Valiulla Makhmutovich Yakupov (4 September 1963 – 19 July 2012) was a prominent Muslim cleric in Tatarstan, Russia[2] and the deputy to the Muslim province's chief mufti.[3] He was also known as a strong critic of radical Islamist organisations which advocate Salafism, a radical form of Islam.[4] According to news agency Interfax, Yakupov founded Russia's first Islamic literary publishing house.[5]
Yakupov was shot dead while walking on the Zarya Street estate in Kazan, Tatarstan, where he lived, according to a statement released by Russia's Investigative Committee.[6][7] However, there is another report that he was killed while sitting on his porch.[8] Shortly thereafter, the chief mufti, Ildus Faizov, was wounded in the legs after an explosive device blasted through his vehicle.[9] A day after Yakupov's assassination, Russian police detained five people suspected to be involved in Yakupov's killing.[10]
Russia's Council of Muftis has branded the fateful murder of Yakupov as a terror attack.[7] "Unfortunately, deadly attacks on religious leaders have become common," Vladimir Legoyda, the chief of the Synodal Information Department, said. Reports from the media suggest that Yakupov was an anti-extremist activist and the attack may have taken place due to his strong opposition to radicalism.[7]