Hizb ut Tahrir in Russia

20 Rajab 1436 | Saturday, 09 May 2015م
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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

The Islamic party Hizb ut Tahrir has been working in Russia since the late nineties of the last century, where its call progressed from Central Asia where the party was working there since the eighties. In the nineties millions of Russian Muslims were allowed to practice their Islamic rituals after 70 years of rule by the authoritarian Soviet regime.

The call of Hizb ut Tahrir is widely spread among Muslims in different areas; in the Volga and the North Caucasus, Moscow and others, and many of the Tatars and Muslims from Bashkiria, Dagestan, and Ingushetia, and even Russians have become members of the party and carried the call to their people. The party has a wide presence in Islamic educational institutions in Russia, which is highly respected among preachers and even among muftis.

However, Hizb ut Tahrir activity did not last long as being permitted by the law; with the arrival of Putin's ruling, the authorities have begun to block the party and its call. Individual pursuits that began in 2000 have effectively ended on 14/2/2003 through a decision of the Federal Supreme Court to ban the activity of Hizb ut Tahrir. The trial sessions took place behind closed doors without the participation of the representatives of the party, human rights organizations and the press ... i.e. the court sessions were a formality while the decision was made elsewhere.

Moreover, the court's decision was not known until the authorities began the first arrests of Hizb ut Tahrir members, the first strikes were in Moscow and Bashkortostan where ammunition were hidden in properties of Hizb ut Tahrir's members and then accused of plotting terrorist acts, and they were convicted and sentenced to a long prison term. Recently the first detainees from the party members were released, almost two years ago.

It is worth mentioning that the regime's repression of the members of Hizb ut Tahrir was not known by the public. Many human rights activists, such as Memorial Center, have protested against the illegal repression and persecution, and attempted to challenge the ban, but the timeframe for appeal passed, as the authorities deliberately delayed time until the period allowed for appeal ends. Also some muftis protested in defense of Hizb ut Tahrir, such as the Mufti of the Asian Section of Russia, NaqeeAllah' Ashirōv, they stated formally that the activity of Hizb ut Tahrir does not contradict Islam, and does not include any extremism or terrorism. Also from the public figures who did not remain silent is the famous Tatar writer Aider Halim and the President of the Tatar People's Assembly, Fawzia Baiarmova, and others.

Since that time, hundreds and perhaps even thousands of Muslims who have a relationship with Hizb ut Tahrir suffer from suppression of the Russian regime. The situation continues to deteriorate to this day, and until the time of writing this report, more than 80 Muslims are in prison on charges of membership or participation in the activities of the Hizb.

If we were to speak of the reasons for banning Hizb ut Tahrir in Russia, there are many aspects; including satisfying Karimov, who has already fought a fierce war against Hizb ut Tahrir. Today this war is clear and obvious led by the KGB regime headed by Putin, who came to power as a result of carrying out the second Chechen war who is already hostile to Islam. The regime is aware that the danger it faces lies in political Islam, due to the large number of Muslims in Russia, which is about 20 million Muslims. They also excel over the non-Muslims in strength of belief that they will achieve their objective, and their population growth rate is high, and the fact that the party is the vanguard of the revival of Islam in Russia, the regime began pursuing it in the Russia war against Islam.

If we review the events of the last decade (from 2005 to 2015) it reveals the following: After the first strike in 2003 the arrests of the members of Hizb ut Tahrir were limited to accusations of extremism, according to Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code (belonging to an extremist organization), and this article has been implemented since 2005 until 2012. The arrests under this article lead to prison sentences of up to three years, which belong to the category of minor crimes. The majority of the members of Hizb ut Tahrir, who were convicted (and many of them have not been convicted initially) under this article despite being punished for the crimes of extremism, and the party was considered as a terrorist organization.

In 2012, the authorities tightened its war against Hizb ut Tahrir due to the following factors:

First - the deteriorating situation in the country, particularly the opposition's attempts to carry out a revolution at the end of 2011 and beginning of 2012 at a time when Putin almost lost power. After Putin had managed to control the situation, he harshly cracked down on all who posed even a minimal threat to the regime, the degree of lawlessness in Russia increased significantly, although in the past security forces were reluctant to carry out certain actions. After 2012, they became bolder; the Kremlin stopped paying attention to the West's opinion to consider so-called human rights. Following the suppression of the liberal opposition, its attention shifted to the uncontrolled Islamic movements, including the Islamic Hizb ut Tahrir.

