Russia’s Jewish umbrella organization severed ties with the Russian Council of Muftis.
The Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia quit relations with the council after Nafigullah Ashirov, the co-chairman of the Russian Council of Muftis, said at a Moscow rally last month that “Zionism is a cancerous tumor because Zionism is fascism.”
The Jewish federation acted March 20 when the council failed to react to its protests, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency.
In a statement released by the Mufti Council, Ashirov said, “If FJCR, which positions itself as a Russian organization, sees itself as part of Zionism, then certainly the announcement by this organization about suspension of relations with the Council of Muftis is quite understandable.
“The Russian Council of Muftis regrets the stand taken by FJCR and believes the situation has been dealt with.”
