Press Release
An Appeal to People All Over the World For the Purpose of Exposing the Atrocities Against Muslims in Russia.

Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami is a political party, whose ideology is Islam. This party works in Russia. It appeals to Islam, spreading its ideas of Islam by means of discussions in society and it does it exclusively amicably. It is demanded by Islam. Allah (swt) says in the Quran:

(لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ)

"There is no compulsion in religion" (2:256)

However the unprecedented cruelty of people in rebellion against peaceful followers of Islam. Bashkortostan, the regions of Russia, undoubtedly is in the lead in these oppressions. Last decade Region Authorities organized the mass campaign of persecution against Muslims. Their actions began in 2004, after an official prohibition of this party, whose supporters were subjected to extreme cruelty and lawlessness by the Intelligence Agencies.

We are members of Hizb ut-Tahrir and we want to bring the attention of the whole world to the crimes committed against people who desire to live according to their religion. They only say: "My Lord is Allah and my religion is Islam."

For the past seven years, Russian authorities in Moscow have turned a blind eye to the violations of the security officials in Bashkortostan. It suits them fine when people are tortured and killed for their beliefs on life. The Kremlin plans to plant fear in any dissenter throughout the country. But their efforts are in vain because we will continue to call for Islam and we understand what awaits us along this path.

There is not a single reason for these oppressions. Officially there was not any trial but these Muslims were smeared in mass-media.

Muslims simply are hated, openly and without restraint.

The facts of these oppressions are described below. We will describe one instance of the Russian Federation in Bashkortostan. However this situation is similar throughout the country, towards both Muslims as a whole and to members of Hizb ut-Tahrir in particular.

Firstly we will describe the latest crime against six Muslims, arrested on October 21, 2011 in Sibaj. Several violations were incurred when their homes were searched. The detained men were cruelly tortured during 12 hours: they were beaten on their hands and legs, they were blindfolded. The officers covered their heads with bags who then bashed their heads using polypropylene pipe, and stifled them with gas masks. The officers stripped them of their trousers and then severely beat their buttocks. The Russian officers threatened the six detainees with rape. They beat them with iron crowbars and then shoved them into their mouths. They were handcuffed for 8 hours, without loosening. The officers ripped out and burned their beards and continued with similar brutalities. The officers fractured 4 ribs of one of the Muslims. Criminal proceedings were filed under the articles №282.1 and № 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. This crime became the most infamous case against Islam from the past seven years.

After the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation passed its unjust judgment on 14 February 2003 in which Hizb ut-Tahrir, an Islamic political party, was recognized as a terrorist group, the Intelligence Agencies began inhuman repressions towards Muslims. The Federal Security Service and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of The Republic of Bashkortostan violate human rights and all standards of international law. The Investigation Agencies and the judges, who are also a part of the lawlessness, pass deliberate guilty verdicts in spite of all facts specifying the trumped-up charges.

In December 2004, as a result of the Supreme Court's verdict that officially declared Hizb ut-Tahrir a terrorist organization; the Federal Security Service, unprecedented in its cruelty, raided towns in Bashkortostan. Homes were forcibly searched. Weapons and ammunition were planted in Muslims' houses. Muslims were tortured until they confessed their participation in terrorist activity. Intelligence Agencies' officers came to the prisons and cruelly beat the prisoners. On August 4, 2005, the Supreme Court sentenced the following 9 persons:

1. Alibayev Marsel Uralovitch, born in 1974: 8 years of high security.
2. Ahmetsafin Musa Sharifoviсh, born in 1977: 7 years and 6 months of high security.
3. Gabdrahmanov Rinat Rifovich, born in 1968: 8 years and 6 months of high security.
4. Gayanov Bulat Marsovich, born in 1972: 7 years and 6 months high security.
5. Gayanov Salavat Marsovich, born in 1976: 5 years of high security.
6. Gayanov Mars Gabdullovich, born in 1951: 4 years and 6 months of conditional sentence.
7. Gumerov Ilgiz Railjevich, born in 1978: 3 years and 6 months of general regime.
8. Ryadinskiy Vitaliy Nikolaevich, born in 1976: 8 years of high security.
9. Saveljev Evgeniy Anatoljevich, born in 1984: 4 years and 6 months of general regime.

