RUSSIA: 65 known "extremist" religious literature cases in 2014
A total of 65 individuals and religious communities are known to have been prosecuted in 2014 across Russia for possession of allegedly "extremist" banned religious literature which does not appear to incite violence or hatred, Forum 18 News Service notes. Of these, 56 ended up with punishments. The cases were brought under Administrative Code Article 20.29 ("Production and distribution of extremist materials"), and all the cases related to the alleged possession of Muslim or Jehovah's Witness literature by individuals, religious communities, shopkeepers or stall holders. Courts continue in 2015 to rule Muslim and Jehovah's Witness literature "extremist", opening the way for more prosecutions. In 16 of the 65 known 2014 cases, courts ordered the religious literature to be destroyed. Prosecutors may use Article 20.29 convictions to seek to have a religious community forcibly dissolved. These 65 literature-related "extremism" cases are part of a wider pattern of investigations and prosecutions of people exercising their freedom of religion or belief.
A total of 65 individuals and religious communities are known to have been brought to court in 2014 across Russia for possession of religious literature which does not appear to incite violence or hatred, Forum 18 News Service has found in an analysis of court records. Of these, 56 ended up with punishments. The cases were brought under Code of Administrative Offences Article 20.29 ("Production or mass distribution of extremist materials"), and all the cases related to the alleged possession of Muslim or Jehovah's Witness literature. In 16 cases, courts ordered the confiscated religious literature destroyed.Article 20.29
Article 20.29 of the Administrative Code punishes "production or mass distribution of extremist materials included in the published Federal List of Extremist Materials, as well as their production or storage for mass distribution". Once a court – even a low-level court - has ruled a text "extremist" and the verdict has come into force, the ruling must be communicated within three days to the Justice Ministry, which maintains the Federal List. The item will then be added to the List within a further 30 days, banning its distribution throughout Russia.
Possession of a banned text renders the possessor liable to criminal prosecution (see Forum 18's "Extremism" Russia religious freedom survey http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1724).
Courts continue to rule Muslim and Jehovah's Witness literature "extremist", opening the way for more prosecutions for their possession or "mass distribution". Despite the term "mass distribution", prosecutors have often brought charges even if only one copy of a text is discovered. No state agency has answered Forum 18's questions on whether it is right that people should be punished for their possession and whether such prosecutions are a sensible use of police and prosecutors' time (see F18News 20 March 2015 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2049).
Individuals found guilty under Article 20.29 may be fined 1,000 to 3,000 Roubles (currently about 140 to 420 Norwegian Kroner, 16 to 50 Euros, or 17 to 52 US Dollars) or up to 15 days' detention. Officials of an organisation may be fined 2,000 to 5,000 Roubles (about 280 to 700 Norwegian Kroner, 32 to 80 Euros, or 44 to 86 US Dollars). Organisations may be fined 50,000 to 100,000 Roubles (about 6,960 to 13,930 Norwegian Kroner, 800 to 1,600 Euros, or 860 to 1,720 US Dollars) or have their operations suspended for up to 90 days. The "extremist" material itself is confiscated and may be destroyed.
In 16 of the 65 known 2014 cases, courts ordered the religious literature to be destroyed. Muslims, Jehovah's Witnesses and human rights defenders have condemned such court-ordered religious literature destruction (see eg. F18News 28 August 2014 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1990).
These 65 literature-related "extremism" cases are part of a wider pattern of investigations and prosecutions of people exercising their freedom of religion or belief, such as prosecutions of some communities exercising freedom of religion or belief in public without state permission (see eg. F18News 2 March 2015 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2044).
Similarly, Muslims and Jehovah's Witnesses who meet to study religious texts in private and pray may be detained for months, prosecuted, and either fined or jailed under the Criminal Code (see eg. F18News 6 March 2015 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2046).
Many other individuals were prosecuted under Administrative Code Article 20.29 ("Production or mass distribution of extremist materials") for material that did appear to be violent or racist.