Secondly - the events in Syria, which began in 2011, and was quickly characterized as Islamic, by the grace of Allah (swt) and through the efforts of members of Hizb ut Tahrir, this made the authorities fear the establishment of the Khilafah "Caliphate" upon the method of Prophethood in Syria and its impact on the 20 million Muslims in Russia.

Third - since the beginning of 2011 Hizb ut Tahrir entered the public arena in Russia with the opening of its Media Office, and its effective political activity began, exposing injustice and repression against members of Hizb ut Tahrir and the Muslims in general, it organized rallies, conferences and seminars. The Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Russia has played an important role in highlighting the Syrian Revolution in the Russian satellite-media and in the Russian language; therefore the party became the real pioneer of Russian Muslims, and enjoyed a broad support from the people, and held an immense respect and influence among them. The public began to discuss the Hizb, Islam and Khilafah "Caliphate" with the correct view.

As a result of all this, the Russian regime began to intensify its war against Hizb ut Tahrir.

Since 2012, the regime began fabricating criminal cases under Article 278 of the Criminal Code (the seizure of power or maintain it by force), but these charges were absurd and was obvious that they were fabricated charges. In addition the allegation of the "seize power" has led to increased attention to the Hizb; nonetheless these trumped-up charges were taken to court.

On 30/7/2014 a Moscow court sentenced four members of Hizb ut Tahrir with harsh prison sentences for periods ranging between 7-11 years under Article 278 with charge of attempt to seize power.

Aziz Beik Enamov

Zikrulah Rahmanovic

Shamil Ismailov

Saynula Gurbanov

Five members of Hizb ut Tahrir in Chelyabinsk region were convicted of trumped-up charges of attempting to seize power, and in November 2013 they were sentenced with harsh prison sentences of 6 years.

Pazarbathiv Marat Tokmorzaivic

Valiev Rochat Rachetovic

Aedelbayev Rinat Vadimovich

Nasirov Vadim Qaivolaivic

In Bashkortostan, since 26/08/2013 four members of Hizb ut Tahrir remain in custody, all of whom have been convicted under the first part of Article 30 and Article 278 (preparing the work aimed to seize power by force, as well as violent change of the constitutional system).

Garivianov Aider Ralivovich

Colaqeen Yafiqini Aakorovic

Hamadjiev Alex Alviovic

Nevertheless, the absurdity and the weakness of such accusations prompted the authorities to invent new ways to deal with Hizb ut Tahrir; they introduced a new Article to the Russian Criminal Code No. 205.5 (organizing terrorist organization activities)

This occurred as follows:

On 11/03/2013, President Putin signed the law introducing new sets of measures to combat terrorism. There was an introduction of several articles in the criminal law, including Article 205.5 (organization of a terrorist group and participation in it), which stipulates a prison sentence not for two years as in the past, but from 5 to 20 years with a fine payment of up to one million Russian rubles. After 3 months it became evident that expectations were on point, and that these measures were taken in order to fight Hizb ut Tahrir. This was when Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code was implemented for the first time on 26/2/2014 upon six members of Hizb ut Tahrir in the city Dyurtyuli in Bashkiria. However 20 years in prison was not enough for the authorities, so they amended the Article on 05/05/2014, the first part of it states the penalty of life imprisonment, all these measures taken despite the fact that the reality of the party and its goals and actions have not changed. But the legislation has changed, despite the fact that in all cases there were no crime apparatuses, no place and no victims found. All of this took place in order to blame the Muslims. Thereby membership in Hizb ut Tahrir and the call to Islam does not need evidence. All of this is clear and it is not a secret to anyone.

As a result, there was a contradictory reality in 2014, as some members of the same party are still being tried under the previous Article 282.2, while others are already facing charges under Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code, which maintains a penalty of up to life imprisonment. In 24/07/2014 against the backdrop of the vast campaign, six party members were arrested in St. Petersburg, according to the first part of Article 205.5 (the harshest one) and which is already punishable with a lifetime imprisonment.

In the meantime, the situation is rapidly deteriorating; the accelerating wheel of repression is moving in unimaginable force. The authorities are already carrying out campaigns of wide arrests (as what happened at the beginning of the month of February in Bashkortostan, when they arrested more than 20 members in a single day, each and every one of them is threatened with a five year imprisonment).

