Mufti Said Ismagilov prays over the bodies of civilians killed in Kiev’s Maidan square, Ukraine, on February 20, 2014. Courtesy Ihor Karpishen.
Mufti Said Ismagilov prays over the bodies of civilians killed in Kiev’s Maidan square, Ukraine, on February 20, 2014. Courtesy Ihor Karpishen.

Meet the activist mufti behind Ukraine’s democratic struggle



Mufti Said Ismagilov calmly recalls the freezing night in Kiev’s Maidan square three years ago that brought down Ukraine’s pro-Russia government.

“It was an awful situation. Many were dead, many injured when I arrived in the square. Some priests and I tried to identify who among the dead were Christians and Muslims so that we could perform last rites and prayers. The dead kept coming,” he says. “That was the evening of February 20th. Everyone there that night said they’d never forgive the government.”

Within hours 100 people were shot dead by snipers hiding in adjacent buildings and more than 160 went missing. Ukraine’s president Viktor Yanukovych fled the country but, within weeks, a war engulfed the East culminating in the shooting down of a Malaysia Airlines plane on July 17, killing all 298 people on board.

“I stayed there after they started killing people. I addressed the Ukrainian authorities, asking them to stop the shooting and to address the people,” says the activist, of war-torn, occupied Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.

The 38-year-old mufti recalls one of Ukraine’s most tragic nights from his office in Kiev’s Islamic Cultural Centre. Outside on the street, Arabic accents from Damascus to Dubai hang in the air. It’s Friday afternoon and Muslims have come to pray, catch up and shop for halal meat and Middle Eastern sweets at a street market. Ukraine has become a refuge for a small number fleeing war and unrest across the Middle East, although for Ismagilov, whose youthful appearance masks his title as the mufti of all Ukraine, his country is still very much under attack.

“When the Russian troops entered Donetsk they started intentionally killing and torturing local priests; [and] many people were subjected to mock executions,” he says.

By September 2014, the mufti was a marked man in Donetsk, a city of two million people, many of whom retain close ties with Russia. When Ismagilov got word that separatists were out to capture him, he had by then become an outspoken activist, appearing many times on television, and was forced to hide in safe houses before escaping the city.

Later, when hoping to catch a glimpse of Donetsk from its outlying suburbs, a rifle round came through his car window. “The only thing that saved me was the bullet-proof vest an activist in Maidan square gave me during the revolution,” he says, pointing to a photograph depicting a tiny but unmistakable chip in the windscreen.

“What we all understand is that they [the separatists] are either trying to make us part of Russia or a satellite of Russia. And what we know is that if Ukraine and Ukrainian Muslims were to come under Russian control, we would face the same problems as Muslims in other Russian territories,” he says, referring to their plight in Chechnya and elsewhere. “And they have plenty of problems.”

The annexation of Crimea by Russian forces in March 2014, home to 650,000 Muslim Tatars who have since openly opposed the occupation, sent more shockwaves through Ukraine’s Muslim community.

Within days, reports of hate crimes against Muslims in Crimea emerged. Dozens of Tatar men were abducted and detained while four mosques in the peninsula were set ablaze by arsonists.

A report by Human Rights Watch found that pro-Russian authorities also “conducted invasive and in some cases unwarranted searches at mosques and Islamic schools and searched dozens of private homes of Crimean Tatars”.

While life for Muslims in other parts of Ukraine is less fraught, Ismagilov says the new reality on the ground in eastern Ukraine, Crimea, and also Syria and Iraq, has stretched the Islamic Cultural Centre’s resources.

In December, its charity arm handed out electric heaters to some of Ukraine’s neediest Muslims and internally-displaced persons, but helping with long-term needs such as employment and housing is beyond its reach.

The three years since the victorious, if costly, days that ostensibly drew Ukraine closer to Europe have proved anticlimactic. It remains a country mired in crisis. In November, people were outraged after the publication of records showing the wealth amassed by their new political leaders – the very people brought in to end the endemic corruption plaguing the political class.

In Maidan square recently, where protests are again expected ahead of the third anniversary of the mass shooting, the mood was sombre. Family and friends gathered in front of pictures of those killed and lit candles, while police and armed security forces ambled around.

