Reinventing Islamic “Tradition” in Crimea: Ethnicity, Religion, Politics

  • Abstract:

    The present day Islamic revival in the Crimea goes hand to hand with nation-building processes. Following the minority situation, the claims of Crimean Tatars to regain their historical heritage, properties, land and re-establish of semi-statehood in form of national autonomy are challenged by the Russian majority and local authorities. The main reason for this rejection is that Tatars want to Islamize Crimea; establish “Islamic State” etc. Thus, we have to clarify the issue of how Islamic experiences of Crimean Tatars are engaged in these claims. Do we have any sufficient reasons to speak about “political Islam” in Crimea”? At the same time, some contemporary Islamic religious institutions argue that they are reviving Islamic tradition and that they represent “traditional” Crimean Tatar’s Islam. Meanwhile, so-called “independent communities” and international network institutions promote so called “pure Islam”. As a result we have to deal with a stereotype of confrontation between so called “traditional” and “network” Islam. Therefore, the purpose of this presentation is twofold. Firstly, it aims at in-depth study of contemporary Islamic revival in Crimea in the context of identity politics. This will allow us reconstruct Crimean Tatar’s “Islamic locality”. Secondly, we will present a comparative analysis of the formation of an “Islamic locality” in the Crimea and the development of Muslim Diasporas and the” translocal Umma” in Western Europe. The present day Islamic revival in the Crimea goes hand to hand with nation-building processes. Following the minority situation, the claims of Crimean Tatars to regain their historical heritage, properties, land and re-establish of semi-statehood in form of national autonomy are challenged by the Russian majority and local authorities. The main reason for this rejection is that Tatars want to Islamize Crimea; establish “Islamic State” etc. Thus, we have to clarify the issue of how Islamic experiences of Crimean Tatars are engaged in these claims. Do we have any sufficient reasons to speak about “political Islam” in Crimea”? At the same time, some contemporary Islamic religious institutions argue that they are reviving Islamic tradition and that they represent “traditional” Crimean Tatar’s Islam. Meanwhile, so-called “independent communities” and international network institutions promote so-called “pure Islam”. As a result we have to deal with a stereotype of confrontation between so called “traditional” and “network” Islam. Therefore, the purpose of this presentation is twofold. Firstly, it aims at in-depth study of contemporary Islamic revival in Crimea in the context of identity politics. This will allow us reconstruct Crimean Tatar’s “Islamic locality”. Secondly, we will present a comparative analysis of the formation of an “Islamic locality” in the Crimea and the development of Muslim diasporas and the” translocal Umma” in Western Europe.

 

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