2014 prosecutions
Of the 65 known Article 20.29 prosecutions in 2014 for religious literature, 59 resulted in conviction in the first instance, four in acquittal, and two in the charges being dropped. Three convictions were overturned on appeal. Even in cases of acquittal or successful appeal, defendants are forced to spend time, energy and money to counter the charges against them, Forum 18 notes.
Fifty-five of the 65 known cases were brought in relation to Islamic literature or videos, 35 of them involving texts banned by Lenin District Court in Orenburg in 2012, the largest "extremism" ruling in Russia so far. The ban on 50 of the 68 texts banned in Orenburg was overturned on appeal on 27 February (see F18News 20 March 2015 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2049). The remaining 10 cases in 2014 known to Forum 18 involved Jehovah's Witness literature.
In 2014 judges ordered the religious books to be destroyed in 16 cases, several of which involved multiple items. In a further 20 cases, confiscation was ordered. The fate of materials in other court proceedings is unclear in the written verdicts.
Nine registered religious organisations with legal status faced charges under Article 20.29 in 2014. Seven of these were mosque communities, while two were Jehovah's Witness communities. Of the 56 individuals charged, 14 were shopkeepers or stallholders accused of selling "extremist" material.
Examples of Article 20.29 cases during 2014 include:
- the Mufti of a Mosque in Saransk fined 5,000 Roubles for possession of one copy of Turkish theologian Said Nursi's "Guidebook for Women", during an inspection by a District Prosecutor who did not produce a search warrant as the law requires. Mosque staff think the book was planted, and Mufti Zyaki Aizatullin stated that the first time he had seen it was during the inspection. An appeal against the fine was rejected in March 2014 (see F18News 1 May 2014 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1953);
- Jehovah's Witness Aleksandr Yevdoshenko fined 2,000 Roubles in Krasnoyarsk after a man from the Rodina political party's "Committee for Rehabilitating Victims of Sects" (a party previously banned from elections for inciting racial hatred) claimed to have been given an "extremist" booklet at a religious meeting in May 2014. Jehovah's Witnesses state that no "available evidence" exists that the Rodina activist who brought the complaint to police was present (see F18News 8 September 2014 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1994);
- Ramazan mosque in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg fined 50,000 Roubles – equivalent to nine months' official minimum wage – for possessing religious literature which does not appear to incite violence or hatred. The mosque's imam Albert Bayazitov was formally warned about the inadmissibility of "extremist" activity. A court rejected the appeal against the fine in December 2014 (see F18News 22 January 2015 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2031);
- and five shopkeepers or stallholders prosecuted for offering Islamic or Jehovah's Witness texts for sale (see F18News 22 January 2015 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2031).
The Russian authorities began similar prosecutions in Crimea soon after it was annexed from Ukraine in 2014 (see Forum 18's Crimea religious freedom survey http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2051).
How prosecutions start
The majority of known 2014 cases listed below arose from raids or inspections carried out by law enforcement officials, usually with the aim of "checking compliance with anti-extremism legislation", according to court verdicts. In a few cases against Jehovah's Witnesses, prosecutors brought charges after an individual handed in a text to the police or security services after receiving it in the street or at a meeting.
Further consequences
Prosecutors may then use convictions under Article 20.29 as evidence of "extremist" activity and seek to have a religious community dissolved on that basis. If entire communities are banned as "extremist" their former members face prosecution with the risk of being jailed if they continue to meet together. This has been the experience of Jehovah's Witnesses in Samara, Taganrog, and Abinsk (see eg. F18News 6 March 2015 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2046), and a Muslim community in Borovsky village in Tyumen Region (see F18News 3 December 2014 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2020).
