Search at former Ingush Mufti reveals authorities' desire to prevent new protests

The searches and interrogations of Magomed Khashtyrov, the former Mufti of Ingushetia, and Imam Adam Maloroev have to do with the authorities' desire to minimize the chances of new protests, Zakrij Mamilov, an MP, has stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 30, law enforcers searched the household of Magomed Khashtyrov, a former acting Mufti and the head of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of Ingushetia, and took him and Imam Adam Maloroev to Vladikavkaz, where they were questioned about the protests against the agreement on the Ingush-Chechen border.

Searches and interrogations of members of the Muftiate (SAM) outside Ingushetia look like some "psychological treatment", an attempt to intimidate the clergymen, Zakrij Mamilov, an MP of the People's Assembly of Ingushetia (Parliament) told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"Law enforcers and those in power still have fresh memories of the autumn events of 2018, when the Muftiate in full force supported the protesters. It's possible that the verdicts [passed to protest leaders] – and, apparently, there will be no acquittals – will trigger a new a wave of people's discontent; there may be spontaneous rallies, solo pickets and demonstrations. Authorities are afraid of this; therefore, such preventive measures are being taken. Law enforcers' latest actions against the clergy are aimed at intimidate Imams and the Muftiate, and to make it clear that there are vacant cells for them in SIZOs (pre-trial prisons) of Nalchik and Vladikavkaz," Mr Mamilov has stated.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 2, 2020 at 10:01 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.