Muslim prisoners serving their sentences at a strict regime colony on the outskirts of Vladikavkaz, the capital of the Republic of North Ossetia, have chosen as their imam a fellow prisoner, Djimmi Tanduyev, who was sentenced in 2003 to 16 years in jail on charges of murder, banditry, and kidnapping, kavkaz-uzel.ru reported on February 17.
Tanduyev presides over midday prayers at the camp's mosque, which opened one month ago.
Of the 1,271 prisoners, only 30 are practicing Muslims, which is a far lower proportion than for the republic as a whole (approximately 25-28 percent). Of those prisoners who are practicing Muslims, 30 percent were sentenced for drug trafficking, 20 percent for murder, and 25 percent for robbery with violence.
Tanduyev presides over midday prayers at the camp's mosque, which opened one month ago.
Of the 1,271 prisoners, only 30 are practicing Muslims, which is a far lower proportion than for the republic as a whole (approximately 25-28 percent). Of those prisoners who are practicing Muslims, 30 percent were sentenced for drug trafficking, 20 percent for murder, and 25 percent for robbery with violence.