Russian authorities continue their crackdown on Hizb ut-Tahrir in Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. News sources today published details of the arrest of 2 more brothers involved in Hizb ut-Tahrir’s work in the Crimean peninsula, further to the dozens that have been arrested in the last couple of years and the 4 that were arrested in February.
As ever, Russia relies on designating Hizb ut-Tahrir as as “terrorist” organisation in order to justify arrests of its members. Outright fabrications of evidence, and reliance on “books found” in members’ possession, are used as the “trigger” justifying arrest. We ask Allah (swt) to make it easy for our brothers and sisters regularly arrested by Russia and for Him to grant them sabr and strength.
Two Hizb ut-Tahrir followers detained in Crimea — prosecutor general
Two followers of the Hizb ut-Tahrir terrorist organization have been detained in Crimea, the republic’s Prosecutor General Natalia Poklonskaya told TASS on Monday.
“A criminal case has been opened against two residents of Yalta over involvement in the activities of the organization recognized as terrorist under Russian law (Part 2 Article 205.5). These persons have been detained as part of the investigation of this criminal case. Investigative actions to collect evidence with regard to these persons are carried out,” Poklonskaya said.
She noted that the Hizb ut-Tahrir cell had existed in Crimea for many years. “It is a local cell that has existed and was allowed since the time of Ukraine,” she said.
In February 2016, officers of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) in Crimea and Sevastopol detained four members of the terrorist organization’s cell that operated in Yalta and Alushta. They are currently in custody, and a criminal case against them is investigated.
Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami (Islamic Party of Liberation) is an international religious and political organization founded in 1953 in Jerusalem whose aim is the elimination of non-Islamic governments and return of Muslims to the “true Islamic way of life.” In 2003, it was declared a terrorist organization by Russia’s Supreme Court and banned.
