Detention of Nadir Abu Khalid may trigger new conflicts in Dagestan, experts assert

Nadir Abu Khalid detained in Dagestan is one of the most prominent Islamic preachers among the Russian-speaking young Muslims, and his detention may provoke an aggravation of tension in Dagestan, experts believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 8, according to eyewitnesses, Nadir Abu Khalid (Medetov), a well-known religious leader, was detained by law enforcers. The Islamic preacher was found at the Kirov ROVD (District Interior Division) of Makhachkala. According to the advocate, Nadir Abu Khalid is charged with illegal possession of firearms.

Ruslan Kurbanov, the Senior Researcher of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), has noted that at present, the Russian authorities treat with distrust any community with a high degree of consolidation. And when such communities show the close ideological and organizational communication with foreign Islamic leaders and schools, this fact gives rise to special concern of law enforcers and officials.

Abdulla Rinat Mukhametov, an Islamic scientist and a political analyst, also believes that the arrest of the Islamic preacher will impact the socio-political situation in Dagestan and Northern Caucasus. According to the expert, the social networks got a lot of repost concerning information about the kidnapping of Nadir Abu Khalid.

Orhan Cemal, a "Forbes" magazine special correspondent, believes that the dissemination of the information on the kidnapping of Nadir Abu Khalid saved his life.

According to Magomed Magomedov, a special correspondent of the Dagestani newspaper "Chernovik" (Draft), Nadir Abu Khalid used to be far from politics, and he was only engaged in disseminating Islamic knowledge without explicit politicization.