🇷🇺 Russian Man Sentenced to 3.5 Years for Burning Quran

In a significant legal ruling, a 19-year-old citizen of Chechnya, Russia, has been sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for burning a copy of the holy Quran in front of a mosque in 2023. The verdict, handed down by the court in Chechnya’s Grozny city, follows an investigation that revealed the suspect, Nikita Zhuravel, committed the act in exchange for money provided by Ukrainian special services.

According to reports from the Russian news agency Sputnik, Zhuravel confessed to receiving 10,000 rubles ($125) from Ukrainian operatives for orchestrating and recording the burning of the Quran. Additionally, he admitted to producing videos of Russian military installations for Ukrainian interests.

The crime, which took place in the city of Volgograd, resulted in Zhuravel being charged with hooliganism and insulting the feelings of believers. The court in Grozny found him guilty and imposed a sentence of three years and six months of imprisonment in a general regime colony.

The incident comes in the wake of similar Quran burnings in European countries, notably Sweden and Denmark, which initially defended such acts under the banner of “freedom of speech and expression.” However, public outcry led both nations to outlaw such actions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed Zhuravel’s case, emphasizing the sanctity of the Quran and pledging constitutional legal action against any desecration of the sacred text.

“In our country, this is a crime both according to the Constitution and the penal code,” stated Putin during a public address, holding a copy of the holy book presented to him during a visit to the historic mosque of Derbent. He reiterated the importance of respecting the Quran for Muslims and non-Muslims alike, affirming Russia’s commitment to upholding these principles.

As Zhuravel faces the consequences of his actions, the case serves as a reminder of the significance of religious tolerance and the legal protections in place to safeguard religious sentiments.