About 10,000 people have been killed in the Ukraine conflict since fighting erupted in 2014. This week alone, at least seven Ukrainian soldiers died despite the two-year-old ceasefire.

The country remains shrouded under the shadow of its giant neighbour to the north. Ismagilov, however, sees no other option than to remain defiant.

“I was elected to represent the people,” he says. “Whether that takes me back into the streets or not, I’m ready.”

Stephen Starr is a journalist and author who has lived in Syria and Turkey since 2007.

Electoral College Victory

Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate. 

 

Popular Vote Tally

The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.

SPECS

Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now

Thanksgiving meals to try

World Cut Steakhouse, Habtoor Palace Hotel, Dubai. On Thursday evening, head chef Diego Solis will be serving a high-end sounding four-course meal that features chestnut veloute with smoked duck breast, turkey roulade accompanied by winter vegetables and foie gras and pecan pie, cranberry compote and popcorn ice cream.

Jones the Grocer, various locations across the UAE. Jones’s take-home holiday menu delivers on the favourites: whole roast turkeys, an array of accompaniments (duck fat roast potatoes, sausages wrapped in beef bacon, honey-glazed parsnips and carrots) and more, as  well as festive food platters, canapes and both apple and pumpkin pies.

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, The Address Hotel, Dubai. This New Orleans-style restaurant is keen to take the stress out of entertaining, so until December 25 you can order a full seasonal meal from its Takeaway Turkey Feast menu, which features turkey, homemade gravy and a selection of sides – think green beans with almond flakes, roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole and bread stuffing – to pick up and eat at home.

The Mattar Farm Kitchen, Dubai. From now until Christmas, Hattem Mattar and his team will be producing game- changing smoked turkeys that you can enjoy at home over the festive period.

Nolu’s, The Galleria Mall, Maryah Island Abu Dhabi. With much of the menu focused on a California inspired “farm to table” approach (with Afghani influence), it only seems right that Nolu’s will be serving their take on the Thanksgiving spread, with a brunch at the Downtown location from 12pm to 4pm on Friday.

The specs

Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors

Transmission: two-speed

Power: 671hp

Torque: 849Nm

Range: 456km

Price: from Dh437,900 

On sale: now

Thank You for Banking with Us

Director: Laila Abbas

Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum

Rating: 4/5

6 UNDERGROUND

Director: Michael Bay

Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco

2.5 / 5 stars

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

The specs

Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors

Power: 480kW

Torque: 850Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)

On sale: Now

TOURNAMENT INFO

Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia

UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJune%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Alnamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMicrofinance%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFamily%20offices%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sam Smith

Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi

When: Saturday November 24

Rating: 4/5

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Bookshops: A Reader's History by Jorge Carrión (translated from the Spanish by Peter Bush),
Biblioasis

Ibrahim's play list

Completed an electrical diploma at the Adnoc Technical Institute

Works as a public relations officer with Adnoc

Apart from the piano, he plays the accordion, oud and guitar

His favourite composer is Johann Sebastian Bach

Also enjoys listening to Mozart

Likes all genres of music including Arabic music and jazz

Enjoys rock groups Scorpions and Metallica 

Other musicians he likes are Syrian-American pianist Malek Jandali and Lebanese oud player Rabih Abou Khalil

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Singham Again

Director: Rohit Shetty

Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone

Rating: 3/5

SPECS

Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now

COMPANY PROFILE

Company: Bidzi

● Started: 2024

● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid

● Based: Dubai, UAE

● Industry: M&A

● Funding size: Bootstrapped

● No of employees: Nine

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
The stats: 2017 Jaguar XJ

Price, base / as tested Dh326,700 / Dh342,700

Engine 3.0L V6

Transmission Eight-speed automatic

Power 340hp @ 6,000pm

Torque 450Nm @ 3,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined 9.1L / 100km

The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
RACE CARD

6.30pm Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $36,000 (Dirt) 1,600m

7.05pm Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Turf) 2,410m

7.40pm Meydan Trophy – Conditions (TB) $50,000 (T) 1,900m

8.15pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 - Group 2 (TB) $293,000 (D) 1,900m

8.50pm Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m

9.25pm Handicap (TB) $65,000 (T) 1,000m