2012 Koninklijke Brill NV ISBN 978-90-04-22521-3

Yearbook of Muslims in Europe

Volume 4
Editor-in-Chief
Jrgen S. Nielsen
Editors
Samim Akgnl
Ahmet Alibai
Egdnas Raius
LEIDENBOSTON
2012
2012 Koninklijke Brill NV ISBN 978-90-04-22521-3
CONTENTS
The Editors ........................................................................................................ ix
Editorial Advisers ............................................................................................ xi
Foreword ........................................................................................................... xiii
COUNTRY SURVEYS
Albania ............................................................................................................... 1
Olsi Jazexhi
Armenia ............................................................................................................. 17
Sevak Karamyan
Austria ................................................................................................................ 27
Thomas Schmidinger
Azerbaijan ......................................................................................................... 41
Bayram Balci and Altay Goyushov
Belarus ................................................................................................................ 57
Daa Sabanka
Belgium .............................................................................................................. 69
Nadia Fadil
Bosnia and Herzegovina ............................................................................... 95
Aid Smaji
Bulgaria .............................................................................................................. 115
Aziz Nazmi Shakir
Croatia ................................................................................................................ 133
Dino Mujadevi
Cyprus................................................................................................................. 143
Ali Dayolu and Mete Hatay
Czech Republic ................................................................................................ 161
tpn Machek
Denmark ............................................................................................................ 175
Brian Arly Jacobsen
Estonia ................................................................................................................ 193
Ringo Ringvee and Egdnas Raius
Finland ............................................................................................................... 201
Tuomas Martikainen
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France ................................................................................................................. 211
Franck Frgosi
Georgia ............................................................................................................... 229
Satenik Mkrtchyan
Germany ............................................................................................................ 245
Mathias Rohe
Greece ................................................................................................................. 269
Konstantinos Tsitselikis
Hungary ............................................................................................................. 281
Norbert Pap and va Ladnyi
Iceland ................................................................................................................ 289
Gran Larsson
Ireland ................................................................................................................ 295
Victoria Montgomery
Italy ..................................................................................................................... 313
Stella Coglievina
Kosovo ................................................................................................................ 331
Besa Ismaili
Latvia .................................................................................................................. 345
Egdnas Raius and Valters erbinskis
Liechtenstein .................................................................................................... 353
Thomas Schmidinger
Lithuania............................................................................................................ 359
Egdnas Raius
Luxembourg ...................................................................................................... 367
Sylvain Besch
Macedonia ......................................................................................................... 377
Muharem Jahja
Malta ................................................................................................................... 389
Martin R. Zammit
Moldova ............................................................................................................. 397
Aurelia Felea
Montenegro ...................................................................................................... 413
Sabina Pacariz
Netherlands....................................................................................................... 421
Martijn de Koning
Norway ............................................................................................................... 441
Christine M. Jacobsen and Oddbjrn Leirvik
Poland ................................................................................................................. 455
Agata S. Nalborczyk and Stanisaw Grod
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Portugal .............................................................................................................. 469
Nina Clara Tiesler and Jos Mapril
Romania ............................................................................................................. 481
Irina Vainovski-Mihai
Russia .................................................................................................................. 495
Elmira Akhmetova
Serbia .................................................................................................................. 517
Ahmet Alibai
Slovakia .............................................................................................................. 531
Jaroslav Drobn
Slovenia .............................................................................................................. 537
Christian Moe
Spain ................................................................................................................... 545
Jordi Moreras
Sweden ............................................................................................................... 563
Gran Larsson
Switzerland ....................................................................................................... 577
Stphane Lathion and Andreas Tunger-Zanetti
Turkey ................................................................................................................. 591
Ahmet Yildiz
Ukraine ............................................................................................................... 607
Elmira Muratova
United Kingdom .............................................................................................. 619
Sen McLoughlin
2012 Koninklijke Brill NV ISBN 978-90-04-22521-3
MOLDOVA
Aurelia Felea1
1Muslim Populations
The territory of the present Republic of Moldova, with the exception
of the land to the east of the River Nistru, was historically an integral
part of the Principality of Moldavia, which was constituted in the mid-
fourteenth century. Contacts between the sedentary population of the
region between the Nistru, Prut and Danube rivers and the Black Sea and
the populations originating in Central Asia (the Pechenegs [Patzinaks],
Cumans, Tatars etc.), who later became Muslims, date back to the tenth-
thirteenth centuries.2
The impact of Islam on the history of the country increased particularly
under the influence of the Ottoman Empire, which annexed extensive
areas in the eastern part of the principality (the fortresses of Chilia, Akker-
man, Tighina (called Bender by the Turks) and Hotin and the regions sur-
rounding them) in the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries. Here, Ottoman
military, administrative and religious structures were established and con-
sequently Turkish and Tatar Islamic populations settled there at various
times.3 The new authorities built mosques and other buildings needed for
Islamic religious practice, and their remains were still evident in the first
half of the twentieth century. The Dormition Church at Caueni is a Chris-
tian monument from those times. The walls of the church, built in the
1Aurelia Felea is Associate Professor in the Department of Social Sciences, State Uni-
versity of Tiraspol, Chiinu, Moldova.
