Karim Zidan details the scandalous Buddha-related incident that led to a Dagestani wrestler’s arrest.
On April 3rd, 2016, a contingent of Dagestani wrestlers from the national team arrived in Russia's Kalmykia region for an amateur tournament. Ahead of the competition, the group of martial artists took a tour inside a Kalmyk Buddhist temple. Instead of enjoying an educational excursion through the holy temple, the group were embroiled in an religious scandal that eventually led to an arrest and an apology from the Dagestan leader.
Said Omarov, a member of the national team, was charged with violating the right to freedom of religion after he allegedly "defiled" one of the Buddha statues within the shrine.