What should Muslim men and women wear outdoors? And, especially, what is attributed to our Muslims? To Ramzan Kadyrov, for instance. We'll quote a statement of a professor at the George Washington University, in the USA, Marlène Laruelle, a French national, featured on the Internet in Russie Vision. The article's shrewd title reads: "Kadyrovism: Islam at Kremlin's Service?"
The annotation is obnoxious, but I'll still quote it. "Kadyrovism consists of two ideological borrowings. First, it's the Chechen anti-colonial discourse. Second, the rigorist model of Islam of the Gulf countries" Really? Gulf countries? But in the majority of them women are hardly on the loose. They can't drive or show their face. Such niqabs are worn in European cities now, too. This is what the Franco-American author seems to proceed from.
This leads us to the issue covered in one of our recent programs. Muslims aren't aliens in Russia; they're our own. They live in the Volga region, Urals, North Caucasus. And to judge Russia like Western Europe by attributing the mindset of newcomer Persian Gulf Muslims to native Russian Muslims, it means to deceive yourself and your readers.
But let's agree that despite the historical proximity those of us who are not Muslim get confused, too. For example, unconsciously the Russians use a historical collocation "to take off one’s headdress" meaning "to do something foolish". But we don't understand the motivation of our Muslim neighbors.
Let's define the terms first. Everybody has heard about the headdress of Muslim women while few know exactly what is a niqab or what is... I'll show you the picture. Here it is. What is a niqab and a burqa, what is hijab Well, a burqa is a full Islamic veil. Everybody who saw the film "White Sun of the Desert" recognize it. The niqab leaves only the eyes open and the hijab leaves the face open, but covers the hair. We'll need these terms to understand our next subject. It's about a Muslim fashion show which took place in Grozny, Chechnya, this week. This is the point: while you watch it, remember the terms, but forget all the stereotypes. We report from the "Firdaws" Fashion House which can be interpreted as "Seventh Heaven" or "Heaven" "Paradise".
French lace, silk, chiffon, velvet And all of this for a Muslim dress? Check out the colors! Where is the black? There're more and more beige, peach, and pink colors. Having seen it for the first time, I was taken aback. Ramzan Kadyrov was not. Moreover, when it came to presenting the designer, it turned out to be his daughter! We'll see her as the flower bud opens, and we'll see a perfume also designed by her. But who is it intended for?
"When we talked, I asked Aishat, I'm impatient to find out to who will you present your first perfume. And she answered... To my mother". And she went to her mother. And where's Ramzan Kadyrov? He's by her side. But in this case, he's giving women the initiative. They'll be the first to appreciate the flavor, he, of course, will appreciate it, too but then the vial will be passed around the women. Talking to him after all of this.
- Hello, Ramzan haji.
- Hello.
- I feel like I am meeting you for the first time all over again. I'm used to Kadyrov the Warrior, Kadyrov, who fights for the budget, but, today you are a loving husband, a loving father. I was told that you are even one of the co-authors of this... Of the Stans, yes. Is this your secret life?
- Well, in fact, each person has to be a warrior and has to defend the budget for the people and to build for the people and, plus, to develop culture, tradition, and fashion. And this... it adds interest to the region, to the people.
Indeed, there are a lot of famous people among those interested, who came to this show in Grozny. By the way, the visitors aren't only from Moscow. For example, one of the guests, who tried the perfume, is the vice-president of Chopard from Europe.
- Today, these distinguished people came to the city of Grozny And yesterday, if we can put it, the foreigners who came... But they were terrorists. From 51 countries to disintegrate a sovereign state. Today, the whole in-crowd of Russia, of Moscow of Europe, of the Caucasus arrived in Grozny to see fashion.
Modern Europeans like the "Grozny City" complex most of all. In 1995, I covered the First Chechen War, and I am surprised most of all. I remember the ruins here. But today, there is even a fashion house and Aishat Kadyrova told her assistant, Ulzane, to show us around. Let's begin with the men's section.
- I must confess to one sin OK Can you see my brown shoes? I'm not very keen on fashion but I know that its fashionable now And I have discovered here brown shoes and the peak of fashion blue shoes!
