[Regnum] Following Regnum's investigation into fake religious leaflets allegedly distributed in Krasnodar calling for underage girls to marry Muslim men, an organization calling itself the "IOC Muslim Community of Krasnodar" claimed responsibility for the provocation. However, this organization has no affiliation with the official religious organization, the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of the Republic of Adygea and the Krasnodar Krai.
The regional SAM told Regnum journalists that it opposes such religious actions and scandalous statements by unknown provocateurs. They believe this propaganda was created to incite interethnic and interreligious hatred and to destabilize the domestic situation in Russia amid the ongoing special military operation.
On September 25, a Krasnodar news channel reported that unknown individuals were distributing religious leaflets in residents' mailboxes. The leaflets called on underage girls to marry Muslim men.
The booklet states that every girl "blossoms" at the age of 16 or 17, and "from that moment on, she can marry a Muslim man." The booklet also notes that after marrying a Muslim man, a girl "doesn't have to worry about money—her husband will provide for her," that "she doesn't have to waste years on education," and so on.
The publication sparked a scandal and public outcry. Some local residents were outraged by the religious propaganda aimed at underage girls. Others disbelieved the authenticity of such leaflets, believing them to be a deliberate provocation aimed at inciting ethnic and religious hatred.
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Following a report from Regnum News Agency journalists, the Krasnodar Krai Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) investigated the incident. The regional police soon reported that the story of religious leaflets being distributed in Krasnodar had not been substantiated and was a fake, and that the leaflet itself, distributed on social media, was a forgery.
"While monitoring the internet, we discovered a post claiming that leaflets promoting interfaith marriages were allegedly being distributed in the city of Krasnodar, with an address provided for assistance. We would like to inform you that the listed address does not exist in Krasnodar, and no eyewitness or citizen reports of the alleged leaflet distribution have been received by police," the Krasnodar Krai Ministry of Internal Affairs told Regnum.
Soon, an organization calling itself the "IOC Muslim Community of Krasnodar" claimed responsibility for the provocation. On the organization's Telegram channel, which has only 74 subscribers, they posted that "we printed the leaflets and held the event." However, this organization has no connection to the official religious organization, the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Republic of Adygea and Krasnodar Krai.
It's worth noting that the text of this statement contains numerous spelling errors in the words "constitution," "Muslims," ​​and "mutual respect," and the abbreviation "RF" is not capitalized. This error is most often intentionally made by Telegram channels and news outlets affiliated with the Ukrainian Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), which are anti-Russian and publish falsehoods and propaganda. After the statement was published, the post was picked up by other microchannels created to disseminate similar provocative propaganda.
Regnum News Agency journalists contacted a representative of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Republic of Adygea and Krasnodar Krai to clarify the situation. The religious organization stated that it had nothing to do with the distribution of fake leaflets. The Spiritual Administration of Muslims stated that it opposes such provocative statements and appeals.
"We did not distribute any leaflets! Nothing of the sort has come from our Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Republic of Adygea and Krasnodar Krai. Such statements and calls are not consistent with our goals and understanding of Islam. Our religion is not structured and spread in this way. There are certain norms we follow—Islamic norms, as well as the laws of the Russian Federation. Distributing such leaflets is missionary activity and falls under specific laws. We have no right to do so, and even if we had such a right, we would not do so! We consider the appeals printed in the booklet unethical and immoral. They are un-Islamic and contradict our beliefs," the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Republic of Adygea and Krasnodar Krai told Regnum.
According to a representative of a religious organization, such false information is created to destabilize the internal situation in the country.
"Such fakes are created with the aim of destabilizing the domestic situation in the country. Russia is currently conducting a special military operation. And certain people are using every possible avenue to destabilize the situation in the country. They've tried military means, they've tried economic means, and now they're trying to destabilize national and religious issues. And the religious issue is the most sensitive. We don't know who exactly is behind this—the SBU or some other forces. This matter falls within the purview of the security forces," the DUM concluded.
It should be noted that the official channel of the Muslim Community of Krasnodar previously issued a warning about the recent spread of provocative posts and articles in the name of the organization. The Muslim Community urged the public to be more vigilant and not to fall for the provocateurs' wiles.