Muslims brave freezing weather to gather for prayers marking Eid

(6 Nov 2011) SHOTLIST 1. Wide of street filled with Muslim worshippers getting on their knees, praying, pan left 2. Mid of people praying 3. Close-up man praying 4. Wide of street filled with worshippers, pan left 5. Mid of people on their knees, rising 6. Wide of crowd 7. Close-up people 8. Wide of people bowing 9. Mid of people rising 10. Mid of people standing on street around traffic light 11. Wide of street completely filled with people 12. Mid of police and metal detectors amid crowd 13. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Maruv, shop worker, migrant from Tajikistan: “Of course new mosques are needed. Look at how many people are in the street and it’s cold. They are standing here waiting for the beginning of the prayers from 6 a.m., and in Russia, in Moscow, in the centre.“ 14. Wide of crowd in front of new mosque being constructed at the site of the historic Moscow Cathedral Mosque, which was demolished in September, 2011 15. Close-up legs of man dancing to beat cold next to piece of paper used as prayer rug 16. Mid of worshippers next to their rugs 17. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Dulshan, construction worker, migrant from Tajikistan: “Today, no, it’s not cold. I’ve come here to read the prayer, like all the guys today. It is our holiday, that’s why I’m here to read the prayer.“ 18. Mid of gilded crescent standing on ground of the Moscow’s Cathedral Mosque construction site 19. Wide of crowd in front of mosque construction site, tilt up, wide of mosque’s minaret under construction STORYLINE Tens of thousands of Muslims braved freezing temperatures in the Russian capital Moscow to attend prayers on the religious holiday of Eid al-Adha, or the feast of sacrifice. On Sunday morning, the temperature had dropped to minus 8 centigrade. Moscow Cathedral Mosque’s neighbourhood saw the biggest crowd of worshippers, many of whom were migrants from the former Soviet republics in Central Asia. A new mosque is under construction at the site of the historic mosque, which was partly demolished in September, 2011. Maruv, a migrant worker from Tajikistan said the city needed more mosques so that believers could celebrate the holiday in more comfort. Moscow has only a few mosques, while according to some estimates, the city’s Muslim population has reached two million people. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: ​​ Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: