Imam Velitov freed from penal colony in Astrakhan

Today, after leaving a penal colony in Astrakhan, Makhmud Velitov, the imam of a Moscow mosque, who had served his sentence on the charge of justifying terrorism, has said that he had gained "useful experience."

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in April 2017, Makhmud Velitov, the imam of the "Yardyam" Mosque in Moscow, was sentenced to three years of imprisonment for preaching about Abdulla Gappaev, a murdered Dagestani religious leader, whom the law enforcement bodies considered a member of a terrorist organization. The court concluded that the imam justified terrorism in his sermon. The Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" recognized Makhmud Velitov as a political prisoner.

Today, at the exit from the penitentiary institution IK No. 8 in Astrakhan, Makhmud Velitov was met by his son and wife, who came from Moscow, as well as by several supporters, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Makhmud Velitov said that he had gained "useful experience" at the penal colony. He explained that he would like to get land in Moscow for the construction of a mosque. "May Allah, that Muslims do not find themselves in such places, that our trials are fair, and that Muslims live in solidarity and support each other," Makhmud Velitov said.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 13, 2019 at 02:13 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.