Experts talk about the “turn” in the politics of Tatarstan: the Republic’s Supreme court acknowledged extremist book “Hidden history of the Tatars” writer and journalist of Vakhit Imamov. Published in 1994 in accordance with the main “trends” of the turbulent times, it is a work in which the Russian call “colonizers” and “the Punisher”, 26 years fueled ethnic strife between the Russian and Tatar peoples. Of course, this decision will cause a storm of indignation on the part of the “national anxious” Tatar community. Why the leadership of Tatarstan has decided on such a step (because it is clear that without his at least tacit approval of such a verdict could hardly be made)?
We were asked to comment on the introduction of “Hidden history of the Tatars” in the Federal list of extremist literature known religious scholar, a specialist on Islamic radicalism Raisa Suleymanova.
– This is not the first book of the Tatar author, which was recognized as extremist by the decision of the Russian court. – said the analyst. In 2008 was recognized as extremist the book “Jihad of the Tatar people”, written in 1998. Its authors were Lotfullin Ishaq, Imam of the Kazan mosques, and the Professor of the Russian Islamic Institute, Dr. Faisalkhan Islayev. Then, in 2012, the list of extremist literature joined the book “the path of knowledge to the truth” of Fauzia Bayramova, personality, well-known for their radicalism. In 2017, acknowledged extremist two books by one author, radical Tatar writer Aydar Halima. Is “Kill the Empire”, written in 1997, and “I want to Live”, published in 2010. Halim, as Bayramova, a member of the writers ‘ Union of Tatarstan. And now the book, which was published in 1994, also recognized as extremist. It is interesting that Vakhit Imamov is the chief editor of the newspaper tataroyazychnyh “Madani jomga” (“Cultural Friday”). This newspaper is published by the state media “Tatmedia”. Book Imamov small in size, more like a brochure. I’ve read it. It really is written with a hostile in relation to Russia, the Russian people positions. She is clearly inciting ethnic hatred, because the Russian calls them invaders, colonizers. There is a clear opposition between Tatars and Russians. The author writes that he hopes that the Tatars will achieve its independence. The book is intended for Tatar students.
Why it was recognized as extremist only today – 26 years later?
Something that happened many years later, suggests that as the rope is not twisted, the end is bound to be. This shows that those in the 90-ies, in the heyday of regional separatism in Tatarstan wrote such works should understand that today such books would be to draw the attention of law enforcement.
– holding “Tatmedia” is in Tatarstan, something the water of the newspaper “Pravda” during the Soviet years, it is the official propaganda mouthpiece?
– Yes. Unlike other mentioned authors, Imams status people. And, curiously, it is the courts of the Republic of Tatarstan have accepted the book as extremist. It seems to me that the authorities of Tatarstan want to show that despite the fact that they always attributed to latent nationalism, it is not. They thus delimit with the explicit nationalists. Show that they are ready to declare extremist the books written with an explicitly anti-Russian position.
– I want to show that no longer favour the nationalists, using them in the game with the Kremlin, as it was before?
– Yes, I think so. They seem to say: “look, here there is a clear nationalist, and we recognize their books, which were written in the 90-ies, during the parade of sovereignties, extremist. We clearly show that we are against the ideas contained in these books.”
– If business will go such rates, not whether to recognize as extremist the book, and also filmed for her series “zulaikha opens his eyes”?
And there was no extremism. First, it is a work of art. Second, a negative reaction in Tatarstan, the book caused mainly among the Tatar nationalists. Among national concerned about the Tatar intelligentsia’s perception of the book hostile. The reason, I think, primarily lies in the jealousy of local writers to its commercial success. In addition, the nationalists didn’t like the way the book depicts the life of a Tatar family. And because in the book it turns out that the main character, Tatar, finds happiness with a Russian security officer, the murderer of her husband. It also offended nationalists.
