Santa Claus is ‘fictional character’ – Russia’s top Muslim cleric

The jolly winter gift-bringer is akin to a cartoon hero, the mufti of Moscow has said

Ded Moroz, Russia’s equivalent of Santa Claus, is nothing more than a fictional character, a senior Muslim cleric has said ahead of New Year’s celebrations, urging believers to direct their attention to God instead.

Ildar Alyautdinov, the mufti of Moscow and deputy chairman of the Council of Scholars of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia (DUM)...