SDM of North Ossetia is revolted with Fatima Bagaeva's arrest

The Spiritual Department of Moslems (SDM) of North Ossetia has expressed its indignation with the arrest of Fatima Bagaeva, who, under official data, was detained on February 25 at the Chermen post with elements of explosives on her. The Department notes that the circumstances of her detention raise many questions.

On March 3, a press conference was held at the SDM with participation of Fatima's relatives, where the Muftiyat leaders explained journalists why the SDM decides to deal with the issue.

"It's not the first case of this sort. In no case we encourage the actions like those ascribed to Fatima, but in response to requests of her parents, their applications and appeals of the Moslems of our community, who know Fatima very well, we asked our lawyer to get into this case," said Ali-Hadji Evteev, Mufti of North Ossetia.

According to the Mufti, the lawyer has already met Fatima several times. According to her version, the following happened: at the Chermen post No. 105 she was detained and asked to go to some service room after leaving all her belongings at the reception; she stayed for about 10 minutes without her luggage, which can be confirmed by witnesses. There was a man in the room, one of detainees. "Now, we want to find him and ask to evidence," Mr Evteev said.

Then, as the Mufti continued, some 10 minutes later law enforcers came into the room and brought in her bag, having invited two witnesses, and asked Fatima to open the bag. "When she opened it, she found a cosmetics bag there, which was not hers. Then this cosmetics bag was opened, and two detonators and 200 grams of ammonite were taken out," he said.

As reported to journalists by Ali-Hadji Evteev, the incident worried the Muftiyat, because everyone characterized Fatima on the positive. "We were also put on the alert by the fact that she remained without her bags for so long. Moreover, after she rejected the cosmetics bag and its contents as hers, it was not sealed up, but it has been opened, examined and carefully wiped," said the Mufti.

"Certainly, all these facts will be analyzed by the court. But we are revolted with the following. Firstly, we all understand that only one delivery to militia may break the person's fate. Secondly, we live in Northern Caucasus, where, to our regret, a lot of negative things are related to Moslems. For the last 15 years, very many people committed their crimes by hiding behind Islam slogans," said the Mufti.