Imam murder trial starts in the Supreme court of Dagestan

The Supreme Court of Dagestan has started a trial on the case about the murder of Dagir Kachaev, imam in one of Makhachkala mosques, who was shot dead on February 22, 2007. Sultan Arslangereev, 21, is the defendant.

According to the version of the investigatory bodies, imam Dagir Kachaev was killed by Sultan Arslangereev, a Wahhabism adherent. The investigation asserts that Arslangereev was a member of Shamil Gasanov's group and was hiding with him in the Agachaul and Gubden woods.

However, Sultan Arslangereev has stated that he pled guilty of the murder after he was kidnapped and tortured by militiamen.

Representatives of the Movement "Dagestan Mothers for Human Rights" have stated at the trial that Kachaev could have been killed by mistake instead of another imam.

On December 8, 2006, in the mosque located in the Apricot Street in Makhachkala, after a religious dispute, a young man named Nadyr Magomedov made a fight with local imam Ahmed Kebekov. On the following day, Magomedov died at the police station. His relatives declared that Magomedov was killed by militiamen who suspected him to be linked with Wahhabites.

Magomedov's relatives held a number of rallies where they showed his photos with traces of beatings and demanded to punish those guilty. After one of the rallies, imam Kebekov declared that he knew who was beating Nadyr and was ready to evidence that.

Soon after that imam Kachaev was killed. Advocate Taibat Salmanova who represents the interests of Nadyr Magomedov's relatives said that "the killer who wanted to liquidate a dangerous witness could have got mistaken with the target."

Imam Ahmed Kebekov is still in hiding, trembling for his life.