MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin opened Moscow’s new grand mosque on Wednesday, urging Russia’s Islamic leaders to stand against extremism at a time when some 2,400 Russians are fighting with Islamic State in the Middle East.
“This work is particularly important today as attempts are undertaken to exploit religious feelings for political purposes,” Putin said during the opening of the mosque, which is said to cost some $170 million.
Russia’s Kremlin-backed Council of Muftis said private donations covered the construction of the mosque, including contributions from Kazakhstan and Turkey, whose President Tayyip Erdogan was present at the opening ceremony.