Known 2014 Article 20.29 "extremist" religious literature cases:
1.) 9 January
Name: Mufti Zyaki Aizatullin
Fine: 1,000 Roubles
Court: Proletarian District Court, Saransk, Republic of Mordovia
Material: "Guidebook for Women" by Said Nursi (banned by Koptev District Court, Moscow, 21 May 2007) in locked cabinet at Uskudr Cathedral Mosque
Confiscation/destruction: Destruction
Appeal: Supreme Court of Mordovia, 5 March – unsuccessful; supervisory appeal, 24 April – unsuccessful
2.) 22 January
Name: Ildar Nartdinov
Fine: 1,000 Roubles
Court: Kirov District Court, Perm Region
Material: Video "Wonders of the Koran" (banned Nefteyugansk City Court, Khanty-Mansiisk district, Tyumen region, 7 April 2011), uploaded onto social network
Confiscation/destruction: Removal from all forms of data storage belonging to defendant
Appeal: None
3.) 27 January
Name: Nur Muslim community
Fine: 50,000 Roubles
Court: Sysert District Court, Sverdlovsk Region
Material: "Clarifying the fundamentals of faith: notes on true doctrine", by Muhammad ibn Saalih Uthaymeen (banned by Buguruslan City Court, Orenburg Region, 19 October 2007) in cabinet in mosque prayer hall
Confiscation/destruction: Confiscation
Appeal: None
4.) 29 January
Name: S. Sadykov
Fine: 1,000 Roubles
Court: Lenin District Court, Omsk
Material: "Foundations of faith in the light of the Koran and Sunnah", by Salih al-Suheymi, Abd al-Razzaq al-Badar, and Ibrahim al-Ruheyli (banned Central District Court, Tyumen, 11 October 2010), uploaded onto VKontakte social network
Confiscation/destruction: Not applicable
Appeal: None
5.) 4 February
Name: Marat Shaipov
Fine: 2,000 Roubles
Court: Volzhsk City Court, Mari El Republic
Material: Jehovah's Witness literature, including "What does the Bible really teach?" (banned Soviet District Court, Krasnoyarsk, 14 February 2013), distributed outside shopping centre
Confiscation/destruction: Confiscation
Appeal: Mari El Supreme Court, 26 March – unsuccessful; supervisory appeal, 29 May – unsuccessful
6.) 5 February
Name: F. Mukhamedzyanova (shopkeeper)
Fine: 2,000 Roubles
Court: Industrial District Court, Samara
Material: "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012), for sale in Islamic goods shop beside mosque
Confiscation/destruction: Destruction
Appeal: Samara Regional Court, 6 March – verdict overturned as statute of limitations had expired
7.) 11 February
Name: Imam R. Kelmetyev
Fine: Unknown
Court: Perevolotsky District Court, Orenburg Region
Material: "How to accept Islam" (banned Krasnoyarsk District Court, Astrakhan Region, 14 March 2013) and "Introduction to Islam" (banned Arsenyev City Court, Primorsky Region, 24 December 2012) on literature stand in mosque
Confiscation/destruction: Confiscation
Appeal: None
8.) 14 February
Name: R. Zabirov
Fine: 2,500 Roubles
Court: October District Court, Penza Region
Material: "The Constellation of the Righteous Caliphs" by Osman Nuri Topbas (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) given to prison library on "relatives' day"
Confiscation/destruction: Destruction
Appeal: Penza Regional Court, 20 March – unsuccessful; supervisory appeal, 30 July – unsuccessful
9.) 14 February
Name: "Unity" Foundation for the Protection of Cultural Traditions
Fine: None – suspension of activity for 90 days
Court: Lyublino District Court, Moscow
Material: "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) available in prayer house
Confiscation/destruction: Confiscation
Appeal: Unknown
10.) 25 February
Name: Marat Zakirov
Fine: 1,000 Roubles
Court: Tengushevo District Court, Republic of Mordovia
Material: Pages from "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) uploaded onto Odnoklassniki social network (book given to defendant in prison)
Confiscation/destruction: Confiscation
Appeal: None
11.) 6 March
Name: Jehovah's Witness community of Samara
Fine: 50,000 Roubles
Court: Soviet District Court, Samara
Material: Two Jehovah's Witness titles (among those banned by Rostov Regional Court, 11 September 2009)
Confiscation/destruction: Destruction
