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A singer has apologised for belly dancing in front of a mosque in Tatarstan, one of Russia's largest Muslim regions, after criticism from religious leaders.

Rezeda Ganiullina filmed a music video in front of the White Mosque in the town of Bolgar, performing her song My Soul while clad in a bejewelled, midriff-baring outfit. That didn't please the Mufti of Tatarstan, Kamil-khazrat Samigullin. "A mosque is not a place for dancing," he's quoted as saying on the , adding that Bolgar is particularly significant as "the Islamic traditions of the Tatars originate from there".

An imam at another mosque as a "desecration of the house of Allah" and called for the video to be removed, while the region's deputy mufti : "Unfortunately, some representatives of Tatar pop culture have heads full of confusion. They do not understand what a mosque is and Islam in general."

On Thursday, Ms Ganiullina apologised , but began in defiant style: "Everyone perceives the situation depending on the level of their depravity... If this clip has insulted someone's feelings, I apologise. This is my stage image." The singer says she's Muslim and respects religious leaders, but notes: "A belly dance performed perfectly… isn't a striptease, it's a work of art."

Russia's Investigations Committee has started "a preliminary investigation" into the video, according to . That's prompted some national media to draw parallels with the band Pussy Riot, imprisoned after performing a protest song in a Moscow cathedral. Despite the comparisons, Ms Ganiullina appears to have chosen the mosque simply as a picturesque backdrop, rather than to make a political statement.

It seems the controversy is mainly confined to religious leaders, as most people are enthusiastic about the video. On Evening Kazan, one person says: "Disrespect for any religion is unacceptable in a civilised society", noting the angry response that some had to John Lennon claiming The Beatles were more popular than Jesus. But another writes: "A beautiful girl, a beautiful song, a beautiful dance! One shouldn't draw any parallels with Pussy Riot - these are different actions, as far apart as heaven and earth!"

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