ATIFLISI, ABU IMRAN (ABU IMRAN OF TIFLIS)

(fl. 9th cent)

Russian religious leader, founder of a dissident Karaite sect. He was born near Baghdad, and was taught byIshmael of Akbara, who greatly influenced him. His followers were known as 'Abu-Imranists' or 'Tiflisists'; the sect persisted until the 12th century.