The Head of the Central Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia, Talgat Tadzhuddin, stated that Muslims should not perform namaz in public spaces. According to him, such practices cause discontent:

“Namaz should be performed in a mosque, a prayer house, or at home. The entire Earth, except for a bathhouse and a cemetery, is God’s temple. One must pray, but not for show; it is necessary to take into account the interests of those around you. And those believers who pray in public places do it for show, and such prayer is not accepted,” the mufti said.

According to Tadzhuddin, Muslims who are on the road must plan their time for prayer so as not to create discomfort for others.

His remarks followed a recent statement by Valery Fadeev, Chairman of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights, who said that performing namaz in the metro is unacceptable.

Together, both statements have become part of a broader discussion about how Muslims may practice their faith in public spaces and where the boundary lies between individual religious rights and the comfort of others.

Muslim communities and media have repeatedly pointed to the lack of mosques and other prayer facilities, which forces believers to use streets and public spaces for namaz, especially during major religious holidays.