﴿وَمَا نَقَمُوا مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا أَنْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ﴾

“And they resented them not except because they believed in Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy.” [85:8]

News:

At December 24^th 2018 North Caucasus district military court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced four Crimean Tatars from so called “Hizb ut-Tahrir case” – Enver Mamutov, Remzi Memetov, Rustem Abiltarov and Zevri Abseitov.  Enver Mamutov was sentenced to 17 years, and three others to 9 years in high security prison. (Source:art.ua)

Comment:

This is the second time when Crimean Muslims were sentenced to prison for being accused in involvement in Hizb ut Tahrir. In 2016-2017, four other Muslims were sentenced for 9-15 years.

Indeed, this is the second trial in the last 6 months and the sentences expose themselves. The trial exposed the absence of any terrorism, arms, explosives, no terrorist act planning, and no intent to blow up something or kill someone.

All witnesses, with the exception of so-called “secret witnesses”, who are frequently undercover Special Service staff, in their prejudicial evidences supported the defendants. Whole incrimination was based on analysis of conversations on Islamic topics, which occurred during meetings of these four Muslims.

The whole of this exposes the real reason of Muslim persecution in Crimea, which is Russian intolerance to Islam and Muslims. Russia has been at war with Islam and Muslims for several centuries, and after the second annexation of Crimea in 2014, it again spread its hostility to the Crimean peninsula. Allah (swt) informs us about this hostility in His following words:

﴿وَمَا نَقَمُوا مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا أَنْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ﴾

“And they resented them not except because they believed in Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy.” [85:8].

This is not the first time in history of Crimean Muslims when they are accused in crimes and labeled. After annexation of Crimea in 1783, Russia pursued a policy of repressions, beside attempts to exterminate Islamic fundamentals of Crimean Tatars, their culture and any manifestations of their identity. When Communists came to power in Russia, they accused all Crimean Tatars in supporting of Germans and deported Crimean Muslims to Central Asia and other parts of the USSR on May 18, 1944. But after decades Crimean Muslims live on their land, learn Islam and become nearer to Allah day after day. As for tyrants who committed those crimes in 1944, they died. Moreover the system in whose shade this crime was committed collapsed as well.

In spite of strong media attack, which is conducted by Russia in Crimea, Crimean Muslims, Crimean Tatars, are aware who the real criminal is and who the innocent victim is,  because hundreds participated in public actions in support of these four Muslims who were sentenced in Rostov-on-Don, aiming to expose the lies of so-called Russian law machinery and judicial authority. These actions are “Muslims are not terrorists” flash mob, public prayers in different parts of Crimea and visiting of court sitting in Rostov-on-Don where the verdict was announced at December 24^th. Despicable attempts of Russian authorities and its henchmen among media to twist reality and show sincere, pious and pure Muslims as terrorists will never succeed.

As for Russian authorities including so-called law enforcement institutions and judges, these criminals with shoulder straps and judge's gowns undoubtedly will be caught by illness, poverty and failure after Allah will respond on dua’ of people who were oppressed by them. And besides that they will be punished in the Judgement Day since Allah (swt) says in the Quran:

﴿وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ اللَّهَ غَافِلًا عَمَّا يَعْمَلُ الظَّالِمُونَ إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ تَشْخَصُ فِيهِ الْأَبْصَارُ﴾

“And never think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only delays them for a Day when eyes will stare [in horror]”. [14:42]

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Fazil Amzaev
Head of the Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Ukraine