After the occupation of Crimea, the Russian Federation actively practices religious persecution on the peninsula. According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, 101 people are being prosecuted in the Hizb ut-Tahrir case, 98 of them are representatives of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people. 73 of them are serving sentences in Russian prisons and colonies, and 24 are in pre-trial detention, 2 are under house arrest, 3 have been released.
On February 14, 2003, the Supreme Tribunal of the Russian Federation, having considered in a closed court session a civil case at the request of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation, recognized 15 Islamic organizations as terrorist, including Hizb ut-Tahrir, and banned their activities on the territory of the Russian Federation. The reasoning part of the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation 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: publicity and equality of arms.
The accusations in these so-called 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 forbidden Islamic literature found during the searches, FSB intelligence and audio recordings, which 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.
Such a 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 misuses 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 repressions against the defendants in the Hizb ut-Tahrir case, increasing the sentences to 19 years in prison, appointing the first years of serving in prisons, putting political prisoners on professional records.
From the point of view of Hizb ut-Tahrir, none of the countries of the Western world, including Russia, meets the criteria for where a caliphate can arise. Moreover, the organization notes its rejection of terrorist methods in its activities, and in the 75 years of its existence not a single terrorist attack or armed violence has been organized.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center demands the annulment of all sentences against 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 in order to stop political persecution in Crimea, as well as to impose personal sanctions against those responsible for human rights violations in the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea.
During the entire occupation of the peninsula, 16 waves of detentions of Crimean Tatars were carried out, involved in the so-called Hizb ut-Tahrir case:
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
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
Fourth Bakhchisarai Hizb ut-Tahrir case – 2020
The Hizb ut-Tahrir case of February 17, 2021
Second Sevastopol Hizb ut-Tahrir case – 2021
Third Sevastopol Hizb ut-Tahrir case – 2022
Dzhankoi Hizb ut-Tahrir case – 2022
Second Dzhankoi Hizb ut-Tahrir case – 2023
Among the defendants in these so-called cases there are already those who have served their sentences and are in colonies / prisons and pre-trial detention centers.
In colonies/prisons:
Ruslan Zeytullaev
Enver Bekirov
Muslim Aliev
Emir Husein Kuku
Vadim Siruk
Refat Alimov
Arsen Dzhepparov
Enver Mamutov
Zevri Abseitov
Remzi Memetov
Rustem Abiltarov
Teymur Abdullaev
Rustem Ismailov
Uzeir Abdullaev
Ayder Saledinov
Emil Dzhemadenov
Marlen Asanov
Memet Belyalov
Timur Ibragimov
Seyran Saliiev
Server Mustafaev
Server Zekiryaev
Edem Smailov
Rustem Emiruseinov
Arsen Abkhairov
Eskender Abdulganiev
Tofig Abdulgaziev
Izzet Abdullaev
Vladlen Abdulkadyrov
Mezhit Abdurakhmanov
Bilyal Adilov
Farhod Bazarov
Akim Bekirov
Remzi Bekirov
Riza Izetov
Seytveli Seytabdiev
Shaban Umerov
Asan Yanikov
Raim Ayvazov
Enver Omerov
Riza Omerov
Ayder Dzhepparov
Eldar Kantimirov
Ruslan Nagaev
Eskender Suleymanov
Ruslan Mesutov
Lenur Khalilov
Seytumer Seytumerov
Amet Suleymanov
Rustem Seitmemetov
Osman Seytumerov
Vadim Bektemirov
Zekirya Muratov
Emil Ziyadinov
Timur Yalkabov
Raif Fevziev
Alim Karimov
Seyran Murtaza
Erfan Osmanov
Servet Gaziev
Jemil Gafarov
Ernes Ametov
Marlen Mustafayev
Enver Ametov
Osman Arifmemetov
Yashar Muedinov
Ruslan Suleymanov
Rustem Sheykhaliev
Yashar Shikhametov
Azamat Eyupov
Ismet Ibragimov
Ernest Ibragimov
Oleg Fedorov
In jail:
Rustem Seytkhalilov
Alim Sufianov
Seyran Khairetdynov
Lenur Seydametov
Timur Yalkabov
Dzhebbar Bekirov
Zavur Abdullaiev
Rustem Murasov
Rustem Tairov
Ansar Osmanov
Ametkhan Abdulvapov
Ernest Seitosmanov
Enver Krosh
Vilen Temeryanov
Murat Mustafayev
Edem Bekirov
Rinat Aliev
Ekrem Krosh
Ayder Asanov
Refat Seydametov
Osman Abdurazakov
Leman Zekiryaev
Khalil Mambetov
Under house arrest:
Alexander Sizikov
Seityaga Abbozov
Dismissed, but have restrictions:
Rustem Vaitov
Nuri Primov
Ferat Sayfullaev
Acquitted and then re-arrested:
Ernes Ametov
We remind you that Hizb ut-Tahrir – the Party of Liberation – declares itself as an international Islamic political party, the purpose of which is to restore the Islamic way of life by creating a global Islamic theocratic state (Caliphate). The organization was established in the early 1950s in the Middle East, and currently its activities are carried out in at least 58 countries of the world, including Ukraine.