There are even quite modern men's business suits. Though, a different style prevails. Even the mannequins are so muscular like the Chechen guys. Here it is. Can I ask you again? Ramzan Akhmadovich Kadyrov, the Head of the Chechen Republic, sets the fashion and style. It's the military color, he loves sports, and there's a promotion of sports. In general, young people here try to follow it.
But head of the 95th region, Kadyrov, is not only athletic, but is also strict. The grand mosque "Heart of Chechnya" is nearby. It is believed to be a land of strict Islam. So, let's find out.
- What do you think about niqabs and veils?
- It's Arab fashion It's about Arab culture, not Sharia law. Islam doesn't say anywhere that a woman should be fully veiled, and only the eyes should be visible. We're not Afghans, not Mujahideen, not the Turks. We're Chechens.
- We just saw very elegant, even splendid dresses. Where is the Islamic restriction? Does it exist at all?
- In fact, Islam's enemies present it in a distorted form. Islam loves the most beautiful things The kindest, the most peaceful. And there are no rigid restrictions.
Let's go back to the "Firdaws" Fashion House, to the sewing workshop. There's a portrait Medni Kadyrova, the Chechen First Lady, who founded this house, and handed it over to her daughter Aishat. And she gave a new momentum to the house, creating a new line of casual denim. Let's continue. I have a difficult question for you. For me, at least. Wandering here, I found this baby dress. It doesn't seem Muslim, the sleeves are short. Yes, it's a dress for two year old girls. At this age our girls can freely wear these dresses. After they turn 7, the sleeves must be long. Are there still those who order short sleeves? Of course, it's not imposed here. Ladies wear kerchiefs, like I do. Others wear hijabs. And others wear such dresses.
Then I have to double-check something. There are kerchiefs, and hijabs on the mannequins, well, kerchiefs, actually. While all the dresses are without hijabs. So is it up to the women? Yes, she comes to the store, and makes her choice. So it doesn't go as a set. No. But we have religious dresses like these. Prayer dresses, I'd say. They go with an attached kerchief because during prayer it is assumed that a woman must be fully clothed. But, in general, women can choose freely. But currently, kerchiefs and hijabs are popular, and many women buy sets.
That is why many guests from Moscow, covered their heads out of respect for local traditions and trends. Though, many did not, and nothing bad happened to them, as we can see. But they're guests. But Ramzan Kadyrov assures nothing would happen to those Chechen ladies who choose not to wear a kerchief or hijab. "It's up to the woman. Like it's up to me to decide whether I should wear a beard". Sorry for interrupting, but I've seen a lot of girls without hijabs outside. "So it's not imposed... About 80% of women don't wear hijabs. Unfortunately".
Models are a separate category of participants in the show. None of them are from the Chechen Republic. But on the catwalk they we were all in full dress including hijabs. By the way, Moscow will host this kind of show in March. The "Firdaws" Fashion House supplies the entire North Caucasus market, Dubai, and Moscow markets. Then we talked about what happens outside of Chechnya's borders. Is it better to give the choice whether to wear a hijab or not, as Kadyrov puts it, or to ban it in the rest of Russia, like in Europe? In schools, for example.
- How can one prohibit it and destroy religious feelings? It's impossible to impose or ban it. It's deadly for the Russian society. Because Russia is a multinational, multiconfessional country. That's why Russia is a federal state. They want to divide us, by calling one people Jewish, the other Russians, Chechens, Muslim, which is absolutely wrong. We must strengthen our state, preserving our customs, culture, and religion. Then we will be invincible, and that's how it should be.
Naturally, there will be no consensus on this issue. But we've heard quite a definite position in Chechnya. Especially amidst such a variety of women's clothes during the show of Ramzan Kadyrov's daughter.
- Will you turn Grozny into a new Milan or Paris?
- Well, Milan or Paris... I've never been to Europe, actually. I don't want to copy anyone. I want to build Grozny. And all the best in the world, including the perfume, must be produced in Grozny in Chechnya. Our region has always been industrially developed. We drilled for oil, but it's all in the past. We need something new. Vesti on Saturday from Grozny.