2Nesterov, Tamara, Monumente de arhitectur musulman la Orheiul Vechi (Monu-
ments of Muslim architecture in Old Orhei), Sud-Est. Revist de art, cultur i civilizaie,
vol. 2, no. 48 (2002), pp. 118122; Chirtoag, Ion, Orhei, Destin Romnesc. Revist de istorie
i cultur, vol. 1, no. 45 (2006), pp. 122125.
3Maxim, Mihai, Principatele Romne i Imperiul Otoman (14001878) (The Romanian
principalities and the Ottoman Empire (14001878)), in Stephen Fischer-Galai, Dinu C.
Giurescu and Ioan-Aurel Pop (eds.), O istorie a romnilor (A History of the Romanians)
(Cluj-Napoca: Fundaia Cultural Romn. Centrul de Studii Transilvane, 1998), pp. 128147;
Chirtoag, Ion, Sud-Estul Moldovei i stnga Nistrului (14841699). Expansiunea i dominaia
turco-ttar (The South-East of Moldova and the Left Bank of the Nistru (14841699): The
Turkish-Tatar Expansion and Domination) (Bucharest: Fundaia Cultural Romn, 1999),
pp. 89103.
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second half of the eighteenth century in the region administered by the
Tatars, are half-buried into the ground, in compliance with Ottoman laws,
which forbade the building of Christian churches higher than mosques.4
As a result of the continuous expansion of the Russian Empire to the
south, in the last quarter of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centu-
ries, Turkish and Tatar populations from the North Pontic area fled to the
south of the Danube or were resettled in Russia by the tsarist administra-
tion. By the end of World War I, the region situated between the Nistru
and the Prut (called Bessarabia during the period of tsarist domination)
seceded from Russia and united with Romania. The census carried out by
the Romanian authorities in 1930 registered 148 Muslims in the region,
mostly of Turkish or Tatar descent.5
The census carried out in the Republic of Moldova on 512 October 2004
recorded 3,383,332 inhabitants.6 Two-thirds of Moldovans are of Roma-
nian descent, the languages are virtually identical and the two countries
share a common cultural heritage. With regard to religion, 3,158,015 peo-
ple (over 93% of the total population) declared themselves to be Ortho-
dox Christians and 1,667 people (0.05%) declared they were Muslims, of
whom 1,075 were male and 592 female; 339 were children under 15. Most
Muslims (1,353 people) live in urban areas, the majority in the capital of
the country, Chiinu (995) and in the city of Bli (106); 314 live in rural
areas.7 The census recorded 259 Arabs, 891 Azerbaijanians, 112 Bashkirs,
108 Chechens, 256 Kazakhs, 211 Tajiks, 974 Tatars, 269 Turks, 220 Turkmen
and 416 Uzbeks.8 Although the citizens concerned are representatives of
ethnic groups which traditionally claim an Islamic cultural background,
this doesnt mean that they are practitioners of Islam.
4Ciobanu, Constantin, Biserica Adormirii Maicii Domnului din Cueni (The Dormition
Church from Cueni) (Chiinu: tiina, 1997).
5Enciu, Nicolae, Recensmntul populaiei din 29 decembrie 1930 (The population
census of 29 December 1930), Destin Romnesc. Revist de istorie i cultur, vols. 34, no.
4344 (2004), pp. 98115 (105).
6This report contains information only about the territories effectively controlled by
the Government of the Republic of Moldova and does not refer to the situation in the
separatist region of Transnistria, including the city of Bender, unless specifically stated.
7Recensmntul populaiei 2004, vol. I Caracteristici demografice, naionale, lingvistice,
culturale (Population Census. Demographic, National, Linguistic, Cultural Characteristics)
(Chiinu: Tipografia Central, 2006), pp. 476485.
8Recensmntul populaiei 2004, vol. I Caracteristici demografice, naionale, lingvistice,
culturale (Population Census. Demographic, National, Linguistic, Cultural Characteristics)
(Chiinu: Tipografia Central, 2006), pp. 301302.
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In addition, there are Muslims who are temporary residents in the
country for educational, business, cultural or personal reasons as well
as students from Muslim countries studying at Moldovan universities.
According to some recent unofficial estimates there are between 17,000
and 20,000 Islamic believers in the country.9 There are reports claiming
that people facing religious persecution in the countries of Central Asia
(former Soviet spaceUzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan) take refuge in Moldova.10
Countries of origin of asylum seekers in Moldova are Armenia, Russian
Federation, Afghanistan, Syria, Palestine and Azerbaijan.11 The Law on the
Legal Status of Foreign Citizens and of People Lacking Citizenship in the
Republic of Moldova No. 275-XIII of 10 November 1994 (with amendments
adopted in 19982008) guarantees them freedom of conscience, opinion
and expression.
