Analysts assess popularity of detained Ingush Imams

The Ingush Imams, Mukhammad Tamaskhanov and Magomed Sultygov, were released after detention under recognizance not to leave the place. Both of them are popular among the followers of Salafi Islam.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 10, Mukhammad Tamaskhanov, the Imam of the mosque in Nazran, and Magomed Sultygov, his colleague from the mosque in Karabulak, were detained; sources said the reason was failure to report the actions of the militants from the "Gurazhev grouping" who had earlier been wanted after they attacked road-and-patrol (DPS) posts in Ingushetia.

An appeal on behalf of Muslims of Ingushetia, religious and public figures in support of Tamaskhanov and Sultygov was posted in the Telegram channel serdalo_ingushetii.

"We express ... our indignation at the illegal detention of Imam Tamaskhanov and the physical and moral pressure exerted on him. They broke into his house, threw him to the floor, twisted his arms and took him to the centre of power forces in Magas. By using illegal interrogation methods, they demanded that he confess to meeting extremists with whom he was completely unfamiliar and had no dealings," the appeal says.

Both Imams are suspected of non-reporting a prepared crime, Magomed Mutsolgov, an Ingush human rights defender, has explained.

Akhmed Kostoev, an advocate, has recalled that Tamaskhanov had made resonant statements after the shootout at the Wildberries Company.

Lat us note here that in October 2024, Tamaskhanov's home was searched amid his public statements about the shootout at the Wildberries office in Moscow and criticism of Ingush and Chechen authorities.

Imam Mukhammad Sultygov was not so active and made no political statements, Mr Kostoev has pointed out. "He is more of a classic preacher; and he is also quite popular," he has added, believing that law enforcers’ actions against the two Imams were excessive.