Nafigulla Ashirov, co-chairman of the Russian Council of Muftis, told Ekho Moskvy on 3 March that Moscow police have been conducting passport checks of worshipers at two mosques in Moscow since 27 February. Since that time, about 80 people have been taken away from one of these mosques, Ashirov said. He complained that the checks and detentions occurred on the main Muslim holy day of the week, Friday, and that the police officers have behaved \"rudely and unprofessionally.\" He concluded that such activities are discrediting law enforcement organs in the eyes of the Muslim community. Deputy Interior Minister Sergei Shchadrin told the station that he has no information about such checks, although the police have the right to conduct such operations. Grani.ru quoted an unnamed representative from the organized-crime department of the Moscow police as saying that the detentions were made in the context of the antiterrorism effort Operation Whirlwind. (RFE/RL)