Also, in late 1994 the Moldovan parliament granted autonomous sta-
tus to the Turkic-language speaking Gagauz region in the southwest of
the republic. It has powers over its own political, economic and cultural
affairs.
2Islam and the State
Moldova is a secular state with no state religion. The Constitution and
other laws stipulate freedom of conscience and religion, together with
legal equality of religions and their equal status before the public authori-
ties. However, certain laws and policies produce different treatment
applied by the State toward different religions end up in restricting free-
dom of religion. Most religious communities are integrated in the Mol-
dovan Orthodox Church (MOC), which reports to the Russian Orthodox
Church, a significantly lower number of parishioners (according to recent
estimatesabout 8%)12 claiming membership in the Bessarabian Ortho-
dox Church, reported to the Romanian Orthodox Church. During Com-
munists Party government (20012009), MOC was treated in a privileged
state. The Law on Religions and their Component Parts No. 125XVI of
11 May 2007 (renamed Law of conscience, thought and religious freedom

9http://m.protv.md/stiri/social/voronin-impotriva-musulmanilor-inregistrarea-islam
ului-in-moldova.html, accessed 16 February 2012.
10Jurnal de Chiinu, no. 48 (1059), 1 July 2011; no. 51 (1062), 12 July 2011.
11Jurnal de Chiinu, no. 48 (1059), 1 July 2011.
12http://moldova.usembassy.gov/ro/2011irf.html, accessed 16 February 2012.
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at 27 December 2011) emphasises the special importance and the pri-
mordial role of the Christian-Orthodox religion, and particularly of the
Moldovan Orthodox Church in the life, history and culture of the peo-
ple of the Republic of Moldova. The government contributed heavily to
renovate the churches of MOC. The Metropolitan of Chiinu and of All
Moldova, the highest-ranking cleric in the MOC, holds a diplomatic pass-
port. During national holidays and public events, he is constantly around
the most important political figures in the state. Prime Minister Filat and
acting President Marian Lupu accompanied almost continuously the Rus-
sian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill, during his visit to Moldova (810
October). During this visit the Patriarch Kirill received the Order of the
Republic, the highest distinction of the country.
Establishments of worship in Moldova included in the State Register
of protected monuments are state property. The places of worship can be
transmitted to religious communities, upon request, for a limited time or
indefinitely. Government Decision no. 740 of 11 June 2002 indicates that
the higher bodies of religions prepare the necessary acts to conclude a
contract for use and protection of religious sites between local religious
communities and central authorities. Most local communities do not have
a contract of use, and the hierarchical superior courts do not help them to
prepare the documents. Consequently, religious property is mostly under
state control.
The legality of most collective religious activities is dependent on the
registration of a religious organisation. Since October 2007, the registra-
tion of religious organisations is the responsibility of Ministry of Justice.13
The law of conscience, thought and religious freedom regulates the reg-
istration process. Registration provides confessional groups with equal
status, including permission to: acquire property; open bank accounts;
receive, as legal entities, donations from physical and legal entities from
within the country and from abroad; hire employees; and obtain autho-
risations for the building of religious institutions and places of worship.
Individual churches or branches of registered religious organisations are
not obliged to register with the Ministry of Justice. Unregistered religious
establishments are not therefore legal entities and must be represented in
the civic field by the religious organisation to which it is associated and
which exercises authority within legal transactions. The law allows reli-
gious communities to change their institutional affiliation or to dissolve.
13http://rson.justice.md/organisations, accessed 16 February 2012.
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The US Reports on International Religious Freedom indicates a general
practice of confusion and avoidance on the part of the authorities dealing
with the registration process.14
Any religious group, registered or not, has the right to officiate religious
services and access to public places for their religious activities. How-
ever, only Moldovan citizens are allowed to establish and lead religious
organisations.
Until the official recognition of their religion, Muslim meetings in
public, and sometimes even in private, were strongly restricted by states
authorities. Occasionally, pressures and abuses were documented on
video.15 Dispersal by police of a group of Muslims praying in a private
space and the harassment to which they were subjected by the authorities
was the basis of the ECHR decision on Moldova, issued on 12 May 2009.16
Since 2002, Muslim communities have repeatedly asked authorities
to officially register, but each time their applications were rejected. The
newly installed Government in 2009 proved to be more concerned about
Moldovas external image, religious freedom being perceived as extremely
sensitive for the country.17 On 14 March 2011, Ministry of Justice officially
registered the first Muslim organisationMuslim League of Moldova.18
The league was formed on the basis of two public organisations. It is
headed by the president (Mufti Sergiu Sochirca). On this occasion, the
League held, on 17 April a festive meeting in the Palace of the Republic.19
During the meeting, Asif J. Chaudhry, U.S. ambassador in Moldova, con-
gratulated Muslim believers on the occasion of their community being
14http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127325.htm, accessed 16 February 2012; http://
www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2010/148963.htm, accessed 16 February 2012.
