As a result of the Gaza conflict, anti-Jewish attacks are increasing in Russia’s Muslim-dominated North Caucasus. In Makhachkala in the Republic of Dagestan, a crowd of people entered the airport on Sunday evening after a plane from Tel Aviv had landed there, reportedly carrying refugees from Israel. Numerous people also ran into the airport.
When word spread that a plane from Tel Aviv was landing in Dagestan, Russia, a mob stormed the airport in what can only be described as a modern-day pogrom. pic.twitter.com/1G6phfdraz
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) October 29, 2023
More than twenty people were injured in the incident, including police and civilians. Ten people were being treated in hospital, two of whom were in critical condition, Russia’s state news agency Tass reported on Monday evening, citing the local health ministry.
The airport was temporarily closed and arriving planes were diverted to other airports, state aviation regulator Rosawiazija Tass said. Rosawiazija later announced that security forces had cleared the area. The airport will remain closed until November 6.
Not the only incident in the region
On Saturday, a crowd of angry people also surrounded a hotel in the city of Khasavyurt in Dagestan over rumors that refugees from Israel were being housed there. The state agency Ria confirmed this incident. According to local reports, several dozen men broke into the hotel to check the passports of hotel guests. The police have locked down the hotel.
The situation is aggravated by the fact that the evacuation flights for Russian citizens from Tel Aviv land in the North Caucasus, namely at the airports of Makhachkala, Mineralnye Vody and Sochi. In the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, Russian Muslims stand with their Palestinian brothers.
Further attacks on Jews
In Nalchik, tires were set on fire on Sunday next to a Jewish cultural center under construction, Ria news agency reported. According to the security authorities of the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, the building had been defaced with extremist slogans. According to photos, it read “Death to the Jews.” In the Karachayev-Cherkessia Republic, demonstrators called for the deportation of the local Jewish population.
The head of the Republic of Dagestan, Sergei Melikov, called on the population not to be incited by extremists who wanted to destabilize the situation. “Because of the forgeries spread by our enemies, some very young people were about to break the laws,” he wrote on Telegram. The region’s Muslim clergy also made it clear: “Anti-Semitism has no place in the multi-ethnic North Caucasus.”
Due to the violence in the Middle East, President Vladimir Putin met last week with the heads of the religions represented in Russia. He called for peaceful coexistence between peoples and religions in the great country. (sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