Appeal: Samara Regional Court, 17 April – unsuccessful; supervisory appeal, 14 July – unsuccessful
12.) 11 March
Name: T. Magomedov
Fine: 1,000 Roubles
Court: Verkhnekamsky District Court, Kirov Region
Material: 2 copies of "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012)
Confiscation/destruction: Destruction
Appeal: None
13.) 14 March
Name: Al-Mardzhani Cathedral Mosque
Fine: 50,000 Roubles
Court: Vakhitovsky District Court, Kazan
Material: 18 copies of "The Constellation of the Righteous Caliphs" by Osman Nuri Topbas and one of "Introduction to Islam" (both banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) for sale in mosque shop
Confiscation/destruction: Destruction
Appeal: Supreme Court of Tatarstan, 16 April – fine overturned as statute of limitations had expired; books to be destroyed
14.) 24 March
Name: Anna Bakanova (education manager at rehabilitation centre for disabled children)
Fine: 2,000 Roubles
Court: Anzhero-Sudzhensk City Court, Kemerovo Region
Material: "Book of Monotheism" by Muhammad al-Tamimi (banned by Savyolovo District Court, Moscow, 2 April 2004), accessible from laptop in children's computer class
Confiscation/destruction: Neither
Appeal: None
15.) 7 April
Name: Daniya Soldatikova (shopkeeper)
Fine: None – but 5 days' suspension of trading imposed
Court: Lenin District Court, Tyumen
Material: "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani and "Forty Hadith" by Imam al-Nawawi for sale in Islamic goods shop
Confiscation/destruction: Destruction
Appeal: None
16.) 17 April
Name: Marat Gaynullin
Fine: 1,000 Roubles
Court: Volzhsk City Court, Mari El Republic
Material: Video "Wonders of the Koran" uploaded to Vkontakte social network
Confiscation/destruction: Not applicable
Appeal: None
17.) 22 April
Name: Rakhmat Mosque
Fine: 50,000 Roubles, plus formal warning regarding "extremist" activity
Court: Ordzhonikidze District Court, Yekaterinburg
Material: "Life of the Prophet" by Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012)
Confiscation/destruction: Unknown
Appeal: Sverdlovsk Regional Court, 19 June – unsuccessful
18.) 24 April
Name: Rail Ganiyev
Fine: 3,000 Roubles
Court: Volzhsk City Court, Mari El Republic
Material: video "Wonders of the Koran" " (banned Nefteyugansk City Court, Khanty-Mansiisk district, Tyumen region, 7 April 2011) uploaded to Vkontakte social network
Confiscation/destruction: Not applicable
Appeal: none
19.) 25 April
Name: "Irshad" Muslim Community
Fine: 50,000 Roubles
Court: Asbest City Court, Sverdlovsk Region
Material: "Life of the Prophet Mohammed" by Ibn Hisham (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) and the "Book of Monotheism" by Mohammed ibn Suleiman al-Tamimi (banned by Savyolovsky District Court, Moscow, 2 April 2004) accessible to mosque visitors
Confiscation/destruction: Destruction
Appeal: Sverdlovsk Regional Court, 11 June - unsuccessful
20.) 28 April
Name: Kasymkhan Zhangereyev (shopkeeper)
Fine: 4,000 Roubles
Court: Pallasovka District Court, Volgograd Region
Material: Titles unknown – 7 computer discs and 6 books in Islamic goods shop and house
Confiscation/destruction: Unknown
Appeal: None known
21.) 28 April
Name: A. Idrisov (correctional colony inmate)
Fine: None – proceedings halted as statute of limitations had expired
Court: Omutninsk District Court, Kirov Region
Material: "Life of the Prophet Mohammed" by Ibn Hisham (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) found in prison classroom
Confiscation/destruction: Confiscation
Appeal: None
22.) 29 April
Name: D. Tyulegenov (correctional colony inmate)
Fine: 1,000 Roubles
Court: Skopin District Court, Ryazan Region
Material: "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) – accused attempted to distribute book to other correctional colony inmates
Confiscation/destruction: Unknown
Appeal: None
23.) 30 April
Name: Valentina Udovitskaya (a founder of the local Jehovah's Witness community)
Fine: 2,500 Roubles
Court: Spassk District Court, Primorye Region
Material: Over 200 Jehovah's Witness books and brochures, including "What does the Bible really teach?"