15http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrHdYC0rxIg&feature=related, accessed 16 Feb-
ruary 2012; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kfn7PUyFOI&feature=related, accessed
16 February 2012.
16The ECHR ruled that the state should not have punished members of an unregis-
tered religious denomination for praying or otherwise manifesting their religious beliefs.
Such actions by the state, the court ruled, amount to the exclusion of minority beliefs
not formally registered by the state, and a dictation by the state regarding what persons
could believe. http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2009/127325.htm accessed 16 February
2012; http://www.menneskeret.dk/files/DoekerPDF/CASE_OF_MASAEV_v._MOLDOVA.pdf,
accessed 16 February 2012).
17http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlXUyLeRiGo&feature=related, accessed 16 Feb-
ruary 2012.
18http://rson.justice.md/organisation/view/5928, accessed 16 February 2012.
19http://politik.md/?view=articlefull&viewarticle=5983, accessed 16 February 2012.
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recognised by the state.20 Founders and leaders of this organisation said
on different occasions, that the League is to ensure favourable conditions
for Muslims to display their religion, to spread correct knowledge con-
cerning it, based on unique beliefs that reject extremism, to coordinate
the development of Islam in Moldova, to bring together current Muslim
associations, or those which will be created in the future, regardless of
their ethnic composition, thus representing the interests of these com-
munities inside and outside the country.21 The League looks forward to
working with the Federation of Islamic Organisations in Europe located
in Brussels and join the Muslim Charter for Europe. Sergiu Sochirca claims
that the League represents Moldovans who adopted the Islamic faith
(3,000 to 4,000 people).22 A rival organisation is led by Talgat Mashaev
who states that the association led by him submitted a new application
for registration, but has been refused.23
On 17 February 2011, a draft law on preventing and combating dis-
crimination was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers and submitted to
Parliament. Resistance of certain groups close to the Orthodox Church
practically blocked consideration of the law in the legislature.24 On 12 May
2011, the Parliament issued a resolution on adopting the National Plan
of Action in Human Rights field. The problem of religious/human rights
was treated especially in the light of a commitment made by Moldova to
the European Union, to obtain a liberalised visa regime. European Union
Ambassador in Chisinau, Dirk Schuebel, made repeated statements to the
effect that Moldova lags behind in terms of sexual minorities and religious
rights. If the authorities prohibit the Islamic League, this means that Mol-
dova does not meet the criteria to obtain a liberalised visa regime.25
The UN Special Reporter on freedom of religion and belief, Heiner
Bielefeldt, on 8 September 2011, published conclusions on his visit to
Moldova (18 September). Heiner Bielefeldt referred to several topics:
20http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbLvd6CxHVk&feature=related, accessed 16 Feb-
ruary 2012; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8n652CUa_4&feature=related, accessed
16 February 2012.
21http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aDZfl8Flt8&feature=related, accessed 16 Feb-
ruary 2012; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrHdYC0rxIg&feature=related, accessed
16 February 2012; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMBNcCyWlBw&feature=related,
accessed 16 February 2012.
22Jurnal de Chiinu, no. 32 (1043), 6 May 2011.
23http://moldova.usembassy.gov/ro/2011irf.html, accessed 16 February 2012.
24Flux ediia de vineri, no. 11 (791), 25 March 2011.
25http://jurnal.md/ro/news/-balciul-rm-ue-islamul-i-legea-antidiscriminare-vs-regim-
de-vize-205669/, accessed 16 February 2012.
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MOC privileged treatment in many areas, invoking the Orthodox reli-
gion in the interests of collective identity, involving extremist positions,
elimination of Hebrew Menorah from a public place and its dissolution
in December 2009, the need for anti-discrimination legislation and non-
discriminatory use of public spaces.26 Being on an official visit to Chisinau,
Thomas Hammerberg, Commissioner for Human Rights in the Council
of Europe, mentioned some well documented reports received by this
organisation on Islamophobia and homophobia in Moldova.27 MOC has
persevered in its claims, demanding constitutional amendments specify-
ing the national and historical character of the Orthodox Church in the
Moldovan state.28
In late 2011, the problem of amending the Law on Religions was dis-
cussed in the Government. According to the Ministry of Justice, it is nec-
essary to amend the name of this legislation (it is proposed, in the new
version, to call it the Law of conscience, thought and religious freedom),
specifying the procedure of registering religious organisations, fixing
legally the registration deadline within 30 days and others.29 The ministry
also proposed prohibition by law of Church interference in politics. On
7 December 2011, the project was presented by the Minister of Justice,
Oleg Efrim, to the Commission for Human Rights and Interethnic Rela-
tions of the Parliament.30 The Law was modified and voted through in
Parliament on 27 December 2011.
The procedure of legalisation of foreign missionaries stay in the coun-
try is extremely complex, requires the presentation of a large number of
documents and takes a long time. Applicants for residence complained of
onerous practices existing in state institutions dealing with this area.
