Timur Seifullen
Timur Seifullen (1950–2020) was one of the leaders of the Estonian Tatar community in restored Estonia. He was the first chairman of the Tatar Cultural Society founded in 1988, chaired the board of the Estonian Islamic Congregation, and initiated the first Estonian translation of the Quran. The name Seifullen is connected with the historical Seifullin Tatar family of Narva. He died on 10 August 2020.
The Tatar Cultural Society (1988)
In November 1988, during perestroika, Estonian Tatars with pre-war roots founded the Tatar Cultural Society, and Timur Seifullen became its first chairman. The society revived cultural life, ran a Sunday school and supported Estonia's independence movement; it was a founding organisation of the Estonian Union of Nationalities, and many Tatars took part in the Estonian People's Front. In 1995 the society was renamed (the Tatar Community in Estonia).
The Estonian Islamic Congregation
In 1989 the Tallinn Islamic Congregation was re-established, and after the 1993 law it became the Estonian Islamic Congregation uniting all Estonia's Muslims. From 1994 Timur Seifullen chaired its board.
The Order of the White Star (2004)
In 2004 the President of the Republic honoured Timur Seifullen’s services in organising cooperation among the national minorities with the Order of the White Star.
The Estonian translation of the Quran
On Seifullen's initiative, the first full Estonian translation of the Quran appeared in 2007 (“Koraan. Koraani tähendused”, publisher Avita), translated by the Orientalist Haljand Udam and edited by the Assyriologist Amar Annus. It tied the historical Tatar community to a lasting achievement of Estonian culture.
Identity
He estimated that about 60% of Estonia's Tatars consider themselves Muslims, but only about 15% of them actively practise (interview, 8 June 2007).
See also
Sources: Toomas Abiline and Ringo Ringvee, 'Estonia', in Muslim Tatar Minorities in the Baltic Sea Region (Brill, 2016), pp. 105–127; accounts of the Estonian Quran ('Koraan. Koraani tähendused', Avita 2007); obituary of Timur Seifullen, inimoigusedeestis.ee.