Confiscation/destruction: Confiscation
Appeal: Primorye Regional Court, 21 August – unsuccessful
24.) 13 May
Name: Kh. Ragimov
Fine: 1,000 Roubles
Court: Zadneprovsky District Court, Smolensk Region
Material: Video "Wonders of the Koran" (banned Nefteyugansk City Court, Khanty-Mansiisk district, Tyumen region, 7 April 2011) uploaded to Vkontakte social network
Confiscation/destruction: Not applicable
Appeal: None
25.) 14 May
Name: S. M.
Fine: None – charges dropped as statute of limitations had expired
Court: Pervomaisky District Court, Vladivostok
Material: Two copies of "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani found at defendant's private home
Confiscation/destruction: Unknown
Appeal: None
26.) 28 May
Name: Imam Musa Sagov of Spiritual Centre, Yakutsk Cathedral Mosque
Fine: 3,000 Roubles
Court: Magistrates' Court No. 47, Yakutsk
Material: "Fundamentals of Brotherhood" (banned by Koptevo District Court, Moscow, 21 May 2007) and "Tract on Nature" (banned by Central District Court, Kaliningrad, 27 September 2012), both by Said Nursi, in Khandyga village mosque
Confiscation/destruction: Destruction
Appeal: None (but see entry for 16 June)
27.) 3 June
Name: Vladimir Morev
Fine: 1,500 Roubles
Court: Lenin District Court, Tyumen
Material: Jehovah's Witness literature handed out in defendant's taxi
Confiscation/destruction: Unknown
Appeal: Tyumen Regional Court, 7 July – unsuccessful
28.) 3 June
Name: Shamil Chupanov
Fine: 1,000 Roubles
Court: Obninsk City Court, Kaluga Region
Material: "Gardens of the Righteous" by Imam al-Nawawi, "Way to the Koran" by Elmir Kuliyev, and "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani (all banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) uploaded onto Vkontakte social network
Confiscation/destruction: Unknown
Appeal: None
29.) 9 June
Name: Aleksandr Yershov (shopkeeper)
Fine: Unknown
Court. Magistrates' Court No. 6, Dimitrovgrad, Ulyanovsk Region
Material: "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) on sale in bookshop
Confiscation/destruction: Unknown
Appeal: Unknown
30.) 16 June
Name: Spiritual Centre (Muslim religious organisation)
Fine: 50,000 Roubles
Court: Yakutsk City Court, Sakha Republic
Material: "Fundamentals of Brotherhood" (banned by Koptevo District Court, Moscow, 21/05/2007) and "Tract on Nature" (banned by Central District Court, Kaliningrad, 27/09/2012), both by Said Nursi, in Khandyga village mosque – see entry for 28 May
Confiscation/destruction: Destruction
Appeal: Supreme Court of the Sakha Republic, 16 July – fine overturned as statute of limitations had expired, but books still destroyed
31.) 18 June
Name: Marina Levchenko (hospital doctor)
Fine: 1,000 Roubles
Court: Bryukhovetskaya District Court, Krasnodar Region
Material: Jehovah's Witness literature kept in desk in Accident and Emergency Department
Confiscation/destruction: Unknown
Appeal: Krasnodar Regional Court, 19 August – unsuccessful
32.) 20 June
Name: Rafik Akhmetov (chair of "Shaban" Muslim religious organisation)
Fine: 1,000 Roubles
Court: Romodanovo District Court, Republic of Mordovia
Material: Islamic literature including "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) discussed by Akhmetov with mosque worshippers
Confiscation/destruction: Destruction
Appeal: None
33.) 25 June
Name: Valery Ishutin
Fine: 1,000 Roubles
Court: Lenin District Court, Jewish Autonomous Region
Material: One copy of Jehovah's Witness brochure "What does the Bible really teach?" on literature stand in street
Confiscation/destruction: Confiscation
Appeal: Jewish Autonomous Regional Court, 4 August – unsuccessful
34.) 25 June
Name: A. Gabdulkhayeva
Fine: 1,000 Roubles
Court: Beryozovka District Court, Perm Region
Material: Pages from "The Way to the Koran" by Elmir Kuliyev (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) uploaded onto Vkontakte social network
Confiscation/destruction: Unknown
