Believers of Shamkhal mosque report on five detainees

Today, the believers of the village of Shamkhal have held an unsanctioned rally in front of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) in Makhachkala. After the rally in Makhachkala, the Dagestani police detained several protesters. According to law enforcers, the believers started a fight inside the mosque. The believers claim a provocation arranged by the police.

In total, five persons were detained, and all of them were brought to the Soviet ROVD (District Interior Division) of Makhachkala. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by one of the mosque believers. According to him, the problem which provoked the believers of a small mosque in the village of Shamkhal to gather for a picket is an attempt to protect their right to choose the Imam.

"There are only four mosques in Shamkhal, and one of them is ours. We had the Imam, and everyone was satisfied with his activities. However, after a conflict with the Imam of the Central Mosque of the village, they started attempts to dismiss him. It lasts for a month already," said a resident of the village of Shamkhal, who preferred to remain anonymous.

According to another resident of the village of Shamkhal, also a believer of the mosque, the Imam was forced to resign on June 21. "We are told that we will be able to choose the new Imam. However, we know when officials from the Dagestani SAM decide to intervene in the case, then they will consider our opinion after all the others. They will bring a crowd of people, like it was in Makhachkala, when they dismissed an imam of a mosque, the people will vote, and here's the new Imam. We do not want such a situation," said the villager. He has also added that the picket was attended by 50-70 people.

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