Nine Tablighi Jamaat followers sentenced in Tatarstan

Residents of Tatarstan have been sentenced to prison terms for participating in the activities of an extremist organization.

On April 20, 2017, the Naberezhnye Chelny City Court of the Republic of Tatarstan sentenced nine members of the Tablighi Jamaat religious association, recognized in Russia as an extremist organization. All of them were found guilty of participating in the activities of an extremist organization (Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code) and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment. 44-year-old Ilgiz Zagidullin was sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 3 years and 9 months with a restriction of freedom for a period of 10 months, 43-year-old Lenar Ziyatdinov was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in a colony with a restriction of freedom for 9 months, 35-year-old Marat Sharifullin - to 3 years and 3 months with restriction of freedom for 8 months, 45-year-old Ramil Sultanov - to 3 years with restriction of freedom for 8 months, 41-year-old Salavat Bayazitov - to 3 years with restriction of freedom for 8 months, 37-year-old Renat Nasretdinov - to 2 years and 8 months with restriction of freedom for a period of 7 months, 29-year-old Mubarakzyan Vafin - to 2 years and 6 months with restriction of freedom for 7 months, 53-year-old Gayar Sudiyarov - to 2 years with restriction of freedom for a period of 7 months, 28-year-old Khadyatullo Khasanov - to 2 years with restriction of freedom for 6 months.

Seven of the convicts were detained on October 20, 2016, at the same time law enforcement agencies conducted searches at 39 addresses in Kazan, Naberezhnye Chelny, Almetyevsk, Aznakaev, Rybno-Slobodsky, Kukmorsky and Sabinsky districts of Tatarstan. The other two were detained a week later . In the houses of Tablighi Jamaat supporters, “ banned books, notebooks with handwritten texts, digital media, as well as various documents were found that contained information about their propaganda of aggressive and unconventional Islam for Tatarstan ,” the Investigative Committee noted. The accused admitted their involvement in the crime and were taken into custody by the court. In April 2017, the investigation into the case was completed . Due to the full admission of guilt by the defendants, the trial took place in a special manner .

The investigation stated that the defendants joined Tablighi Jamaat in the early 2000s. Knowing about the ban on the association, from 2014 to 2016 they participated in its activities, including recruiting new members and holding meetings of members of the organization, the Investigative Committee alleged. In particular, they held meetings of members of unnamed local religious organizations in Kazan, Naberezhnye Chelny, Aznakaev and other settlements of Tatarstan.

The religious association "Tablighi Jamaat" was banned in Russia in 2009, and we regard this ban as unlawful. The movement was engaged in the propaganda of Islam and was not seen in any calls for violence, therefore we consider the persecution of its supporters unjustified.

Sources

• The verdict in the case of extremism was announced // Website of the Naberezhnye Chelny City Court of the Republic of Tatarstan. 2017. April 20.