Bashkir Muslims fear mass arrests

Muslims in Bashkiria claim that republican law enforcement officials threaten them with arrests. Islam.Ru, citing human rights activist Ismail Saifullin, reports: "... relatives of the convicts, as well as their acquaintances who profess Islam, who, in the opinion of the special services, "believe too deeply in God", are constantly threatened by law enforcement officials Investigator of the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Bashkortostan Khalikov stated with confidence that he would start another case against other Muslims and "successfully complete it", naming the second half of January as the time for the start of the next investigation.

FSB officers come to work with relatives of convicts with threats, Muslims are summoned to the police, offering them to testify against their co-religionists, security forces illegally break into the apartments of followers of Islam, using physical force. Complaints about such actions are not considered by the prosecutor's office, the investigation of the facts of violation of the rights of Muslims was denied ...

In order to incite relatives and neighbors against those Muslims against whom harassment is planned, FSB officers convince them of the latter's involvement in extremist organizations. Such cases, according to Muslims, took place in Ufa, Tuymazy, Davlekanovo and other cities.

In connection with the current situation, the Muslims of Bashkiria circulated a statement in the media, which, in particular, says: "In the event of the start of searches and, as already accepted," the discovery of ammunition ", and then accusations of their possession, followed by arrests and torture, we - those who may be victims of this harassment - declare: we do not have any weapons in our homes. We profess Islam, the religion of goodness and peace. All accusations against us are lies and slander."

Sources

• Muslims of Bashkortostan threatened with mass arrests // Islam.Ru. 2006. January 13th.