”Jihad Against the Decadent West” or “Another Russian Colonial War”? Discussions about Russia’s War on Ukraine within Russian Muslims

Hakemuksen tiivistelmä

In the Western media and even in scholarly discussions, Russians who oppose the war have been represented mainly by the pro-Western liberal opposition. While the ethnic and religious minorities have borne the greatest burden as conscripts, their voices have less seldom been heard. At the same time, the coverage of Islamic leaders declaring jihad to Ukraine or the representations of such Muslim units as the notorious Kadyrovite battalions have recycled old colonial tropes. However, many Muslims argue that the Russian propaganda that calls Muslims to war contradicts the realities of the political persecution and violations of their rights. This project illuminates and interrogates the multitude of diverging stances and arguments pertaining to the war within the heterogeneous Russian Muslim community. The project engages with theoretical debates on colonial subjectivities, experiences of Islamophobia and the ideological underpinnings of theological interpretations. It focuses on arguments that either draw upon Islamic theology or address Muslims as a group that shares certain values, historical experiences, or experiences as a community, both within and beyond the borders of the Russian Federation. By examining a range of materials, including public speeches by Islamic leaders, Islamic publications, blogs, and social media discussions, we aim to gain insight into how different arguments concerning the war are embraced and contested. The project posits that local, national and transnational networks and identities influence the manner in which Russian Muslims evaluate disparate narratives pertaining to the war. Accordingly, through an examination of the concerns, experiences and values of Russian Muslims, the project aims to contribute a more nuanced and multifaceted perspective to the discussions about the global framings of Russia's war in Ukraine.