Fragmented Islam and Inter-Ethnic Conflict in Crimea

Abstract

While examining the two Spiritual Administrations as well as the other independent/unregistered groups, the focus should be not only on their fundamental ideologies, but also on the political objectives of those viewpoints for which they are being utilized. Accordingly, the research questions of this article will focus on the following themes: 2.1 What are the religious and political (if any) short and long-term goals and aspirations of DUMK and DTsMK in Crimea? Is there any common ground between these two Muftiyats? 2.2 What are the opinions of DUMK and DTsMK about the other “independent” Islamic factions in Crimea? 2.3 What are the religious and political (if any) short and long-term goals of the HUT, Salafis, and Ar’Raid in Crimea? Is there any common ground between these groups vis-a-vis the future aspirations? 2.4 What are the major structural factors that set the grounds for the evolution of these ideologies on the peninsula? What kind of influences do these groups have on the majority of the Crimean Tatars and on the Ukrainian Muslims in general? 2.5 What are the opinions of HUT, Salafis, and Ar’Raid’s on transnational Islamic movements and violence around the globe? 2.6 What are these group’s views of the Ukrainian state, the European West, and the United States?