Tälğät Tacetdin

Talgat Safich Tadzetdinov, better known as Tadzhuddin (, , Tälğät Safa ulı Tacetdinev; born 12 October 1948, in Kazan) is a Russian Shaykh al-Islām. He is Grand Mufti of Russia and Chairman of the Central Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of Russia, from 1980 to the present. Tadzhuddin is a polarizing figure in Russia due to his public statements, which include for example suggesting that participants of a pride parade should be attacked physically, and more recently, that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is a "necessary measure". Tadzhuddin supports Eurasianism.

Biography Talgat Tadzhuddin was born in Kazan, USSR, on 12 October 1948 to a Tatar family. However, on February 20, 2016, at an expanded meeting of the Presidium of the Central Spiritual Administration of Muslims in Ufa, a decision was made to cancel the farman decree. Thus, T. Tadzhuddin remained at his post.

In February 2006, Tadzhuddin joined leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church as well as the city of Moscow government in protesting against a planned gay pride parade in Moscow. He urged Russia's Muslims to stage violent protests if the march went ahead: "If they come out on to the streets anyway they should be flogged. Any normal person would do that - Muslims and Orthodox Christians alike [...] [The protests] might be even more intense than protests abroad against those controversial cartoons."

Tadzhuddin supports the Russian invasion of Ukraine and blames the Ukrainian government and "the Western world" for "trying to arrange a genocide [of the Russian people] and revive fascism".

Tadzhuddin supports Eurasianism and believes that Muslims and Christians in Russia together form a "unique civilization".

Honours and awards

Order of Honour (12 October 2008) - for services to the development of spiritual culture and strengthening friendship between peoples Order of Friendship (21 September 1998) - for his great contribution to strengthening friendship and cooperation between peoples Order of St. Prince Daniil Moskovsky, 2nd class (Russian Orthodox Church, 2008) - for strengthening inter-religious peace and harmony