Said Ismagilov

In 2002, S. Ismagilov became the imam of Donetsk Muslim Community “Duslyk”. He had been holding this position up until 2009. Before this, he occupied the position of imam in Shahtarsk city (Donetsk Oblast).

Since 2009 and onwards, he is a permanent member of “Council of Spiritual Administration of Ukrainian Muslims”.

On January 25, 2009 in Kyiv, he was elected Mufti of the Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine “Ummah”, which was registered by order №79 of State Committee on Nationalities and Religions of Ukraine on September 11, 2008.

In 2011, S.Ismagilov was a member of the working group of scholars aimed at canonical translation of meanings of the Quran into Ukrainian language.

In 2012, he was elected Mufti of the Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine “Ummah”.

Said Ismagilov, as a citizen of Ukraine, held the pro-Ukrainian demonstration near Taras Shevchenko monument in Donetsk on 24 November 2013. On 3 November 2013 he was an active participant of the Revolution of Dignity. He took part in public events, demonstrations, protests as a citizen of Ukraine, and also expressed his view to support and defend protesters as public figure and spiritual leader of Ukrainian Muslims.

During bloody clashes occurred on February 22, 2014 (shooting of protestors), in interview to Hromadske TV, S. Ismagilow told about sin of fratricide and that representatives of all confessions, including Muslims, pray for peace in Ukraine and invoke to stop bloodshed. On February 21 in Islamic cultural center during Friday sermon dedicated to value of human life Mufti of the Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine “Ummah” Said Ismagilov addressed his speech to faithful brothers and sisters:

Today, in this hard period for Ukraine, when people die and blood spills, when our country experiences attempts to be torn into pieces, we would like to speak about value and importance of human life during Friday sermon. Life given to us by Allah and it is indefeasible[1]

Moreover, in the statement to all citizens and politicians on behalf of RAMU “Ummah” he shared support of the communique made by All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations during urgent meeting on January 22, 2014 in which members “call to stop bloodshed immediately, criticize using churches and religious organizations in political manipulations and ask for meeting with President of Ukraine and Opposition Leaders” (according to the text of statement). In the next statement to Ukrainian Muslims and Ukrainian nation S. Ismagilov told about birth of new Ukrainian society, problems and difficulties forthcoming on the path of its development. Then mufti stated that Ukrainian Muslims are integral and important part of Ukrainian society, and on behalf of RAMU “Ummah” he invoked all Muslims of our country to participate in the process of building of new Ukraine, which will be free from corruption and irresponsibility of all bodies of power, the country, in which principles of humanism will score a triumph.

Due to deteriorating situation on Crimean peninsula on March 7 in mosques and Islamic cultural centers of the Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine “Ummah”, people prayed for Muslims in Crimea; Mufti Said Ismagilov expressed a concern, and mentioned that Ukrainian Muslims are concerned about military intervention on the South of Ukraine. He, as well as other religious figures of Donbas, participated in the press-conference of All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations of Donetsk region (which RAMU “Ummah” is member of). During that conference, the statement to Ukrainian nation in connection with current situation in the country was read out. That document scored actions of neighboring country as international crime against humanity, rights and freedoms of Ukrainian nation, and also invoked to pray for peace, serenity, integrity and unity of our country. After Maidan and annexation of Crimea, S. Ismagilov have strengthened his public and missionary activity. He strongly condemns Russia's annexation of Crimea. He thinks that Muslim position in Russia is worse than in Ukraine,[2] and Russian media is the principal in the first degree in war in Donbas region. In one of his statements, Mufti gave several examples of Islam freedom and development in Ukraine, and also addressed a request to all Muslims not to send foreign mercenary to Ukraine.

Some time after the outbreak of Russia's war against Ukraine in Donbas, he was in Donetsk and Mariupol, covering events.

In the interview for American Voice on May 20, 2014, he told that the main reason of supporting Ukraine by Muslims is that this country provides more rights and freedoms that brothers in faith have in Russia. Moreover, he expressed a fear that separation from Ukraine and increasing the influence of Russia would lead to worsening of position for religious ethnic minorities.[3]

With representatives of other religions, he participated in releasing of catholic priest father Tyhon (Kulbaka) from captivity.[4] He was an active participant of Interconfessional praying marathon “For peace and unity of Ukraine” (Donetsk city), which had started on March 4, 2014, and numerous demonstrations for peace in Donetsk city in the beginning of spring 2014.

In statement dedicated to tragic events in France on January 7, 2015, S. Ismagilov expressed sympathy to the families of journalists of the French satirical journal Charlie Hebdo murdered in Paris. According to his statement:

Although the journal published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him!), which undoubtedly offends the religious sentiments of Muslims, such issues must be resolved in a civilized fashion, within the legal framework of each specific country. God judges them. Islam forbids violence, murders and lawlessness and, therefore, today’s crime has been a shock to the entire European Muslim community. We don’t know whether criminals were Muslims or not, these events are connected with caricatures or foreign policy of France, but this is disagreeable to us that Muslims and Islam are blamed in such situations. Even if it turns out that the criminals consider themselves Muslims, we - Muslims of Europe -condemn such actions.[5]

Further, he as Mufti of the Muslims of Ukraine asked people not to follow the calls from those proposing to publish caricatures of Muhammad in all countries, especially in Ukraine, where mutual understanding and friendship between Ukrainians is very important against the background of the information and armed war against our country. He thought that not without reason Khodorkovsky had called for the publication of caricatures of Muhammad. S. Ismagilov asked journalists to be correct, not to incite resentment within the country over the crimes of individuals and expressed willingness to explain the position of Islam and answer questions.