Derbent mosque reopens after detention of Imam and mosque-goers' protests

In Derbent, some of the supporters of the Imam of the mosque located in the neighbourhood named "Airport", who were detained on February 10 during a protest action, are not at large yet, said local residents. A mosque employee said that the mosque works as usual. The GOVD (City Interior Division) of Derbent have stated that all the detainees had been released on the day of detention after drawing up protocols.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 9 residents of Derbent stated the detention of the Imam of the Salafi mosque. On February 10, at least 300 parishioners gathered outside the GOVD building in support of the Imam. The rally was dispersed by power agents, who, according to eyewitnesses, beat up the protesters and detained at least 20 of them.

In his turn, one of the mosque employees said that on February 10, during the dispersal of the unauthorized rally, over 30 people were detained; half of them were released on the same day, but at least 15 are still kept in the Derbent GOVD.

One of the mosque-goers, who introduced himself as Daud, said that during the dispersal of the rally on February 10 law enforcers acted harshly.

The mosque in neighbourhood "Airport" continues working as usual, said one of its employees, adding that the Imam Deputy is performing his duties.

An acquaintance of the detained Imam has noted that after his detention, mosque-goers and employees believe that the provocation against Imam had been pre-planned.

In recent months in Dagestan, apart from the mosque in neighbourhood "Airport" in Khasavyurt, at least five Salafi mosques got under pressure. In some of them, Imams were replaced; others were closed after power agents had searched them.

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