Experts question effectiveness of combating terrorism through detentions at mosques

Detentions of mosque-goers in Makhachkala are a part of the total struggle against non-traditional concepts of Islam in Russia. This opinion was expressed by Denis Sokolov, Senior Researcher of the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. Human rights defender Oleg Orlov believes that the events in the capital of Dagestan are an imitation of the combat against terrorism.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 20, law enforcers detained believers of two Makhachkala mosques located in Kotrov Street and Hungarian Fighters Street. In Kotrov Street, Grigory Tumanov and Dmitry Korotaev, reporters of the "Kommersant", were detained together with the mosque-goers. Soon, they reported that they had been released. Officials from the Dagestani Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) have stated that the "Kommersant" reporters were invited to the police station for a conversation and that the mosque-goers were brought to the police station for their identification.

Oleg Orlov, a member of the Board of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", believes that law enforcers need to report on the measures taken to prevent terror acts and to demonstrate the strengthening of the combat against terrorists." Meanwhile, Oleg Orlov has noted that the threat of terror acts has actually increased in recent years.

Magomed Magomedov, the spokesman of the mosque located in Hungarian fighters Street, associates the actions of the law enforcers with the change of the top-ranking officials at the Soviet ROVD (District Interior Division).

In December 2014, the mosque in Hungarian Fighters Street also faced mass checks.

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