In Dagestan, policemen question women wearing hijabs, local woman reports

Three female residents of the Khasavyurt District of Dagestan in hijabs were detained by law enforcement agents. After fingerprinting and questioning, the women were released. This was reported by Khadizhat Magomedova, one of the detained women, a resident of the village of Mogilyovskoe. The interrogations are being conducted in connection with the murder of a policeman; however, they are being conducted correctly. This was stated by Fatima Ubaidatova, the representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) for Dagestan.

"We were sitting at home. There were six women, including three minor girls. We were talking to each other, then, suddenly armed policemen ran into the room quickly, they behaved rude and demanded that we immediately went to the OVD (Interior Division). They failed to present any documents, and they did not motivate their behaviour," Khadizhat Magomedova said.

To avoid conflict, the women agreed to go along with the policemen. "They also wanted to take minor girls; however, when we called to the Prosecutor's office, the policemen left them alone," Khadizhat Magomedova told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The woman has reported that at the OVD of the Khasavyurt District, the women were questioned, fingerprinted and then released.

"We were accompanied to various rooms, and investigators asked us about our hijabs, then, they fingerprinted us, without any explanations or apology, and let us go home," Khadizhat Magomedova said.

She believes that hijab could become a reason for their detention.

Officials from the unit on duty of the OVD of the Khasavyurt District have noted that the women were not brought to their place; although, they did not exclude that such questioning could take place.

"Because of the yesterday's murder of a policeman, the investigation and search activities are underway, and the women really could be invited for questioning," the "Caucasian Knot" was told at the OVD.

Let us remind you that on May 28, in the village of Mutsalaul of the Khasavyurt District, a staff member of the GIBDD (road traffic police) was shot and killed by unidentified persons near his house.

The police have to question women because of the tense situation in the republic. This was explained by Fatima Ubaidatova, Chief of the Department of Information and Public Relations of the Dagestani MIA.