It is worth mentioning that all the years of repression accompanied misleading fabrications regarding Hizb ut Tahrir; whether broadcasted directly in press centers from law enforcement agencies, or representatives of the security services among Muslims. The absence of law with regard to Hizb ut Tahrir has paved the way for the media to promote illusions and misleading propaganda; some of them are not aware of such explicit contradictions, and publish only what is receives from the security services,

Others do not dare to tell the truth, and therefore they support the regime's policies against Islam. In many cases, the media is spreading false information, and refuses to refer to the Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Russia. Accordingly, they have conjured up false information about the activities of the party, making law enforcement officials continue with their repression.

After the adoption of the new terrorism laws, the enforcement of the brutal unjust law is undertaken by the courts in various parts of Russia.

The evidence suggests that the new legislation and the decisions of the courts are in line with current federal Supreme Court's decision of 2003; terrorist laws started pursuing terrorist groups.

Below is a list of Muslims already sentenced or under investigation on charges of participating in the activities of Hizb ut Tahrir:

1. Norliqainov Rinat Ranivovic, born in 1991 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

2. Latypov Rustam Maratuvic, born in 1976 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

3. Qalayam Rustam Ravelovic, born in 1981 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

4. Sharipov Shamil Khajalithvashec, born in 1976 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

5. Khamzin Rustam Valerivic, born in 1977 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

6. Vakhitov Lennart Munirovic, born in 1983 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

7. Takirov Arick Recatovic, born in 1989 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

8. Maxotov Radamir Youssovic, born in 1984 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

9. Jamaladinov El Gazz Vaylovic, born in 1988 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

10. Vataatakhuv Rafael Raolivech, born in 1980 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

11. Vataatakhuv Ruslan Wakilovic, born in 1980 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

12. Yaakobov Oral Gayevolavicm, born in 1991 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

13. Mamaev Rinat Mazetovic, born in 1971 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

14. Kornev Alexander Valerivic, born in 1987 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

15. Fayzrkhmanov Danis Maratovic, born in 1987 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

16. Mostafaev Fareed Ramadanovic, born in 1987 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

17. Akhmidov Radek Modarisovich, born in 1976 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

18. Salimov Artur Raulvic, born in 1986 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

19. Gataulin Rishat Razetovic, born in 1972 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

20. Cayomov Azamat, born in 1985 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

21. Akhmidshin Vans Varretovic, born in 1962 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

22. Abdovasitov Abdovaris Abdovasitovic, born in 1969 (Moscow

23. Adiyev Azat Jalimazianovic, born in 1978 (Kazan - Tatarstan)

24. Asilov Ruslan Denisovic, born in 1986 (Dyurtyuli - Bashkortostan)

25. Ashurov Seidolajon Saidovic, born in 1978 (Moscow)

26. Bazareif Marat Tokmorzaivic, born in 1976 (Chelyabinsk - Chelyabinsk Oblast)

27. Babdjanov Nabijan Valedjounavic, born in 1981 (Moscow)

28. Valev Rochat Racedovic, born in 1983 (Chelyabinsk - Chelyabinsk Oblast)

29. Valeuf Albert Rasheeqovic, born in 1990 (Kazan - Tatarstan)

30. Jabdulin Rustum Alfredovic, born in 1992 (Dyurtyuli - Bashkortostan)

31. Jalimov Lennart Zejanshevic, born in 1982 (Kazan - Tatarstan)

32. Jalikhmanov Rustum Rafiatovic, born in 1990 (Dyurtyuli - Bashkortostan)

33. Jaleulen Rinat Fayzolavic, born in 1978 (Chelyabinsk region)

34. Jarivianov Idar Ralivovich, born in 1976 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

35. Davlechen Rozelle Reemovich, born in 1988 (Aznakayevo - Tatarstan)

