Over 15 Muslims detained after namaz in Makhachkala

This afternoon, more than 15 people were detained at the exit of the mosque in Kotrov Street in Makhachkala after their afternoon namaz (prayer), eyewitnesses have stated. Then, the detained parishioners of the Makhachkala Salafi mosque were taken to the police, Kurban Askandarov, the Deputy Imam of the mosque, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"Around 12:30 a.m., when the prayer was over, parishioners began going out. Policemen were waiting for them outside the door of the mosque – they asked to present documents; and then asked the young people to follow them to the Sovietskiy ROVD (District Interior Division)," said the Deputy Imam.

As of 3:00 p.m., the detainees were still at the ROVD, said one of the worshipers of the mosque in Kotrov Street, who asked not to be named: "They could use their phones and said that they had been fingerprinted, photographed, etc. They were promised to be released in the near future."

The Sovetskiy ROVD has confirmed the detention, but without specifying the reasons. As of 3:30 p.m., all the detainees were set free, a police officer told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.