The Spiritual Direction of Muslims (DUM) and the Russian Jewish Congress (RJC) asked the investigative committee to verify the statements of religious scholar Roman Silantiev, who conducted a review of the play Finist the Clear Sokol. On this subject informed RBC. Based on Silantiev’s expertise, a criminal case was brought against the creators of the play – director Yevgenia Berkovich and playwright Svetlana Petriychuk – for justifying terrorism.
On May 17, the RJC asked the chairman of the investigative committee, Alexander Bastrykin, to verify Silantiev’s remarks for incitement to ethnic hatred. The Spiritual Council of Muslims joined in this request.
On May 5, Silantiev told the Lomovka telegram channel that the play “Finist Yasny Sokol” “really” justifies terrorism.
“These things are unacceptable. Especially when theater prizes are awarded for it, when it is promoted, even when people of Jewish nationality do it. This is not the first time I have observed Jews actively supporting Wahhabis,” the religious scholar said.
The RJC said Silantyev spreads daily prejudice that incites ethnic hatred. According to the organization, the statements of the religious scholar form a negative attitude towards Jews in society, which means that his expertise in the Berkovich case cannot be objective.
Commenting on Russian media’s request to have his lyrics checked for anti-Semitism, Silantiev said it “causes only laughter”. According to the religious scholar, the RJC and DUM are “degrading, losing influence and thus trying to draw attention to themselves”.
Silantiev added that the Spiritual Council of Muslims “openly supports the Palestinians, brings them together for anti-Israeli events”, and the organization’s chairman, Mufti Ravil Gainutdin, “has been repeatedly accused of anti-Semitism”. “It poses no threat to me and only causes laughter,” Silantiev said.
Berkovich and Petriychuk case
Director Yevgenia Berkovich and playwright Svetlana Petriychuk were arrested on May 4, the day after they were arrested in the case of justifying terrorism in the documentary play Finist the Clear Sokol.
The production is based on true stories of women who married radical Islamists. In 2022, the show received the Golden Mask Theater Award for Best Work by a Playwright and Best Work by a Costume Designer.
As Fontanka wrote, a review of Roman Silantiev’s performance found in Finist “the ideology of Islamism and jihadism”, as well as “signs of the ideology of radical feminism and the struggle against androcentric social structure of Russia”.
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