The chief Muslim cleric in Tyumen Oblast, Fatykh Garifullin, has asked that prayers be said for fellow Muslims in Al-Fallujah, Iraq, islam.ru reported on 9 November. \"The fate of those martyrs under siege in Al-Fallujah awaits all those who do not agree to dance to the tune of [U.S. President George W.] Bush and his circle, if the world community does not stop the war in Iraq,\" Garifullin said. Garifullin called on all Muslims to pray for fellow believers, so that \"Allah will help the heroic people of Iraq to stand up for their independence and freedom.\" As of November 2002, Tyumen Oblast had 64 mosques and 67 Russian Orthodox churches, according to islam.ru on 12 November 2002. (RFE/RL)