The position of muslim communities in Altay in the early Soviet years

The purpose of this article is to show the results of the studding of the situation of Muslim communities in the territory of the Altai in the context of state-confessional policy in the first years of Soviet power. In connection with the intended purpose, the following tasks were set: to consider of the relationship of the government to Muslim religious education on the territory of the Altai; to nalyze the principles of the formation of the Muslim congregations in the region, studying the attitude towards them by the provincial authorities. A methodological basis of the article is the principles of historicism, objectivity and determinism, which involves a comprehensive critical analysis of historical processes underlying the legal status and functioning of Muslim communities in the Altai region in the first years of Soviet power. This article was prepared on the analysis of normative-legal acts and archival materials reflecting the peculiarities of Muslim communities in the Altai in 1918 - early 1920s. In the course of the study the authors came to the following conclusions that the policy of the state in the 1920s in relation to Muslim peoples was very complex and had contradictory character. Since 1918 the Bolsheviks government had taken the course towards consolidation of ethnic groups who lived on the territory of the state. This government policy could not neglect Muslim people who lived in Altai area. In 1920, Altai Region (Gubernia) Department for Nationalities was established. The responsibilities of the department included collection of statistical data of Altai Region's population as well as eradicating illiteracy among national minorities. In the 1920s, the government started paying special attention to the system of national education. In the early 1920s, the council for national minorities took part in educational activity of Muslim schools by appointing teachers and instructors and by inspecting educating practice. However, regardless many achievements of Muslim communities in education, the government started to abolish denominational schools in 1923. In the first years of the Soviet power the Bolsheviks were eager to demonstrate their loyalty to Muslim communities in Russia. Muslims were even allowed to participate in the World Muslim Congress in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the government declared preferential registration of religious communities that had not been registered yet. But there was an obligation to inform the local department of the State Political Directorate and militia (Soviet police service) about any performance of religious rites pointing out the exact date and place of the performance. This fact is proved by the archive documents reflecting the life of Muslim communities in Altai. In conclusion, the government policy towards people of Islam confession was rather sophisticated and contradictory in the 1920s. The laws adopted in the early Soviet years allowed to hold religious meetings and to teach the basics of Muslim dogma at school. At the same time the life of Muslim communities was strongly interfered by the government. In the mid-1920s the government adopted repressive policies aimed at eradicating the religious worldview in Muslim communities. They started to abolish religious schools; and teaching of the foundations of the Muslim religion was transferred to the mosques. Later, in 1928, teaching of Muslim dogma was completely abolished by the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Union.

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