08:44, 30 May 2019

Attendance of Makhachkala "Tangim" Mosque is stable despite law enforcers' raids

The mosque in Hungarian Soldiers Street in Makhachkala. Photo by Patimat Makhmudova for the "Caucasian Knot"

The resumption of law enforcers' checks of the Tangim Mosque in Makhachkala has failed to affect the number of worshipers, Imam Nigmatulla Radjabov has stated. In their turn, lawyers believe that personal searches are permissible only if there are reasonable suspicions.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 27, law enforcers conducted raids at the Tangim Mosque in Makhachkala and inspected cars and their owners.

The believers visiting the Tangim Mosque have repeatedly complained about regular raids. On May 4, after the prayer, law enforcers detained two worshipers.

Mosque visitors were not detained during the holy month of Ramadan, said Imam Radjabov. According to his story, law enforcers' actions had no effect on the attendance of night prayers during the month.

Law enforcers have no right to inspect people without valid reason, the lawyers cooperating with Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" and the Civil Assistance Committee have stated.

"According to the law, a citizen may refuse from being searched; however, it's very difficult to counter this, since there are no clear instructions on policemen's behaviour. The decision on how to act is left to their discretion," said Timofei Shirokov, a lawyer.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 29, 2019 at 11:25 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Rustam Djalilov, Murad Muradov

Source: CK correspondents