36. Jakhbarov Sulaiman Alivevic, born in 1992 (Boinas - Dagestan)

37. Zaribov Radek Ramilovic, born in 1986 (Kazan - Tatarstan)

38. Ibrahimov Kareem AsKhatovic, born in 1963 (St. Petersburg)

39. Ivanov Raman Ginadevic, born in 1980 (St. Petersburg)

40. Aaibdelbayev Rinat Vadimovic, born in 1980 (Chelyabinsk region)

41. Aaimaev Aielmer Anasovic, born in 1951 (Kazan - Tatarstan)

42. Enamov Azizbek Julikovic, born in 1977 (Moscow)

43. Ismailov Shamil Majamidersolovic, born in 1973 (Moscow)

44. Kartashov Mohammed Musayivic, born in 1981 (Kizlyar, Dagestan)

45. Collageen Yafijeini Victoravich, born in 1981 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

46. Kurbanov Saybola Ghebraulovic, born in 1980 (Moscow)

47. Kutlearov Jazeem Javarrovic, born in 1959 (Dyurtyuli - Bashkortostan)

48. Mahamidov Jabur Ramadanovic, born in 1989 (St. Petersburg)

49. Mahamidov Habib Jamaldinovic, born in 1981 (Boinas - Dagestan)

50. Mirov Arevjon Jonbekovic, born in 1983 (Chelyabinsk - Chelyabinsk region)

51. Mukayudinov Mohammad Akaivic, born in 1987 (Boinas - Dagestan)

52. Nasirov Vadim Jayvolaivic, born in 1981 (Chelyabinsk - Chelyabinsk region)

53. Nikiforov Omar Valerivic, born in 1981 (Makhachkala - Dagestan)

54. Ramadanov shaml Madjdmidzagerovic, born in 1980 (Makhachkala - Dagestan)

55. Ramadanov Elder Vasilvevic, born in 1984 (St. Petersburg)

56. Rahmanhajayev Zikrolkhoun Fayzolavic, born in 1975 (Moscow)

57. Riziabov Polat Maksimovic, born in 1973 (Naberezhnye Chelny - Tatarstan)

58. Saidov Lennart Azatovic, born in 1987 (Aznakayevo - Tatarstan)

59. Salahov Al Qaz Aschatovic, born in 1975 (Dyurtyuli - Bashkortostan)

60. Salif Mohammadayn, born in 1992 (St. Petersburg)

61. Salimov Ach-Chat Maratuvic, born in 1987 (Dyurtyuli - Bashkortostan)

62. Sativ Rasim Radekovic, born in 1988 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

63. Safin Rustum Abdul Alhaivic, born in 1972 (Kazan - Tatarstan)

64. Senakiv Rustum, born in 1985 (Asha - Chelyabinsk region)

65. Suleymanov Shabi Mahmidovic, born in 1982 (Makhachkala - Dagestan)

66. Toshmatov Abdul Rahim, born in 1988 (Stavropol - Stavropol Territory)

67. Ozbekav Taimor Narimanovic, born in 1990 (Kazan - Tatarstan)

68. Vaizulin Idar Revovic, born in 1985 (Dyurtyuli - Bashkortostan)

69. Khaberov Salavat Baijytovic, born in 1982 (Chelyabinsk - Chelyabinsk region)

70. Hamdayev Alexi Alfretovic, born in 1982 (Ufa - Bashkortostan)

71. Hasanov Azat Damirovic, born in 1977 (Kazan - Tatarstan)

72. Hafizov Asjat Hasanovic, born in 1985 (Aznakayevo - Tatarstan)

73. Khaevronen Bavel Vladimirovich, born in 1986 (Kazan - Tatarstan)

74. Hassniaarov Shamil Varretovic, born in 1979 (Dyurtyuli - Bashkortostan)

75. Shaaimov Alfred Aadilliarovic, born in 1988 (Kazan - Tatarstan)

76. Shekhaldenov Eldar Hatimovic, born in 1975 (Kazan - Tatarstan)

77. Shamsadinov Rinat Jielmetdenovich, born in 1989 (Kazan - Tatarstan)

78. Shiralev Kazimjan, born in 1961 (St. Petersburg)

79. Yabmokov Sergei Nikolayevich, born in 1982 (St. Petersburg)

80. Ruslan Zimolayev, born in 1986 (Sevastopol - Crimea)

81. Rustum Vaitov, born in 1987 (Sevastopol - Crimea)

82. Nuri Barimov, born in 1977 (Sevastopol - Crimea)

It should be noted here that those who are in prison on charges of belonging to Hizb ut Tahrir are not all members of the party, some of whom are ordinary Muslims, so that the security services demonstrates to the people that anyone who approaches Hizb ut Tahrir could simply lose his freedom.

As for the Islamic and Muslims Situation in General Matters are as follows:

The Headscarf Ban in Schools and Universities

Wearing the Islamic dress was banned fully in schools after a long discussion on this topic. On February 11, 2015 the Russian Federal Supreme Court approved the ban on wearing the headscarf in schools, and has upheld the decision of the District Court of the Republic of Mordovia, which banned "wearing a headscarf - or any religious manifestations in schools," in May 2014 earlier. A similar ban was confirmed in Stavropol, Rostov, Ivanovo and Astrakhan regions.

On 9 July 2013, the Supreme Court in Russia approved the ban on wearing the headscarf in secondary schools in the Stavropol region, and on 15 January 2014, the government of Rostov region adopted a decree issued by the Ministry of Education in the region for the school uniform requirements. One of the points in the document is to ban visits of educational institutions in religious attire.

