Press Release
Attack on the House of Allah in Kazan

In Kazan, 16 January 2013, the police closed Al-Ikhlas Masjid. Since 7 a.m. considerable forces from the Ministry of Internal Affairs were drawn up to the mosque. There were about 10 buses and other special machinery by the mosque. Also there stood a loader and some dump trucks. About 100 police officers surrounded a mosque nearby area. 10 Muslims were arrested for allegedly disobeying the police.

We would remind you that the government on behalf of the Ministry of Land and Property Relations of Tatarstan have found a certain reason to close the mosque on the grounds that it was renovated, which is considered a violation of the lease premises contract. Moreover there was a large media campaign to discredit the mosque, its imams and its parishioners. Despite the fact that earlier the lease contract was extended until 2014, and the mentioned "violation" was not being noticed for 8 years, it is absolutely clear that the mosque was closed for the strong position of its imams and parishioners.

Just that very Al-Ikhlas Masjid refuses to follow the policy of Muftiyah to distort Islam for the sake of the power that's why they are trying to close it. It is this mosque and its worshippers that coordinated the defense of the Muslims during the unprecedented arrests this summer of 2012, when 600 Muslims were searched, arrested and tortured. During those days at the meetings, a solid word of truth was said in the face of the rulers and their despotism. Just that very Al-Ikhlas Masjid has been spending the holidays Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr for the last 2 years, restoring the Sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and Islamic values in society. Despite the machinations of the government and Islamophobia, Al-Ikhlas Masjid aims for the Ummah understand its true interests and concerns.

It should be said above all that Al-Ikhlas Masjid is a sincere call for Islam and its unconditional implementation, not just walls and a minaret. And this is the real reason of this fight against the mosque, as the mainstay of this appeal. However, the mainstay and foundation of the Islamic call is the clear thoughts and the true laws of Allah. They can not be shut down, arrested or taken in the cordon. Therefore the Islamic call will continue.

Tamim al-Darius narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:

"الدين النصيحة ، قلنا : لمن يا رسول الله ؟ قال : لله ، ولكتابه ، ولرسوله ، ولأئمة المسلمين وعامتهم"

"Religion is the manifestation of sincerity. We asked, "To whom?" He said, "In relation to Allah, and His book, and His Messenger, and to the rulers of the Muslims, and to all Muslims in general." [Narrated by Muslim, 82].

The Media Office of
Hizb ut Tahrir in Russia