Parishioners of Derbent mosque report about mass detentions

Power agents detained those, who were going to the prayer to the Salafi mosque located in the neighbourhood named "Airport". The access road to the mosque was blocked, said the mosque-goers. At least 10 believers were taken for check to the Derbent GOVD (City Interior Division), but they are already at large, said a source from the GOVD.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 9, residents of Derbent reported about the detention of the Imam of the above Salafi mosque. In the same evening, the believers held a protest action demanding the release the Imam. On February 10, at least 300 parishioners gathered outside the GOVD in support of the Imam. According to protesters, the rally was dispersed by power agents, who detained at least 20 people.

Today, almost twice as few people as usually have gathered for the Friday prayer – about a thousand believers. The sermon was conducted by Deputy Imam, said one of the employees of the mosque.

According to his story, the mosque-goers said today that the city "saw raids and deployment of additional units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) and OMON (riot police), who stopped all the men with beards."

Let us remind you that, according to investigators, the Imam of the mosque had illegally detained a woman from Derbent and her child. Today, the court has arrested the Imam for two months.

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