3Main Muslim Organisations
The above mentioned Muslim League of Moldavia is the first Islamic reli-
gious organisation to be registered in the country. In addition, according
to the Law on the Rights of People Belonging to National Minorities and the
Legal Status of their Organisations No. 382XV of 19 July 2001, representatives
26Flux ediia de vineri, no. 33 (813), 16 September 2011.
27Jurnal de Chiinu, no. 80 (1091), 25 October 2011.
28Timpul, no. 167 (1610), 13 September 2011.
29Timpul, no. 211 (1654), 14 November 2011.
30Timpul, no. 229 (1672), 8 December 2011.
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of ethnic/national minorities have the right to create educational, cultural,
religious, and charitable associations and societies which are officially reg-
istered by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Moldova and have
the status of public organisations. Azeris, Tajiks, Tatars, Turks, Turkmens,
Uzbeks have established ethno-cultural communities which claim a com-
mon background of Islamic cultural traditions. Most of these organisations
are small and have no websites, but many are traceable via the Bureau
for Interethnic Relations (Alexei Mateevici Str., 109/1, Chisinau MD-2009,
tel: 373 22 235040, email: brimoldova@bri.gov.md, http://www.bri.gov
.md accessed 28 February 2012). A state body, this office is responsible for
the promotion of state policy in the area of interethnic relations, includ-
ing the granting and coordination of state funding. In recent years, Con-
gress of Azeris in the Republic of Moldova organisation has become very
active (Bucuresti Str., 57, Chisinau MD 2012, tel: 373 22 /228948).
Under the same legal provisions seven other public organisations have
been created such as Association of Muslim Spiritual Assembly, Garden
of Tranquillity, whose leader is Talgat Mashaev (Rezeni 1, Ialoveni, MD
7727, tel. 079156707; http://www.islam.md; http://www.islamvmoldove
.com accessed 28 February 2012), the ASSALAM Society for Islamic Culture
of the Republic of Moldova (www.assalam.md accessed 16 February 2012).
Both organisations have an explicit religious character. ASSALAM Soci-
ety for Islamic Culture has become, in 2011, founding member of Muslim
League of Moldova (Mesager Str., 9, Chisinau MD 2069, tel: 373 22 /922-
755, email: liga_islamica@yahoo.com, http://www.ligaislam.md accessed
28 February 2012).
4Mosques and Prayer Houses
Until 2011, there were at least three premises in the capital where Islamic
worship took place, attended by both Moldovan citizens and foreign
residents. After Islam acquired legal status, their activities became more
transparent.
5Childrens Education
Under the Law on Education No. 547 of 21 July 1995, state education is
secular. The Law also makes moral-spiritual education compulsory in
state primary schools and optional at secondary and university levels. This
course also includes moral, spiritual, artistic, aesthetic, ethical standards
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aimed at implanting a humanist vision in the natural and social environ-
ment. Children are taught about truth, goodness, peace, patriotism, wis-
dom, tolerance, justice etc. The textbooks and the materials used for this
subject are mostly based on the Christian religion, though there are refer-
ences to other religious systems, including Islam.
During the first half of 2010, the leadership of the Moldovan Ortho-
dox Church actively lobbied for the introduction, within the system of
elementary and secondary education, of a mandatory course tentatively
called The Bases of Orthodoxy. It also organised parishioners and believ-
ers meetings in order to exercise pressure upon the government on this
controversial issue.31 Finally, the Government issued a Decision (Decision
No. 596 of 2 July 2010), according to which the subject of religion would
be included in the curriculum of the primary and high school educational
establishments, starting from the 20102011 academic year. The new course
is optional (non-compulsory). It is taught on the basis of textbooks and
educational media developed by the Ministry of Education, with support
from MOC. Religious education in schools only takes place with the agree-
ment of parents and depends on the availability of the necessary funds.
The children of Muslim families can acquire basic knowledge of Islam at
special meetings organised every Saturday and Sunday, on the premises
of certain Muslim religious and public organisations.
6Islam in Higher and Professional Education
There are no Islamic theological institutes in Moldova. The Moldova State
University, Ion Creang Pedagogical State University and the Free Inter-
national University of Moldova offer courses that deal with the Muslim
countries in their history departments. The civilisation of the Arab world
is currently studied within the Department of Modern Languages at the
State University of Moldova.
7Burial and Cemeteries
According to the Law of conscience, thought and religious freedom, the
officially registered faiths have the right to their own spaces in public
cemeteries. The procedures for creating, maintaining and discontinuing
31Moldova Suveran, no. 91 (920), 23 June 2010.
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cemeteries are stipulated in the government Regulations on Cemeteries.
MOC clergymen have, in general, priority for involvement in management
of municipal cemeteries. There are no separate Islamic cemeteries in the
Republic of Moldova. The Muslim dead are usually buried in Orthodox
Christian cemeteries. Nowadays, the Muslim League of Moldova, regis-
tered in 2011, has the right to obtain (and manage according to Muslim
customs) burial space in public cemeteries.
