Idel.Realii reported about the indignation of the Imam-Khatib of the Kazan mosque «Mirgazyan», Abdurrauf Zabirov, about the attempts of the company «Tattelekom» to install surveillance cameras in this mosque, the information of which will be sent directly to the FSB. According to the Imam, attempts are being made to install such cameras in other mosques in the city, particularly in the «Tugan Avylym» complex. Zabirov protested against these plans.
He said, «You know, we have our own internal cameras, we have eight cameras. And now they want to install more at the request of the FSB and the Interior Ministry. You know what? Your FSB and your Interior Ministry don’t dictate to me. I have my own direct leadership — the leadership of the spiritual administration of the Muslims of Tatarstan, Mufti Kamil-khazrat. Besides, there is a guarantee of the Constitution on this territory — the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov,» he said, describing his communication with representatives of the telecommunications company. He also expressed concern about where all this could lead: «Unfortunately, this now resembles the situation in China. Some religious figures and parishioners have commented on this matter. They said it looks like surveillance of the Uyghurs in China. However, as a result of all this, we have a number of questions.
It is noteworthy that the public protest against the plans for total «surveillance» of mosques was expressed by Abdurrauf Zabirov — not an ordinary imam, but a former head of the Muslim administration of the Penza region, a man known for his public activities even outside Tatarstan. But why is the leadership of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Tatarstan silent? We don’t want to make unfounded statements, but let’s assume that it is because, unlike their troublesome employee, they do not want to get into conflict with the FSB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. For the same reason, we are unlikely to hear any indignation about these plans from the «guarantor of the constitution in this territory,» as Zabirov called the president of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov.
In general, unfortunately, this story is unlikely to cause a storm of emotions among Muslims in Russia. After all, cameras have been installed in most mosques for a long time, and the worshippers of most of them do not believe that the imams of these mosques are keeping the data from their videos secret from the FSB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs…
The situation is different with any telecommunications company. The «monitoring» of all the mosques in a large city like Kazan, not to mention a republic like Tatarstan, as well as the constant collection, processing and transmission of information from them to the «agencies» is a highly profitable business, as well as for those officials who will secure a contract with a particular company. The attempt by telecommunications specialists to profit from a new market segment, while assuming the functions of imams in collecting and delivering relevant information to the FSB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, may lead to a «conflict between economic entities» that will hinder the implementation of these plans.
As for ordinary Muslims, it is clear that the fewer «ears» and «eyes» there are in the mosques, the better. After all, when believers come to them, they strive to be in the sight of Him who does not need cameras.