Islam in Ukraine - Ukrainian Muslims Today

Ukrainian Muslims Today

Since Ukrainian independence (1991), more Crimean Tatars have returned to Crimea than during Soviet era. The Muslims are divided into various ethnic groups but the majority are of Tatar origin, of one particular clan or other. There have also been settlement by Chechen refugees in Crimea and other parts of Ukraine but the proportion is not significant.

Muslims have formed three structures for running their affairs. These are:

• The Spiritual Direction of the Muslims of Ukraine
• The Spiritual Center of the Muslim Communities
• Spiritual Direction of the Muslims of Crimea

Most Ukrainian Muslims affiliate to these organizations which help them join mainstream Islamic and Ukrainian daily life. Most Muslims have been trying to form a party to have a united voice in Politics, a so-called Muslim Congress, but so far it has not been achieved (the registration certificat of a Party of Muslims of Ukraine was canceled in November 2011 because it did not had nominate candidates in elections since the parliamentary elections of 1998). Muslims have formed several charitable organizations helping both the Muslim and non-Muslim communities. These mainly include CAAR Foundation, Al-Bushra, and Life after Chornobyl. There is also the Interregional Association of Public Organizations, Arraid which has often gained world attention due to its dedication.