8Chaplaincy in State Institutions
The Law of conscience, thought and religious freedom includes the right
of religions to conduct worship in orphanages, homes for the elderly and
disabled, in prisons, in medical and educational institutions, in police sta-
tions and other types of institutions, at the request of the people resid-
ing or detained there, and with the agreement of the administration of
the respective institutions. Public sources have reported that Orthodox
spiritual confessors provide services in prison, to the Armed Forces etc.32
In some military units there are even furnished chapels. Several times,
inmates have contacted Muslim organisations, through friends or family,
for books and prayer mats.
9Religious Festivals
The list of Moldovan official holidays, celebrated at the state level does not
include any Muslim festival. Islamic religious celebrations are organised
in private or by Muslim communities. Muslims and non-Muslims who are
close to the hosts are invited to participate.
10Halal Food
In the main cities there are numerous establishments, including famous
luxury restaurants, which serve traditional Turkish and Arab halal food. In
a number of small shops, mostly situated on the premises of the Chisinau
Central Market (the largest of its kind in the city), halal meat is avail-
able. The supermarkets offer halal products. Muslim believers sometimes
32Jurnal de Chiinu, no. 83 (1094), 4 November 2011; no. 89 (1100), 25 November 2011;
Timpul, no. 219 (1662), 24 November 2011.
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request that animals be sacrificed according to Islamic tradition. In these
cases, they often directly negotiate with the local small producers in the
Moldovan countryside. Such orders are especially frequent during the
main Islamic religious festivals.33
11Dress Codes
Women wearing the hijab can sometimes be observed in public places.
These are often Moldovan women married to foreign Muslims34 or women
who have come to Moldova from Islamic countries with their husbands.
Former Minister of Justice, Alexandru Tanase, said in a TV show that
women who practise Islam will still need to take off their headscarf when
taking pictures for IDs.35 Nevertheless, for the last several years, ID papers
where Muslim women took pictures with their hijab on were allowed.
12Publication and Media
Under the Law of conscience, thought and religious freedom, only reli-
gious institutions have the right to publish materials for their members,
and to purchase, import, export and spread religious literature. Publishing
and printing houses, radio and TV stations and publications can be owned
by religious bodies. Islamic literature is mainly imported from abroad,
mostly from neighbouring Romania and Ukraine.
13Family Law
The Family Code, adopted by Parliament on 26 October 2000, includes
monogamy in the range of principles on which family relations are based.
To be legal, a marriage has to be performed according to the civil regula-
tions. Religious weddings have no legal standing. Men from Muslim coun-
tries frequently marry local women. Foreign citizens and people without
33Personal interviews conducted by the author.
34http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wpSRRp-SI&feature=related, accessed 16 Feb-
ruary 2012; http://www.adevarul.ro/moldova/CHISINAU-Conflict-ortodocsi-Mitropolitul-
enoriasilor_0_466753451.html, accessed 16 February 2012.
35http://www.publika.md/emisiuni/fabrika_411.html, accessed 16 February 2012.
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citizenship enjoy the same rights and responsibilities in family relations
as Moldovan citizens.
14Interreligious Relations
The Embassy of the United States of America in Moldova traditionally
organises an annual meeting with the representatives of the countrys
major religions. In 2011 this meeting did not occur, but the embassy states
that it continues to hold meetings with the communities.
15Public Opinion and Debate
Until recently, discussions on Islamic teaching, literature, arts and issues
regarding Islam in the world, connected with international relations,
were limited to lofty cultural environments. Analyses did not take into
account the views of the vast majority of the population. Muslim League
registration generated for the first time public debates which referred
directly to the attitude of the majority religious entity towards a minor-
ity religious group (Muslim). Approximately a month later, Metropolitan
Vladimir, head of the Moldovan Orthodox Church, responded as follows:
In an Orthodox country it is a humiliation for our Orthodox Christians.
I think it isnt right to register such a religious cult in a purely Orthodox
country.36 Communist Party leader Vladimir Voronin, head of state dur-
ing 20012009, disapproved with harsh terms the ministerial decision of
14 March claiming that Christian faith is absolutely opposite of Islam.37
On 18 May 2011, in several localities of the country, MOC parishioners
held a series of protests against the Law on Religions and the Islamic
League record. The actions were obviously instigated, encouraged and
covered by prominent religious figures (Marchel, Bishop of Balti and Fal-
esti, Vadim Cheibas, press secretary of the Metropolitan of Moldova).38
Interviewed about the motive of discontent, protesters have cited moral
36http://www.publika.md/mitropolitul-vladimir--oficializarea-islamului---o-injosire-
pentru-moldova_298611.html; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMBNcCyWlBw&feature
=related, accessed 16 February 2012.
37http://m.protv.md/stiri/social/voronin-impotriva-musulmanilor-inregistrarea-islam-
ului-in-moldova.html, accessed 16 February 2012.
