Press Release
Mass Searches and Arrests in Tatarstan

On 15 October 2014, the Vakhitov District Court in Kazan arrested eight Muslims on suspicion of belonging to the activity of Hizb ut Tahrir party. A day earlier AFSS (Administration of the Federal Security Service) RF in RT reported that along with MIA (Ministry of Internal Affairs) led a series of searches in the Muslims' houses of Tatarstan. The goal of such wide-scale actions was the members of the international Islamic political party Hizb ut Tahrir, who have been undergoing repressions for already more than 10 years.

The eight members of the party have been arrested:

1. Azat Adiev, born in 1978

2. Asgat Khafizov, born in 1985

3. Al'bert Valiullin, born in 1974

4. Ruzil' Davletshin, born in 1988

5. Lenar Saitov, born in 1987

6. Timur Uzbekov, born in 1990

7. Radik Zaripov, born in 1986

8. Pavel Khevronin, born in 1986

Each of the detainees has in his care minor children, and is known as well-to-do Muslims among the population of the republic. For example, the arrested Azat Adiev is the famous singer of nashids, ex-soloist of the famous Tatar group "Kazan Egetlyare" ("Kazan Boys") and is well known not only in Tatarstan, but also along the republic border. Therefore no falsified accusations in terrorism can convince people that these Muslims are terrorists.

All the arrested are incriminated in the crime under Part 2 Art. 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activity of a terrorist organization). Under a "terrorist organization" in this case, they imply the Islamic political party Hizb ut Tahrir. We want to remind that from 2014 the Russian authorities have decided to qualify the membership in Hizb ut Tahrir as terrorism, applying the corresponding article of the criminal code.

The only "crime" of the arrested Muslims - their belief that Islam is merely the right system of society and state arrangement. And as a result of these beliefs, all of them are the members of the Islamic political party. Hizb ut Tahrir to be recognized as terrorist by the Supreme Court of Russia in 2003 was groundless and this criminal decision today is an incident for fabrication of criminal cases against those who want to live according to their religion.

Unfortunately, the media once again spread false press releases of the special services and did not bother to check them against the reality. We have repeatedly asserted the denial of all allegations; and will not repeat, but will add that these lies are on the conscience of those who distribute them. And let us not forget about the objectivity... Journalists know of their involvement in the sufferings of the mothers, wives and children of any innocent Muslims, repressed exclusively under persecution for their religious and political beliefs. We confirm that the plans of Muslims' antipathy for their desire to follow their religion are clearly unrealizable. Moreover, the murders and arrests of the believers, bans on hijab and Islamic literature will only strengthen and unify a multimillion Muslim community in Russia, and the government will realize that as the fighters against Islam.

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Russia