Appeal: Unknown
35.) 27 June
Name: Aleksandr Yevdoshenko
Fine: 2,000 Roubles
Court: Soviet District Court, Krasnoyarsk
Material: One copy of "What does the Bible really teach?" allegedly given during religious meeting to anti-"sectarian" political party activist
Confiscation/destruction: Unknown
Appeal: Krasnoyarsk Regional Court, 1 August – unsuccessful; cassational appeal, 11 September – unsuccessful
36.) 21 July
Name: Akhmed Dakhkilgov
Fine: 3,000 Roubles
Court: Kanevskaya District Court, Krasnodar Region
Material: "The Way to Faith and Perfection" by Shamil Alyautdinov (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) found in defendant's home
Confiscation/destruction: Destruction
Appeal: None
37.) 15 August
Name: Unknown shopkeeper
Fine: 1,000 Roubles
Court: Kunashak District Court, Chelyabinsk Region
Material: Seven copies of "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) in village shop
Confiscation/destruction: Unknown
Appeal: Unknown
38.) 15 August
Name: Jehovah's Witness community of Partizansk
Fine: None – community acquitted
Court: Partizansk City Court, Primorye
Material: Unspecified Jehovah's Witness literature kept in Palace of Culture
Confiscation/destruction: Unknown
Appeal: By Partizansk Prosecutor against acquittal to Primorye Regional Court, 22 September – acquittal upheld
39.) 18 August
Name: D. Gafurov (shopkeeper)
Fine: 2,000 Roubles
Court: Kirov District Court, Samara
Material: "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) for sale in Islamic goods shop
Confiscation/destruction: Confiscation
Appeal: None
40.) 8 September
Name: Islam Bashlayev (shopkeeper)
Fine: Unknown
Court: Thought to be Grozny
Material: "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) for sale in Islamic goods shop
Confiscation/destruction: Unknown
Appeal: Unknown
41.) 8 September
Name: Imam Khadzhi Murtazov
Fine: Unknown
Court: Factory District Court, Grozny
Material: "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) available in Tukhsaroy village mosque
Confiscation/destruction: Confiscation
Appeal: Unknown
42.) 10 September
Name: A. Zaynutdinov
Fine: 2,000 Roubles
Court: Pyt-Yakh City Court, Khanty-Mansiisk Autonomous District, Tyumen Region
Material: Three copies of "Constellation of the Righteous Caliphs" by Osman Nuri Topbas (both banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) for sale in trading pavilion
Confiscation/destruction: Confiscation
Appeal: None
43.) 11 September
Name: A. Sharipova
Fine: 1,000 Roubles
Court: October District Court, Omsk
Material: "Gardens of the Righteous" by Imam al-Nawawi (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) posted on Vkontakte social network
Confiscation/destruction: Not applicable
Appeal: None
44.) 17 September
Name: Saadat Akhtayeva (shopkeeper)
Fine: 3,000 Roubles
Court: Magistrates' Court No. 17, Makhachkala, Republic of Dagestan
Material: "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani (18 copies) and "Gardens of the Righteous" by Imam al-Nawawi (5 copies) (both banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) for sale in Islamic goods shop
Confiscation/destruction: Confiscation
Appeal: None
45.) 22 September
Name: Imam Ilgiz Fatikhov
Fine: Unknown
Court: Arti District Court, Sverdlovsk Region
Material: "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) in Ust-Manchazh village prayer house
Confiscation/destruction: Destruction
Appeal: None
46.) 22 September
Name: Esenbulat Esenbulatov
Fine: 1,000 Roubles
Court: Magistrates' Court No. 9, Makhachkala, Republic of Dagestan
Material: Seven copies of "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) for sale in Islamic goods shop
Confiscation/destruction: Destruction
Appeal: None
47.) 24 September
Name: Magomedamin Israpilov
Fine: 1,000 Roubles
Court: Magistrates' Court No. 11, Makhachkala, Republic of Dagestan
