23:52, 5 July 2019

In Makhachkala, law enforcers' raid near "Tangim" Mosque passes without detentions

A mosque in Omarova (Hungarian Fighters) Street in Makhachkala. Photo by Patimat Makhmudova for the "Caucasian Knot"

Today, in Makhachkala, the police have set up two mobile checkpoints near a mosque, which visitors repeatedly complained about raids conducted by law enforcers. Eyewitnesses did not notice any detentions, but one of the believers reported about an attempt to bring him to a police station.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 28, Idris Yusupov, a journalist of the Dagestani newspaper "Novoye Delo" (New Clause), reported about a raid conducted by law enforcers in the area of the "Tangim" Mosque. According to him, at least 10 believers and he himself were detained.

Visitors of the "Tangim" Mosque have repeatedly complained about Friday raids conducted by law enforcers and detentions of believers. On March 12, officials from the mosque administration appealed to the Prosecutor's Office and after that the number of law enforcers' raids reduced. On May 31, when law enforcers started another check of believers' IDs near the mosque, the believers appealed to the law enforcement bodies and secured the termination of the raid.

One of the believers reported that law enforcers stopped him near the "Tangim" Mosque, learned that he took part in the prayer, and took him to the police station. "They asked me if I was put on the police prevention registration list in order to check my alleged involvement in crimes," reported the local resident.

According to the believer, after he phoned his acquaintance, who worked for the law enforcement bodies, the man was returned his ID and told that he should not go to the police station.

Human rights defenders believe that law enforcers detain believers in order to put pressure on the Salafi community in Dagestan.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 5, 2019 at 06:50 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Magomed Akhmedov

Source: CK correspondent