Families in Chechnya with children born on January 13 and who are named after the Prophet Muhammad, members of his family, or his 10 ashabs (companions) will each receive $1,000, according to a new decree.
[UPDATE: Chechen Health Minister Shakhid Akhmadov said on January 14 that the families of 126 children -- 78 boys and 48 girls -- received the awards.]
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov announced on January 13 that the awards will be paid by a foundation named after his late father, Chechnya's former pro-Kremlin President Akhmad Kadyrov.
The awards will be paid in connection with Mawlid, the observance of Muhammad's birthday, which is marked by the majority of the world's Sunni Muslims on the third month in the Islamic calendar, Rabi' al-awwal.
This year, Mawlid was observed on the night between January 12 and January 13.
On January 12, Kadyrov attended a ceremony to mark the opening of a large mosque in the Chechen town of Achkhoi-Martan.
[UPDATE: Chechen Health Minister Shakhid Akhmadov said on January 14 that the families of 126 children -- 78 boys and 48 girls -- received the awards.]
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov announced on January 13 that the awards will be paid by a foundation named after his late father, Chechnya's former pro-Kremlin President Akhmad Kadyrov.
The awards will be paid in connection with Mawlid, the observance of Muhammad's birthday, which is marked by the majority of the world's Sunni Muslims on the third month in the Islamic calendar, Rabi' al-awwal.
This year, Mawlid was observed on the night between January 12 and January 13.
On January 12, Kadyrov attended a ceremony to mark the opening of a large mosque in the Chechen town of Achkhoi-Martan.