Material: "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani and "Gardens of the Righteous" by Imam al-Nawawi (both banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) for sale in market
Confiscation/destruction: Unknown
Appeal: Lenin District Court, Makhachkala, 18 November – unsuccessful
48.) 26 September
Name: Imam Enver Batchayev
Fine: 1,000 Roubles
Court: Ust-Dzheguta District Court, Republic of Karachay-Cherkessiya
Material: "Forty Hadith" by Imam al-Nawawi (banned by Sol-Iletsk District Court, Orenburg Region, 28/05/2012) in Ust-Dzhegutinsk mosque
Confiscation/destruction: Confiscation
Appeal: None
49.) 30 September
Name: Ch. Konomatova
Fine: 1,000 Roubles
Court: Surgut District Court, Khanty-Mansiisk Autonomous District, Tyumen Region
Material: Unspecified Islamic literature banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012
Confiscation/destruction: Books to be kept to establish legal owner (see entry for 8 October)
Appeal: None
50.) 8 October
Name: Imam Vildan Safargaliyev (imam)
Fine: 3,000 Roubles
Court: Surgut District Court, Khanty-Mansiisk Autonomous District, Tyumen Region
Material: Islamic literature including "Forty Hadith" by Imam al-Nawawi (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) in Federovsky village mosque (see entry for 30 September)
Confiscation/destruction: Confiscation
Appeal: None
51.) 8 October
Name: Imam Fyanyus Bikmayev
Fine: 2,000 Roubles
Court: Kuznetsk District Court, Penza
Material: "History of the Prophets in the light of the Holy Koran, Vol. 2" and "Constellation of the Righteous Caliphs" by Osman Nuri Topbas (both banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) on table in mosque
Confiscation/destruction: Destruction
Appeal: None
52.) 10 October
Name: I. Alekseyev
Fine: 2,000 Roubles
Court: Artyom City Court, Primorye Region
Material: Jehovah's Witness text "What does the Bible really teach?" uploaded to file-sharing website
Confiscation/destruction: Unknown
Appeal: None
53.) 22 October
Name: A. Gorbach
Fine: None – defendant acquitted
Court: Solnechny District Court, Khabarovsk Region
Material: Jehovah's Witness brochure "What does God demand from us?" (banned by Gorno-Altaisk City Court, Altai Republic) and other literature
Confiscation/destruction: "What does God demand from us?" ordered destroyed; other confiscated literature returned to defendant
Appeal: Not applicable
54.) 22 October
Name: Sverdlovsk Regional Spiritual Administration of Muslims
Fine: 50,000 Roubles (imam Albert Bayazitov also given formal "extremism" warning)
Court: Chkalovsk District Court, Yekaterinburg
Material: Literature, films, and audio recordings, including "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani and "Gardens of the Righteous" by Imam al-Nawawi (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) on open shelves in mosque
Confiscation/destruction: Confiscation
Appeal: Sverdlovsk Regional Court, 16 December – unsuccessful
55.) 24 October
Name: R. Chipchikov
Fine: None – defendant acquitted as edition of text could not be matched to edition on Federal List
Court: Zelenchukskaya District Court, Republic of Karachay-Cherkessiya
Material: One copy of "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) found in defendant's house
Confiscation/destruction: Book returned to defendant
Appeal: Not applicable
56.) 24 October
Name: I. Khaliullin
Fine: 1,000 Roubles
Court: Volzhsk City Court, Mari El Republic
Material: Video "Wonders of the Koran" (banned by Nefteyugansk City Court, Khanty-Mansiisk Autonomous District, Tyumen Region, 7 April 2011) uploaded onto Vkontakte social network
Confiscation/destruction: Not applicable
Appeal: None
57.) 24 October
Name: T. Chomayev
Fine: None – defendant acquitted
Court: Zelenchukskaya District Court, Republic of Karachay-Cherkessiya
Material: "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani in defendant's home, shared with neighbours – but not an edition included on Federal List
