Russian Muslims Challenge Cross In Government Emblem

Controversy over governmental display of religious symbols has now erupted in Russia. Today's Moscow Times reports that several senior Muslim clerics and scholars have demanded that Christian symbols be removed from the Russian national emblem to reflect that Russia has many faiths and is a secular state. The emblem contains a portrait of Saint George killing a dragon and includes four crosses . However, Georgy Vilinbakhov, a historian who works for a federal agency overseeing state symbols, said the symbols on the emblem are not Orthodox Christian. Nafigulla Ashirov, the leader of the Spiritual Board of Muslims of the Asian Part of Russia, said that the problem is broader than just the emblem: "Crosses are erected at border guards' stations and on roads leading into towns. Icons are hung in offices." Article 14 of Russia's Constitution provides: "(1) The Russian Federation is a secular state. No religion may be instituted as state-sponsored or mandatory religion. (2) Religious associations are separated from the state, and are equal before the law."