After the occupation of Crimea, the Russian Federation actively practices religious persecution on the peninsula. According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, 107 people are being persecuted in the Hizb ut-Tahrir case, 104 of them are representatives of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people. 84 of them are serving their sentences in Russian prisons and colonies, and 19 are in pre-trial detention centers, 1 is under house arrest, 3 have been released.
On February 14, 2003, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, having considered a civil case in a closed court session at the request of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation, recognized 15 Islamic organizations, including Hizb ut-Tahrir, as terrorist and banned their activities on the territory of the Russian Federation. The reasoning part of the decision of the RF Supreme Court does not contain any data on the terrorist activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir in accordance with the definition of terrorism. This decision was made in violation of the basic principles of a fair trial: transparency and equality.
The charges in these cases are based on the testimony of hidden witnesses and the conclusions of experts actively cooperating with the FSB of the Russian Federation. The only evidence is prohibited Islamic literature found during searches, operational data from the FSB and audio recordings that allegedly recorded that the convicts were discussing religious and political topics. The activists are accused of involvement in activities banned in the Russian Federation by the Hizb ut-Tahrir organization, which has no restrictions on its activities in most countries of the world.
This policy of the Russian Federation is a demonstration of the fight against dissent, as well as the religious and political beliefs of people in the occupied Crimea.
The Russian Federation is unlawfully using its legislation for political purposes, in particular to suppress the non-violent struggle of the Crimean Tatars and their protest against the occupation of Crimea. Moreover, the occupiers are intensifying repression against those involved in the Hizb ut-Tahrir case, increasing sentences to 19 years in prison, imposing the first years of serving in prisons, and putting political prisoners on the hook for professional punishment.
From the point of view of Hizb ut-Tahrir, currently not a single country in the Western world, including Russia, meets the criteria where a Caliphate could arise. Moreover, the organization notes its non-acceptance of terrorist methods in its activities, and over the 75 years of its existence not a single terrorist attack or armed violence has been organized.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center demands the cancellation of all sentences of those involved in the Hizb ut-Tahrir case and the immediate release of other political prisoners.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center calls on the international community to increase pressure on the Russian Federation to stop political persecution in Crimea, as well as to introduce personal sanctions against those responsible for human rights violations in the territory of temporarily occupied Crimea.
During the entire period of occupation of the peninsula, 17 waves of detentions of Crimean Tatars involved in the so-called Hizb ut-Tahrir case were carried out:
— Sevastopol Hizb ut-Tahrir case — 2015
— Yalta Hizb ut-Tahrir case — 2016
— Bakhchysarai Hizb ut-Tahrir case — 2016
— Simferopol Hizb ut-Tahrir case — 2016
— The second Bakhchysarai Hizb ut-Tahrir case — 2017
— Krasnohvardiiske Hizb ut-Tahrir case — 2019
— The second Simferopol Hizb ut-Tahrir case — 2019
— Bilohirsk Hizb ut-Tahrir case — 2019
— Alushta Hizb ut-Tahrir case — 2019
— The third Bakhchysarai Hizb ut-Tahrir case — 2020
— The fourth Bakhchysarai Hizb ut-Tahrir case — 2020
— The Case of Hizb ut-Tahrir from February 17, 2021
— The second Sevastopol Hizb ut-Tahrir case — 2021
— The third Sevastopol Hizb ut-Tahrir case – 2022
— Dzhankoi Hizb ut-Tahrir case — 2022
— Second Dzhankoi Hizb ut-Tahrir case — 2023
— The fifth Bakhchysarai Hizb ut-Tahrir case — 2023
Among the defendants in these cases there are already those who have served their sentences and those who are in colonies/prisons and pre-trial detention centers.
In colonies/prisons:
— Ruslan Zeitullaev
— Enver Bekirov
— Muslim Aliev
— Emir-Huseyn Kuku
— Vadym Siruk
— Refat Alimov
— Enver Mamutov
— Zevri Abseitov
— Remzi Memetov
— Rustem Abiltarov
— Teymur Abdullaev
— Rustem Ismailov
— Uzeir Abdullaev
— Aider Saledinov
— Emil Dzhemadenov
— Marlen Asanov
— Memet Belyalov
— Timur Ibrahimov
— Seyran Saliiev
— Server Mustafayev
— Server Zakiryaev
— Edem Smailov
— Rustem Emiruseinov
— Arsen Abkhairov
— Eskender Abdulganiev
— Tofik Abdulgaziev
— Izzet Abdullaev
— Vladlen Abdulkadyrov
— Medzhit Abdurakhmanov
— Belyal Adilov
— Farkhod Bazarov
— Akim Bekirov
— Remzi Bekirov
— Riza Izetov
— Seytveli Seytabdiev
— Shaban Umerov
— Asan Yanikov
— Raim Ayvazov
— Enver Omerov
— Riza Omerov
— Aider Dzhepparov
— Eldar Kantimirov
— Ruslan Nagaev
— Eskender Suleymanov
— Ruslan Mesutov
— Lenur Khalilov
— Seytumer Seytumerov
— Amet Suleymanov
— Rustem Seitmemetov
— Osman Seitumerov
— Vadym Bektymyrov
— Zekirya Muratov
— Emil Ziyadynov
— Tymur Yalkabov
— Raif Fevziiev
— Alim Karimov
— Seyran Murtaza
— Erfan Osmanov
— Servet Gaziev
— Dzhemil Gafarov
— Ernest Ametov
— Marlen Mustafayev
— Enver Ametov
— Osman Arifmemetov
— Yashar Muedinov
— Ruslan Suleymanov
— Rustem Sheykhaliev
— Yashar Shikhametov
— Azamat Eyupov
— Ismet Ibrahimov
— Ernest Ibrahimov
— Oleh Fedorov
— Ansar Osmanov
— Dzhebbar Bekirov
— Zavur Abdullaev
— Rustem Murasov
— Rustem Tairov
— Alexandr Sizikov
— Alim Sufianov
— Seyran Khairetdinov
— Ernest Seitosmanov
— Murat Mustafaiev
— Ametkhan Abdulvapov
In pre-trial detention centers:
— Rustem Seitkhalilov
— Lenur Seidametov
— Tymur Yalkabov
— Enver Krosh
— Vilen Temerianov
— Edem Bekirov
— Rinat Aliev
— Ekrem Krosh
— Aider Asanov
— Refat Seidametov
— Osman Abdurazakov
— Leman Zekiriaiev
— Khalil Mambetov
— Ametkhan Umerov
— Seidamet Mustafayev
— Ruslan Asanov
— Abdulmedzhit Seitumerov
— Eldar Yakubov
— Remzi Nimetulaiev
Under house arrest:
— Seitiia Abbozov
Released, but have restrictions:
— Rustem Vaitov
— Nuri Primov
— Ferat Sayfulaev
— Arsen Dzhepparov
Acquitted and then re-arrested:
— Ernest Ametov
We remind you that Hizb ut-Tahrir – the Liberation Party – declares itself as an international Islamic political party whose goal is to restore the Islamic way of life by creating a worldwide Islamic theocratic state (Caliphate). The organization was created in the early 1950s in the Middle East, and currently its activities are carried out in at least 58 countries, including Ukraine.