Two weeks after the alleged incident, it is being reported in the Russian media that police officers in the Russian city of Surgut threatened three Muslim men to cut off their beards. According to reports, the three men were enjoying a meal in a local cafe after reciting evening prayers at a mosque when approximately 15 police officers in four cars entered the cafe for inspection. The police officers demanded that the three men, all with long beards cut their beards off. Witnesses claimed that the police threatened to use their automatic weapons, and perhaps even more shockingly, a lighter in order to ensure that their demands were met.
One of the targets of this horrific incident claims that a masked police officer held a lighter to his beard and forced him to cut it, threatening that he would burn it off otherwise. In the incident, which allegedly occurred on 3 March, the men were handed scissors to cut off their beards. Witnesses claim to have seen a large group of men dressed up as riot police charge into the cafe and force customers and employees onto their knees. A number of people were taken to the police station for further investigations.
The police has acknowledged the possibility of such an occurrence, and they have said an internal investigation has been launched to probe the incident. Initial reports suggest that these police officers were seeking to implement the laws of Peter the Great, who ruled the Tsardom of Russia in the 1600s. Peter the Great was famous for his stance against men with beards. His courtiers were often sent to different parts of the Tsardom to cut off beards. Those who refused were forced to pay a heavy annual beard tax. Russia, currently, has no such laws, and if found guilty, the police officers could risk suspension and criminal sanctions.
If proved to be true, this incident is likely to alarm bells with human rights organizations and the international community. Russia’s constitution guarantees its citizens the right to exercise their religions freely, subject to certain restrictions. The State is constitutionally speaking, not allowed to make laws that apply to a certain religion unequally. Although minorities are protected by the Constitution, the government has not always shown commitment to respect these provisions. Minority faith groups, including Muslims, have been targeted in Russia on many occasions. For many Muslim men, having a beard is an essential part of their religion. It is believed by many Muslims that Prophet Muhammad had a beard for much of his life, and one of his sayings orders all Muslim men to follow suit.
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