Follower of Said Nursi released in Orenburg

On January 19, 2012, Asylzhan Kelmukhambetov was released from prison in Orenburg, convicted in June 2011 under Part 1 of Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (organization of activities extremist organization) for creating a cell of a banned organization "Nurcular". Kelmukhambetov was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison to be served in a colony-settlement, however, as a result of a second appeal, the defense managed to get him to replace his imprisonment with a fine of 100,000 rubles. According to Rauli Rogacheva, Kelmukhambetov's lawyer, due to recent amendments to the Criminal Code, her client will not have to pay a fine, but she intends to seek a full acquittal for him. in which fifteen Orenburg students were taught the fundamentals of the teachings of the Turkish theologian Said Nursi. We also recall that we do not consider it legitimate to ban the works of Said Nursi. As for "Nurcular", its ban was meaningless, since this organization as such does not exist, at least in Russia, where only a few believers study Nursi's books.

Sources

• Felix Corley. Russia: Prisoner of conscience freed but not exonerated // Forum 18 News Service, Oslo, Norway. 2012. 20 января.