Confiscation/destruction: Not applicable
Appeal: None
58.) 6 November
Name: Unknown
Fine: 1,000 Roubles
Court: Magistrates' Court No. 11, Makhachkala, Republic of Dagestan
Material: "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani and "Gardens of the Righteous" by Imam al-Nawawi (both banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) for sale in market
Confiscation/destruction: Destruction
Appeal: None
59.) 13 November
Name: Yu. Kasparova
Fine: 3,000 Roubles
Court: Cheremushki District Court, Moscow
Material: Audio recording of "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani on CD for sale at market
Confiscation/destruction: Confiscation
Appeal: None
60.) 25 November
Name: Khava Magomadova (correctional colony inmate)
Fine: 1,000 Roubles
Court: Maikop City Court, Republic of Adygea
Material: "A basic understanding of Islam" (banned by Maikop City Court, 24 November 2010) distributed to fellow inmates
Confiscation/destruction: Confiscation
Appeal: None
61.) 4 December
Name: Aleksandr Alyokhin (shopkeeper)
Fine: 2,000 Roubles
Court: Biysk City Court, Altai Region
Material: Jehovah's Witness text "Knowledge that leads to everlasting life" (banned by Rostov Regional Court, 11 September 2009); for sale on bookshop counter
Confiscation/destruction: Confiscation
Appeal: None
62.) 8 December
Name: E. Kovalyov
Fine: 3,000 Roubles
Court: Industrial District Court, Vladikavkaz
Material: Islamic literature including "A guide for seekers of knowledge" (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012)
Confiscation/destruction: Confiscation
Appeal: None
63.) 19 December
Name: Imam Khayruddin Bilolov
Fine: 1,000 Roubles
Court: Tayshet City Court, Irkutsk Region
Material: Islamic literature including "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani and "Forty Hadith" by Imam al-Nawawi (both banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) on table in mosque prayer hall
Confiscation/destruction: Confiscation
Appeal: None
64.) 24 December
Name: Satsita Chukuyeva (shopkeeper)
Fine: 1,000 Roubles
Court: Lenin District Court, Grozny
Material: One copy of "Fortress of a Muslim" by Said bin Ali bin Waqf al-Qahtani (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) for sale in Islamic goods shop
Confiscation/destruction: Unknown
Appeal: Unknown
65.) 24 December
Name: Unknown, possibly Madina Obidova
Fine: 1,500 Roubles
Court: Perm District Court, Perm Region
Material: Pages from "The Way to the Koran" by Elmir Kuliyev (banned by Lenin District Court, Orenburg, 21 March 2012) uploaded onto Vkontakte social network
Confiscation/destruction: Unknown
Appeal: Unknown
(END)
For more background, see Forum 18's surveys of the general state of freedom of religion or belief in Russia at http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1722, and of the dramatic decline in religious freedom related to Russia's Extremism Law at http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1724.
A personal commentary by Alexander Verkhovsky, Director of the SOVA Center for Information and Analysis http://www.sova-center.ru, about the systemic problems of Russian anti-extremism legislation, is at F18News 19 July 2010 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1468.
A personal commentary by Irina Budkina, Editor of the http://www.samstar.ucoz.ru Old Believer website, about continuing denial of equality to Russia's religious minorities, is at F18News 26 May 2005 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=570.
More reports on freedom of thought, conscience and belief in Russia can be found at http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?query=&religion=all&country=10.
A compilation of Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) freedom of religion or belief commitments can be found at http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1351.
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