Moscow Tablighi Jamaat case brought to court

Citizens of Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are accused of organizing the activities of an extremist organization and participating in its work.

On December 4, 2017, the Babushkinsky District Court of Moscow received a criminal case against eight alleged members of the banned religious association Tablighi Jamaat.

As follows from the case file on the court website, Kyrgyz citizens Islambek Kamchybekov, Kanybek Suyunduk uulu and Russian Shakir Kozhamkulov are accused of organizing the activities of an extremist organization (Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code), while Kyrgyz citizen Gazybek Kubatov, Russian citizens Akhmet Dzhumaev, Airat Usmanov and Zufar Mustafin and citizen of Kazakhstan Bekzod Bakirov - for participating in it (Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code).

All accused were detained in Moscow and Kazan in December 2016 - January 2017. A criminal case was initiated by the Federal Security Service of Russia for the city of Moscow and the Moscow region. During the searches, “ extremist literature, means of communication, as well as electronic media with work reports ” were confiscated from alleged members of Tablighi Jamaat, the department reported. According to the FSB, the accused “ conducted ideological indoctrination of new supporters, studied prohibited literature, and discussed plans to create an Islamic state “Caliphate” on the territory of the Russian Federation .” According to information available to the FSB, the cell was led by foreign emissaries, and new members of the movement were sent for education and special training to camps in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Most of the accused immediately after their arrest admitted their participation in the work of Tablighi Jamaat. In particular, Dzhumaev said that he traveled to India to the headquarters of Tablighi Jamaat, but does not consider himself involved in extremist activities. Kozhamkulov stated that, contrary to the opinion of the investigation, he was not the organizer of the cell. Kamchybekov, who unofficially worked as a loader, has two classes of education and does not speak Russian, did not admit guilt.

A native of Kyrgyzstan, Kubanychbek Sadyrov, also arrested on charges of participation in Tablighi Jamaat, admitted guilt and petitioned for the case to be considered in a special manner. In November 2017, he was sentenced to two years in prison.

The international religious organization Tablighi Jamaat was recognized as extremist in Russia in 2009. We regard this ban as unlawful, because the Tablighi Jamaat association is engaged in the promotion of Islam and has not been seen in any calls for violence.

Sources

• Case card No. 01-0794/2017 // Courts of general jurisdiction of the city of Moscow. Official portal. 2017. December 4.
• The case of “Tablighi Jamaat” in Moscow has been transferred to court // OVD-Info. 2017. December 7.