The governor of Ivanovo region, Mikhail, said, "As long as I am the governor of this region, this will never happen." Governor Alexander Jailkin said, "No discussion. From the first of September, there will be no unusual clothes in schools and educational institutions in this region. Convey this to the representatives of ethnic groups... this is definite and it is not a subject of discussion and those who have a different opinion, there are many other options."

The ban on Muslim women wearing the headscarf, which in Islam is a requirement for women to wear, is contrary to the Constitution of Russia, especially Article 28, which states "Everyone will be guaranteed the freedom of opinion and freedom of religion, including conversion of religion or atheism as individuals or groups and to follow a belief or not to follow any belief and the propagation of the belief and other and acting according to the belief."

Wearing the headscarf is allowed in Chechnya, Dagestan and Tatarstan, i.e. in the Muslim areas where clothing is the Islamic tradition. In areas where Muslims constitute a minority, the headscarf is banned in schools. The authorities want to kill the culture and thus prevent the call to Islam through putting the "Islamic Republics" under siege.

If the secondary educational institutions (schools) were to prohibit the headscarf by law, it would be banned in universities internally according to the law of the University. Similar incidents occurred at least twice in 2014 in the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, and I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, only because of the community's broad resistance and the Muslim representatives' active role allowed the heads of universities to permit the headscarf.

The Problem of Building Mosques

In many non-Muslim areas of the country, there is an unofficial ban on the building of mosques. Often Muslims face many obstacles along their way in building a mosque for the first time on land which has none, for example, mosques in Kaliningrad area, Vladivostok, Pyatigorsk, Soraski, and in other areas to obtain a license to build a mosque which requires a contract.

After collecting the necessary paperwork, officials delay the matter by putting many administrative obstacles. Moreover, there is the problem of closing down the existing mosques, and there many such cases. At the same time, such a problem does not exist in the "Islamic Republics", and this indicates that the authorities are struggling to prevent the construction of mosques outside the Muslim areas.

The Islamic Culture

Different courts in Russia ruled to ban a large number of the fundamental Islamic books, for example, the list of banned literature includes: "Riyadh As-Saliheen", "Fortress of the Muslim", "The Forty Nawawi", "Volumes of Sahih Bukhari", "The Seerah of Ibn Hisham", and others.

The authorities did not succeed in banning the valued Islamic heritage after it noticed the negative reaction by Muslims, they even prohibited the most renowned translation of the meaning of the texts of the Qur'an in the Russian language, describing it as extremist, and this is considered banning of the Qur'an itself.

On 17 September 2013, the Criminal Court upheld the decision of the Prosecutor in Novorossiysk that the book by Almira Guliyev's Transliteration of the Holy Qur'an in the Russian language is an extremist book.

It was only after Muslims organized pickets protesting against the ban of their fundamental Book that the ban was lifted in December 2013, and it should be noted here the role of Hizb ut Tahrir in Russia, where the members of the party were the first to organize public campaigns for the defense of the Qur'an; which lead many of them to be imprisoned with long prison sentences.

Islamic Organizations

Russia banned all Islamic organizations, even those far from violence and are non-political, such as the Tablighi Jamaat and Nourgolar group. In April 2008, the Supreme Court considered the Nourgolar group an extremist organization.

In 2009 the Supreme Court of Russia announced the ban on the Tablighi Jamaat and considered it a banned global association on Russian territory and in accordance to the official website of the Federal Prosecutor, the court found that "the structural units of Tablighi Jamaat's activities threaten the ethnic and religious stability in Russian society and the unity of the Russian Federation territory".

Consequently, the members of these groups are being continually harassed and imprisoned, according to Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code (the establishment of an extremist organization). From all this it is clear that Russia sees Islam as a threat, and therefore they are trying to eliminate anything that revives Islam amongst the 20 million Russian Muslims.

Main Conclusions:

All measures taken against members of Hizb ut Tahrir are baseless and are politically motivated, and have nothing to do with the party's activities.

Russia is implementing a declared domestic policy hostile to Islam. The harassment against members of Hizb ut Tahrir is due to them being the vanguard of the revival and for being the reason in the emergence of political awareness among Russian Muslims.

Due to the fact that the Russian authorities do not plan to change its position towards Islam and towards Hizb ut Tahrir, the only thing that can be done today with respect to injustice is an attempt to influence public opinion, but this is impossible if the Russian media is not objective in their coverage of the events, and does not stop its anti-Islam policy.

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