CrimeaSOS: Crimea is in the third place in terms of the scale of persecution by russia for “belonging” to Hizb ut-Tahrir  

Crimea is in third place in terms of the scale of persecution of “supporters” of this group in the territories controlled by the russian federation. CrimeaSOS analyst Yevhenii Yaroshenko told “Suspilne Crimea” about this in the issue of the series “Religion under control”. 

“None of the defendants were found with weapons or explosive devices that could be linked to terrorism or violent seizure of power. The only evidence was the literature planted during the searches. Moreover, this literature was often thrown into shoe cabinets, kitchen cupboards for pots, and cupboards with children’s things. As far as I know, Muslims never keep sacred literature in such places”, –Yevhenii Yaroshenko says.  

According to the decision of the Supreme Court of the russian federation, the Hizb ut-Tahrir was recognized as a terrorist group back in 2003. Since russia has been illegally applying its legislation in the occupied Crimea since 2014, this group was considered prohibited on its territory as well. However, it is interesting that in this decision of the russian court there is no proper justification why this organization is specifically a terrorist organization.  

The number of residents of Crimea, whom the occupation authorities accuse of involvement in the above-mentioned organization, exceeds a hundred. Except two persons, all those involved in the “Hizb ut-Tahrir cases” are Crimean Tatars, says Yevhenii. The analyst outlines such cases as a tool for the persecution of Crimean Tatars and disloyal Muslim communities, as well as a tool for combating public activism on the peninsula.  

We would like to remind you that since the occupation of Crimea, 117 citizens of Ukraine have been prosecuted for alleged involvement in Hizb ut-Tahrir 111 of them are still being persecuted: 107 people are in penitentiary institutions, 4 are under house arrest, and 84 have received illegal convictions. Five have already served illegal prison terms.