KAZAN, Russia -- Tatarstan lawmakers have proposed formally commemorating on May 16 each year the adoption of Islam in what is now the Russian Federation, RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service reports.
The proposal was made by the cultural, science, education, and nationality relations committee of Tatarstan's parliament.
The Volga Bulgars, the ancestors of the present-day Tatars, converted to Islam in 922 AD.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on June 1 signed a law introducing a national holiday on July 28 each year to commemorate the adoption of Christianity in 988 AD.
Last week, during a committee discussion of that legislation in the Russian State Duma, Tatarstan parliament speaker Farit Mukhametshin argued that the adoption of Islam should be marked annually too.
The proposal was made by the cultural, science, education, and nationality relations committee of Tatarstan's parliament.
The Volga Bulgars, the ancestors of the present-day Tatars, converted to Islam in 922 AD.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on June 1 signed a law introducing a national holiday on July 28 each year to commemorate the adoption of Christianity in 988 AD.
Last week, during a committee discussion of that legislation in the Russian State Duma, Tatarstan parliament speaker Farit Mukhametshin argued that the adoption of Islam should be marked annually too.