Crimean political prisoner Teymur Abdullaev has been placed in solitary confinement again in a strict regime colony in the Russian Federation. The reason was that he did not interrupt his prayers during a check by the guards. This was reported on Facebook by the political prisoner’s mother, Dilyara Abdullaeva, with reference to his lawyer.
According to her, the inspection was deliberately carried out during prayer, knowing that namaz cannot be interrupted. As a result, Teymur, along with other Muslim prisoners, was transferred to a concrete cell in the punishment cell under conditions of severe frost.
“They deliberately came in again with an inspection during prayer, knowing that namaz cannot be interrupted. Hence the punishment: they did not stand up, they did not show respect,” emphasized the political prisoner’s mother.
Abdullaev has been in solitary confinement since December 16. If he is not given a new punishment, he must be returned to his strict conditions cell by December 31.
Taking this period into account, Teymur Abdullaev’s total time in solitary confinement will exceed 1,035 days. In most cases, the prison administration does not explain the reasons for his placement in the detention center or the extension of his term of detention. Previously, the reason for the punishment was that he did not greet the prison warden during prayer.
During his imprisonment, Teymur Abdullaev’s health deteriorated significantly, namely: he got problems with blood pressure, vision, and kidneys. His family attributes this to his systematic detention in a punishment cell in inhumane conditions.
It should be recalled that on October 12, 2016, Russian security forces detained five representatives of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people—Uzeir Abdullaev, Teymur Abdullaev, Rustem Ismailov, Emil Dzhemadenov, and Aider Saledinov. They were accused of participating in the activities of the organization “Hizb ut-Tahrir,” which is banned in Russia, and charged under Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code (“organizing and participating in a terrorist organization”).
On June 18, 2019, the North Caucasus District Military Court of the Russian Federation handed down sentences to the defendants in the Simferopol “Hizb ut-Tahrir case.” Teymur Abdullaev was sentenced to 17 years in a strict regime colony with restriction of liberty for a term of 1 year and 6 months, Rustem Ismailov to 14 years, Uzeir Abdullaev to 13 years, and Ayder Saledinov and Emil Dzhemadenov to 12 years.
On December 24, 2019, the Supreme Court in Moscow reduced the prison terms of the defendants in the Simferopol “Hizb ut-Tahrir case” by 6 months.