The government-owned online magazine Tatar-Inform accused other media outlets of "distributing an excerpt taken out of context" from a video titled "Can One Beat Their Wife?" featuring Timur Kamayev, an imam from Kazan. Tatar-Inform issued their statement on July 16.
In the video, published on July 15, Timur Kamayev says that inflicting injuries is prohibited. A man should "start with persuasion," then stop sleeping with his wife to make her "think about her wrongdoings." If this does not prove effective, he should administer a "beating" with a stick. The imam demonstrated how to swing the stick correctly without involving the shoulder joint or leaving marks on the woman’s body.
After the video was noticed by other media outlets, Tatar-Inform deleted it but later republished it. On July 16, the magazine accused journalists of "distributing an excerpt taken out of context," specifically the part where the imam speaks about “beating”.
"Tatar-Inform finds the methods of manipulating public consciousness and deliberately distorting reality to fuel ethnic conflicts unworthy of professional media organizations," reads the statement published on Telegram.
According to the organization Nasiliu.net (No To Violence), 24% of Russian citizens have encountered domestic violence within their immediate circles. Most victims are women. The Consortium of Women's Non-Governmental Associations asserts that over 70% of femicides in Russia in 2020-2021 were committed by the women’s partners or relatives.
No To Violence provides the following statistics: about 40% of men in Russia believe that if a husband provides for his wife, he holds a certain degree of power over her.