Four people have been detained on October 2 on suspicion of setting up the Crimean cell of the Tablighi Jamaat movement, which is banned in Russia, and involvement in its activities.
“All of the detained are Crimean Tartars: the oldest was born in 1953, two in 1969, and another younger one. My principal, R.R. Suleimanov, born 1969, is suspected of having organized an extremist organization (Criminal Code Article 282 part one),” one of the suspects’ lawyer Edem Semedlyayev told Interfax.
The court has yet to select a restraining measure for them. It is expected to do so either on October 3 or October 4.
Two of the suspects are residents of Molodyozhnoye village, just outside Simferopol; one is from Simferopol; and one from the Belogorsk district of Crimea.
“(During searches) my (principal) had two books and two brochures seized,” Semedlyayev said.
It was reported earlier that the activity of members of the Tablighi Jamaat international extremist religious organization (banned in Russia) had been stopped in Crimea, the Crimean department of the Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement.
“The investigative division of the FSB department has opened a criminal case against the organization’s leaders and members [on charges of organization of extremist activity],” the statement said.
The Jamaat Tabligh religious movement was founded in India in 1926 by Muhammad Ilyas. Opponents see it as an international closed organization that coordinates radical Sunni extremists.
