Virtual ummah: new religious female leaders in Dagestan

The Islamic factor plays a huge role in the North Caucasus republics. In the post-Soviet period the region went through a so-called "revival of Islam" or "re-islamization", including the population of Dagestan. Religious leaders play an important role in this process: muftis, bloggers, preachers, who directly influence the nature and implementation of Muslim practices. Today in the organization of religious life of Muslim Dagestani women, the leading role is played by the Women’s Education Department of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russian Federation (DUM RF). During its existence, many new practices have appeared, such as the meeting of the Women’s Majlis in different cities of the republic. The ideological mentor of women’s assemblies, especially Aina Gamzatova (the mufti’s wife), officially carries the educational mission, but also offers the "legitimate" interpretation of Islam. In this report the role of religious female leaders and their activities on the Internet will be analyzed, particularly the proposed interpretation of Islam in the context of the Islamic feminist hermeneutics.