Russia Announces Launch of Islamic Television Station to Foster Tolerance

19 January 2011

Russia will soon launch a Muslim television channel in the hope it will foster tolerance after the capital saw some of the worst clashes since the fall of the Soviet Union.

Proposed by President Dmitry Medvedev two years ago, the satellite channel will go on the air in February or March across Russia, home to some 20 million Muslims.

Analysts say Russia has witnessed a rise in neo-nationalist movements. In December, Moscow saw the worst nationalist riots in its post-Soviet history, with police unable to stop some 7,000 youths who gathered near the Kremlin from beating people of non-Slavic appearance.

According to the chairman of Russia's Council of Muftis, Ravil Gainutdin (pictured above with President Medvedev), the network is to be addressed primarily to Russia's youth of all religions, in order to cultivate a spirit of tolerance towards representatives of other faiths.

http://en.islamtoday.net/artshow-229-3922.htm