The representative of Civil Assistance Committee and Memorial, the Human Rights Society, said, "Criminal prosecution in connection with participation to Hizb ut-Tahrir, including nine persons who were sentenced yesterday, is persecution based on ideological motives. The pronouncement of Kasjyanov A.A., who is a chief of department of priority cases of public prosecution office in the Republic of Bashkortostan, is confirmation of this. As it was stated in the presence of one of the wives of the prisoners: "Nobody says that they are terrorists, but we have the judgment of the Supreme Court..."

To our knowledge, as to charges regarding possession of a weapon and explosive, they were planted on Alibaev and Gabdrahmanov. The weapon also was planted during searches on Ryadinskiy and the brothers Gayanov's houses, but the men were not charged under article 222 of Criminal Code of the Russia Federation. It indirectly confirms a version of the defense about case fabrication under this article in relation to Alibayev and Gabdrahmanov. The circumstances of the appearance of ammunition in Gumerov's house allow assumption of provocation elements".

These human rights organizations also have information that law enforcement officers violated several laws from the time of detention and throughout the entire preliminary investigation. The charges included involvement in an illegal organization and conspiring with a criminal community was accompanied with acts of tortures and psychological pressure including insults of the accused religious beliefs.

On 14 February 2003, The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation passed the proscription of 15 Muslim organizations as terroristic in a closed session without representation of any of these organizations. The decision of the Court was not published. The imams of mosques were not briefed with the text of judgment, so they could not explain it to their parishioners, i.e. to the affected people whose interests are at risk.

Memorial, a Human Rights Society, received the official text of the decision only in July, 2005, after two years the decision went into effect. Memorial received it only after several requests from Gannushkina S.A., a member of Council under Russia's President on Civil Society Institutions and Human Rights, to Lebedev V.M, the President of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation. The first inquiry was directed by Gannushkina S.A. to Lebedev V.M. in July, 2004. But it was ignored.

Thus, the document, limiting the rights and freedom of citizen, appeared classified what is forbidden by the Russian Federation legislation.

Even after completing their sentences, Muslims are not finished; they are still oppressed by the prison administration.

After the trials against the Intelligence Agencies, they lessened their harassment towards Muslims. However in April, 2008 they renewed persecutions of Muslims in Bashkortostan with new force, with tortures and formal judicial trial. Since April, 2008 there was a new wave of repressions through the towns of Bashkortostan.

More than 30 Muslims were arrested on April, 4th. Twenty-two of the Muslims' houses were searched by Intelligence agencies.

In 2004, they planted weapons to imprison Muslims, but now it is enough to find Islamic literature. The result is that six citizens from Ufa were accused in participation to Hizb ut-Tahrir activity. They were sentenced to imprisonment. They are:

1. Shakirov Albert Zakievich, born in 1966
2. Lukmanov Azat Razifovich, born in 1975
3. Minnibaev Tagir Fanisovich, born in 1981
4. Shamil Sharipov, born in 1977
5. Rustam Latypov, born in 1976
6. Ajrat Ahmetshin, born in 1977

Then citizens from Bajmak and Sibaj were also arrested and imprisoned:

1. Ajnur Sagadeev, born 1982
2. Ajnur Bajsuakov, born in 1979
3. Alexey Putintsev, born in 1976

Muslims from Meleuz region were also arrested:

1. Rustam Rahmatullin, born in 1984
2. Marat Ismagilov, born in 1982

Citizens from Davlekanovo were also imprisoned.

All the arrests were accompanied by beating accused in order to receive "necessary" testimonies for investigation.

The arrests were continued in 2009 in Djurtjuli and in Ufa, there were about twenty detentions that included severe violations of human rights. On September 22, six men were sentenced.