38http://www.publika.md/episcopul-de-balti-si-falesti-indeamna-cetatenii-la-un-pro
test-impotriva-oficializarii-islamului-in-moldova_320271.html; http://www.publika.md/mitro
polia-moldovei-e-gata-de-protest_321171.html; http://karadeniz-press.ro/kara/protest-impo
moldova 409
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decay in Moldovan society, caused by people coming from outside the
country (particularly Muslims), feeling of insecurity, imperative of pre-
serving a clean country and religion, the desire to keep the faith in which
they were born (assuming that one wishes to deprive them of it), sacri-
fices in wars with the Turks, on behalf of the Christian faith during the
medieval ruler Stefan cel Mare, or invoking simply This is our country,
Muslims have to satisfy their spiritual needs in their home countries. It
was noted that some people did not even know the subject of petitions
they were signing.39 During the protests flags and placards with inscrip-
tions MoldovaChristian Orthodox country, Orthodoxy save our
nation, Church is the mother of our people could be seen. There were
also distributed leaflets titled Moldova threatened by Islamisation and
homosexuality, containing defamatory allegations against the two men-
tioned groups (Muslims and homosexuals).40 The controversy expanded
on blogs and portals.41 Protests repeated several months later, in front of
the Ministry of Justice and in front of the private house of former Minister
of Justice Alexandru Tanase, although at that time (22 August 2011) he was
no longer a minister.42
Although they didnt make common cause with all of clergymens
actions (for instance with the decision of many parish churches no longer
to pray for the countrys government, in protest against the legalisation
of Islam),43 MOC management justified in the main the actions of Chris-
tian believers against Muslim League registration. Some famous Orthodox
priests claimed: Islam creates serious problems in Europe. They have
hinted that the values promoted by Islam infringe those promoted by the
triva-ligii-islamice-in-r-moldova/; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1m8gIYMC4g; http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zgWvBMG2mA, accessed 23 February 2012.
39http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uaj1jNU-5Cg&feature=related, accessed 16 Feb-
ruary 2012.
40http://discriminare.md/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/PliantBiserica_9352.pdf,
accessed 16 February 2012.
41http://crestinism-islam.com/about-2/, accessed 16 February 2012.
42http://www.adevarul.ro/moldova/chisinau/Protestatarii_ortodocsi_au_manifestat_
astazi_in_fata_Ministerului_Justitiei_impotriva_legalizarii_cultului_islamic_in_Republica_
Moldova_0_540546140.html, accessed 16 February 2012; Timpul, no. 156 (1599), 23 August
2011; no. 179 (1662), 29 September 2011.
43http://www.publika.md/exclusiv--preotii-nu-se-mai-roaga-pentru-filat--lupu-si-pla-
hotniuc-afla-motivul_335821.html; http://www.publika.md/mitropolia-moldovei-acuzata-
ca-renunta-la-rugaciunile-pentru-conducerea-moldovei--in-favoarea-celor-pentru-con
ducerea-rusiei_336851.html; http://www.mitropolia.md/main/show_article/5157, accessed
16 February 2012.
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Christian religion.44 They also said they are not against the Islamic faith
and its insertion in the legal area, but that laws should emphasise the spe-
cial role of the Orthodox Church in Moldovan society and that, before reg-
istering the Muslim League, the Ministry of Justice should have consulted
the believers and the Metropolitan Church of Moldova.45 MOC asked the
Government to amend the Law on religions that, in its view, is too permis-
sive towards minority religions, which can record just by showing a list
with the names of one hundred founding citizens. Influential clerics asked
for major revision/cancellation of the Islamic League registration.46
Politicians, caught up in the process of electoral campaigns for local
government, reacted differently. The Ministry of Justice defended the
decision. It is a fundamental right of Muslims that should be respected.
The official registration of Islam does not encourage Muslims to organise
some or other activities. It is good that Islam was registered. I believe that
Christianity is a religion of tolerance, the Minister of Justice Alexandru
Tanase said.47 On 25 May, Prime Minister, Vlad Filat, attended the Council
meeting of the Moldovan Orthodox Church, after which he talked about
reconsideration of the decision on the Islamic League registration, amend-
ing the Law on Religions and attracting MOC representatives in making
decisions about amending this legislation.48 Several commentators have
criticised the Prime Ministers intentions.49
Civil society groups, which favour the idea of separating church and state
and that of freedom of faith, defended the Muslim community.50 There have
been some TV shows which have had a great impact on the public with
the participation of important Christian and Muslim clerics, politicians,
44Jurnal de Chiinu, no. 38 (1049), 27 May 2011.
45http://www.publika.md/reprezentantii-bisericii--nu-suntem-impotriva-inregistrarii-
cultelor--dar-sa-nu-fie-puse-pe-picior-de-egalitate-cu-crestinismul_299311.html; http://www
.publika.md/mitropolia-moldovei-e-gata-de-protest_321171.html; http://jurnal.md/ro/news/
marchel-opreste-afurisenia-205715/, accessed 16 February 2012.
