Muscovites outraged by ambulance driver praying on the street
Several media outlets, primarily nationalist ones, have reported that an ambulance driver in Moscow "performed" namaz next to a parked ambulance while waiting for medics on a call. The "incident" reportedly occurred in the Butovo district of Moscow.
Prayer is one of the obligatory pillars of Islam, which must be performed at a specific time, which is precisely what the subject of today's story was doing. In the video, the man, without obstructing pedestrians or traffic, positioned himself between parked cars and performed the religious rite.
Notably, most commentators on the video on forums and social media expressed support for the driver.
About a year ago, an incident that occurred on route No. 46 in St. Petersburg caused a major stir online. The bus driver stopped the vehicle and began praying on his knees. Passazhiravtotrans employees explained that the situation was caused by tragic events in his life, thanked passengers for their understanding, and promised that similar incidents would be prevented in the future. The company also reminded drivers that religious ceremonies are permitted between trips. However, as today's incident demonstrates, Russian public groups exaggerate such stories to fuel Islamophobic and xenophobic sentiments, regardless of whether the driver violated regulations.
