Overview

• The Council of Ulema of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia issued a fatwa advising Muslim couriers not to transport clearly forbidden goods, including pork and alcoholic beverages.
• Valeriy Fadeyev, who heads the presidential Human Rights Council, argues the ruling conflicts with constitutional principles on a secular state, economic unity and free movement of goods and services, freedom of labor, and bans on religious discrimination and incitement.
• Fadeyev warns that following the guidance would encourage Muslim couriers to set themselves apart and differentiate clients on religious grounds.
• Moscow Mufti Shamil Alyautdinov explains the council’s conclusions serve as religious guidance for believers, carry no legal force, and do not grant the body any powers of public authority.
• Islamic scholar Ahmet Yarlykapov views the move as part of DUM RF’s bid to assert nationwide religious leadership, noting previous controversial fatwas in 2020 and a rescinded 2024 ruling.