46http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uaj1jNU-5Cg&feature=related, accessed 16 Feb-
ruary 2012.
47http://www.publika.md/reprezentantii-bisericii--nu-suntem-impotriva-inregistrarii-
cultelor--dar-sa-nu-fie-puse-pe-picior-de-egalitate-cu-crestinismul_299311.html, accessed
16 February 2012.
48http://www.mitropolia.md/main/show_article/5159, accessed 16 February 2012.
49http://www.flux.md/articole/11801/, accessed 16 February 2012; Flux ediia de vineri,
no. 19 (799), 27 May 2011; Timpul, no. 94 (1537), 27 May 2011.
50http://discriminare.md/2012/01/13/%E2%80%9Dmoldova-amenintata-de-islami
zare-si-homosexualizare%E2%80%9D/, accessed 16 February 2012; Timpul, no. 94 (1537),
27 May 2011.
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analysts and famous writers.51 These programmes had an informative
character and were conducted as a whole in a balanced and cordial atmo-
sphere. However, such meetings held by the media are rare. The most
active segment of the media, with a great impact on social groups with
a high level of education, claiming a Romanian and European identity,
perceive MOC subordination to the Russian Orthodox Church as a serious
impediment to the democratic development of Moldova (including the
promotion of genuine religious tolerance). It was mentioned that the Rus-
sian Orthodox Patriarchate promotes orthodoxy as a unifying ideology of
former Soviet space, instead of the former communist ideology, a replay
of Brezhnev doctrine.52
In a survey conducted in autumn 2011 by CBS AXA Centre of Sociolo-
gical Investigations and Marketing, 52.4% of respondents said they do not
accept that Muslims live in Moldova, and 79.5% dont want to have fol-
lowers of this faith in their family.53
The news portals and the private TV channels, proliferating after the
July 2009 parliamentary elections, have broadcast much more substantial
and ample information on subjects related to Muslim religious practices
than was the case previously. Thus, they have included an extended cov-
erage of the annual pilgrimage of Muslim believers to Mecca and of the
Festival of the Sacrifice during the fall of 2011.54
Among the topics that concern international Islam, media attention
focused on the political situation in North Africa and Middle East (popular
protests, changes of political regimes, international reaction to events in
the region, primarily on behalf of the European Union, NATO, UN, NATO
military operations etc.). However, well-known developments in Egypt,
Iran, Iraq, Libya, Tunisia, Syria and Afghanistan in 2011, did not get major
headlines in Moldovan newspapers, with some exceptions, and rarely did
they receive prominent space. Certain analysts suggested, nevertheless,
serious reflection on how the evolution of democracy in the world affects
51http://www.publika.md/emisiuni/fabrika_411.html, accessed 16 February 2012; http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQMR6gVnOU&feature=related, accessed 16 February 2012;
http://www.publika.md/emisiuni/republika_511.html, accessed 27 February 2012.
52Jurnal de Chiinu, no. 56 (1067), 29 July 2011; Timpul, no. 181 (1624), 3 October 2011;
no. 186 (1629), 10 October 2011.
53Jurnal de Chiinu, no. 90 (1101), 29 November 2011.
54http://www.publika.md/sute-de-mii-de-musulmani-au-inceput-pelerinajul-la-mec
ca_542381.html; http://www.publika.md/doua-milioane-de-musulmani-au-urcat-pe-muntele-ara
fat--la-mecca_554341.html; http://www.jurnaltv.md/ro/news/pelerinaj-la-mecca-304964/#,
accessed 27 February 2012.
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Moldova.55 Some party publications have highlighted news about display-
ing religious symbols in public spaces in Europe (e.g.: presence of cruci-
fixes in schools of Italy).56 In general, society was mostly concerned by
internal political instability and electoral competition.
16Major Cultural Events
Foreign students usually mark the national holidays of their home coun-
tries on the premises of the universities where they study. In 2011, ethno-
cultural associations representing minority ethnic groups in Moldova
participated in some public holidays of significance: the 11th Festival of
Ethnicities of Moldova (18 September),57 the annual celebration of the
symbolic date of Chisinaus Founding, organised on 14 October, on the
occasion of a major Orthodox Christian Festival, National Day of Wine
(89 October). On 27 to 28 August, in the Cultural and natural reserve
Orheiul Vechi, an international festival of ethnic music, visual art exhibi-
tions, folk costumes, traditional musical instruments, and national dishes
was held.58 Ethno-cultural Associations of Azeris, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Turk-
mens, etc. organise impressive annual spring festivals. These initiatives
are often supported by diplomatic missions.
55Jurnal de Chiinu, no. 21 (1032), 22 Mars 2011.
56Flux ediia de vineri, no. 10 (790), 18 Mars 2011; nr. 11 (791), 25 Mars 2011.
57Timpul, no. 171 (1614), 19 September 2011.
58Jurnal de Chiinu, no. 59 (1072), 16 August 2011.