Press Release
A New Killing of a Religious Activist in Stavrobl

(وَمَا نَقَمُوا مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا أَنْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيد)

“And they resented them not except because they believed in Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy” [Al-Buruj: 8]
(Translated)

On September 26th 2016, the Deputy Imam of Neftekumsk district of Stavrobl, Rafael Kaipalev, was killed on the highway between Budyonnovsk and Kara-Tube; the body of the religious activist was found next to his car which had clear signs of bullet shots.

Rafael, May Allah's mercy descend on him, was actively working in the field of defending the rights of Muslims after the emergence of the issue of the headscarf ban. To the extent that the media had described him as the informal leader of the fathers of the girls band from entering schools with headscarves. The Local Religious Body believes that the killing of Rafael Kaipalev is totally linked to his activity in the defense of the rights of Muslims and it confirms that he was often subjected to pressure by the security services.

Kaipalev, May Allah's mercy descend on him, is the seventh victim of Muslim activists in Stavrobl since 2012. On 20 August 2015 Zamirbek Mahmudov, Deputy Imam of Argakl village in the area of Neftekumsk was killed by unidentified men. On June 21st, 2014 was the murder of the activist Almaz Abdul Anazarov. On June 14, 2014 and after being summoned for an interview with intelligence officials, Zamir Taibov was found dead. On 30th December 2013, the dead body of the member of the Muslims’ Body by Abraham Norov. On 6th November 2013, the Deputy Imam of the village of Kangol, Mansour Hajighesf, died in the security services’ prison. On February 13th, 2012 the Deputy Mufti of Stavrobl, Korman Ismailov was killed in the bombing of his car.

The identity of the perpetrators of these crimes were not disclosed, which confirms the Muslim view that the security services are behind these assassinations.

The world has changed, and turned upside down, and people stopped following Allah’s Laws, materialism became the criteria for action. The big spending on security forces has led to what seems to transform the fear of Islam by rulers to a sacred trade. The security services carries out what is required by the government in their struggle against the spread of Islam, so its role became to pursue Muslims to show their fundamentalist’s “threat” and justify the financial support it receives.

Our heartfelt condolences goes to the family and relatives of the slain Rafael Kaipalev, may Allah's Mercy descend on him. We ask Allah (swt) to remove his sins and increase his reward, and to take revenge of everyone who is involved in his murder.

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir
in Russia