1. Rustam Latypov, born in 1976
2. Shakirov Albert Zakievich, born in 1966
3. Lukmanov Azat Razifovich, born in 1975
4. Ildar Muhametdinov, born in 1975
5. Shamil Husnijarov, born in 1982
6. Ilgiz Salahov, born in 1975

In 2010, similar trouble for Muslims occurred in Tuimazy, Meleuz and Mrakovo where criminal cases and imprisonment were also evident.

The year 2011 became the peak of lawlessness of the Intelligence Agencies in Bashkortostan. On March 17, armed forces in shoulder boards burst into the flat where believers gathered for tea. All of the men were taken to the local police precinct. The repression of the Intelligence Agencies became intolerable and on March 25th, 2011, Muslims organized a peaceful approved protest in attempt to stand up for their rights. But the Republic Authorities unleashed the Intelligence Agencies against the Muslims instead of trying to understand the reason for the protest.

On April 6, officers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and FSC arrested tens of people who participated in the protests and subjected to brutal torture. Сriminal proceedings under article 282.2 were instituted against eight persons. Among them are:

1. Shamil Galimov, born in 1980
2. Rustem Galljamov, born in 1984
3. Michae lToptygin, born in 1983
4. Ildar Ibragimov, born in 1975
5. Ruslan Zajnullin, born in 1991
6. Ajrat Ahmetshin, born in 1977
7. Mansur Sharipov, born in 1988
8. Alexey Hamadeev, born in 1981

The Muslim population includes horrible accounts of brutal torture and insults but end up in piles stashed in office drawers. The Muslims of Bashkortostan are defenseless against lawlessness of Intelligence agencies till this day. The officers are like bloodthirsty predators who worsen in their in their cruelty. They continue to oppress the Muslims and fabricate criminal cases against them. Furthermore, their hatred towards Muslims has extended to persecuting their pregnant wives. These women were also harassed by officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Bashkortostan:

1. Shakirova Lilija Ramilevna, born in1982, mother of 4 children
2. Mannapova Julia Kazihanovna, born in 1984, mother of 2 small children,
3. Minibaeva Elmira Junirovna, born in 1985, mother of 2 children

They are also accused of extremism.

The actions of the officers in power in Bashkortostan are like the actions of a furious animal because their cruelty and brutality aren't explainable. Sharipov Mansur Maratovich was brutally beaten in a pre-trial prison №1 on September 2011 in Ufa. Nobody was punished although the beating was confirmed by the Commission of Human Rights Defenders.

The geography of arrests extends every day. There are no cities where Muslims are protected by the law. The trial proceeds to Birsk, Salavat, Ufa; they are passed with gross violations of the legislation of the Russian Federation and international law. Three Muslims' houses were searched in mid-September in Sterlitamak where Hizb ut-Tahrir books were found. A criminal case was filed against them.

On October 8, 2011 in Ufa, the armed FSC officers burst into the flat where four Muslims lived and conducted a search. Arrested persons were taken away to "rooms of torture" located on Krupskaya St. 19, a building of FSC administration. In Bashkortostan tens of Hizb ut-Tahrir members went through the similar "rooms" during the years of ban of Hizb ut-Tahrir activity.

O People! You are capable of distinguishing good from evil! You are capable of questioning Russia of its actions! Who gave them the right to wreak havoc on the people! Who gave him a right to abduct, beat, arrest people only because of their beliefs?

Allah (swt) says in the Quran:

(مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ رِجَالٌ صَدَقُوا مَا عَاهَدُوا اللَّهَ عَلَيْهِ فَمِنْهُم مَّن قَضَى نَحْبَهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَنتَظِرُ وَمَا بَدَّلُوا تَبْدِيلاً )

"Among the Believers are men who have been true to their covenant with God: of them some have completed their vow (to the extreme), and some (still) wait: but they have never changed (their determination) in the least". (33:23)

The Spokesman of Media Office
Hizb ut-Tahrir Russia
Usman Salihov