Interestingly, the decision was dated November 19, 2019, that is, it was made a year ago, but it became public only now. In the spiritual department of Muslims (thoughts) this Explained The fact that the theological conclusion posted on the organization’s website is devoted to the practice of concluding inter -confessional marriage as a whole, and the fatwright of a year ago is additional material to the text.

However, the main question that interests us is the power of such a solution, whether it is a mandatory execution. And here it is necessary to consider two aspects: religious and civilian.

Regarding the religious aspect, not everyone was supported in the thought of fatwa. It should be noted that in Islamic law there is a different attitude towards marriage with representatives of Abrahamic religions (named after the people of Scripture) and to marriage with atheists or adherents of other doctrines. In the first case (and we are talking about him, including about him) marriages usually permissible. Therefore, if the opinion of the Council of Ulemov Duma, which issued Few, is obviously in the management itself They said On the independence of this substructure and the ambiguous attitude towards the fatta within the organization. So, under such conditions, the ability to conclude a religious marriage (nicknames) will depend on a particular mufti that a person will turn to.

As for civil marriage, everything is clear here. The first deputy chairman of the Duma, Damir Mukhetdinov, said that "in the secular state, which is the Russian Federation, the decisions of the Ulemov Council are intra -communal in nature and are primarily addressed to Muslims who seek to observe religious postulates." His point of view was also supported by the chairman of the spiritual assembly of the Muslims of Russia, Mufti Albir Krganov, who said that the document is advisory in nature. Indeed, article 1 of the first chapter of the Family Code of the Russian Federation reads: “Any forms of restriction of citizens' rights in marriage and family relations are prohibited on the grounds of social, racial, national, linguistic or religious affiliation.”

Thus, the ban on the marriage of Muslims with representatives of other religions is partial, is not supported by all representatives of the Islamic clergy and is not related to the institution of civil marriage.