Intimidation with body of person killed in Chechnya becomes propaganda of cruelty

The public demonstration of the body of the killed participant in the attack on a road-and-patrol police service (known as DPS) checkpoint in Achkhoi-Martan contradicts Islam and common sense, as with such actions, the authorities are promoting cruelty and traumatizing the psyche of young people, human rights defenders and a Caucasus expert have pointed out.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that one law enforcer was killed and at least two others were injured in a knife attack on DPS checkpoint in Achkhoi-Martan. The minor attacker was killed by “return fire.” His body was brought on public display to public sector employees, students, and high-school children who were gathered in the morning in front of the administration building.

Such public demonstrations by the authorities, as in Achkhoi-Martan, certainly do not evoke public approval. Rather, they can have the opposite effect – an increase in protest sentiments, a human rights defender has pointed out. “This is propaganda of cruelty,” he stated.

“This is an act of savagery and cruelty that children are being taught. Of course, this is trauma for children. And the bitterness will find a way out. The authorities are taking a risk, but they hope that they will not be the target,” noted Svetlana Gannushkina, the chair of the “Civil Accord”* committee.

Neither Islamic law nor adats (local customary practices observed by a Muslim community, – note of the “Caucasian Knot”) allow the public display of the body of a dead person, even an enemy, a Caucasus expert has pointed out.

There are no customs in Islam, as far as the Caucasus expert knows, when a ruler would announce the punishment of an entire family clan for the crime of one person.

Gathering people and displaying a dead body to them is blasphemy and mockery of the population, believes Shamil Albakov, the press secretary of the Assembly of Chechens in Europe.

Shamil Albakov believes that as a result of such actions by the authorities, the residents of Chechnya are unlikely to become even more intimidated, rather the opposite.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.