‘Memorial’ human rights centre recognizes four Crimean Tatars as political prisoners
The “Memorial” Russian human rights center has recognized the Crimean Muslims, who are accused of terrorism by the Russian authorities because of their involvement in the activity of the “Hizb ut-Tahrir” organization, as the political prisoners. Hizb ut-Tahrir is considered to be terrorist organization in Russia.
“The ‘Memorial’ Russian human rights center considers four men, who were the first to be arrested in Crimea within the case of ‘Hizb ut-Tahrir’, Ruslana Zeytulaev, Ferat Sayfulaev, Rustem Vaitov and Nuri Primov, to be the political prisoners” Radio Liberty quotes the statement by “Memorial” center.
The human rights activists point to the lack of evidence “of commission or preparation of terrorist attacks by the participants in this organization anywhere in the world.” The activities of the “Hizb ut-Tahrir” organization are not banned in the Western Europe and the North America with the exception of the administrative restrictions on its activities in Germany.
“Defendants in the case are not accused of anything, except for belonging to Hizb ut-Tahrir, reading Islamic literature, communicating. There is no evidence that the defendants pose a danger to society,” the Memorial activists stressed.
In addition, the human rights activists note that Crimea is the occupied territory, so, under the international law, Russia cannot “completely abolish the penal law, which was effective at the time of the occupation, and replace it with its own.” Hizb ut-Tahrir is a legal organization within the framework of the Ukrainian legislation.
Ruslana Zeytulaev is accused of organizing the activity of the terrorist organization. He faces life imprisonment. The others are accused of involvement in the activity of the terrorist organization and may be sentenced to up to ten years in prison.
A total of 14 people were arrested within this case in the Russian-annexed Crimea. The case is being considered in the North-Caucasus Military District Court of Russia.
