ECtHR's decision reminds of persecution of "Nurdjular"* supporters in Russia

The verdict of the European Court of Human Rights (EctHR) provides grounds for reviewing sentences for supporters of the organization "Nurdjular" banned and recognized extremist in Russia, including in Northern Caucasus, believe theologians and lawyers.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that after the death of Said Nursi (1878-1960), a Turkish enlightener, thinker, philosopher, and politician, his followers formed the movement "Nurdjular"*. On April 10, 2008, the Supreme Court (SC) of the Russian Federation recognized it as extremist, and its activity on the territory of Russia was banned. Books written by Said Nursi were included in the list of printed and other materials, recognized by the court as extremist.

On August 28, the ECtHR pronounced the decision in the case of "Ibragimov and Others v. Russia", where the publisher challenged the decisions of Russian courts that recognized as extremist 14 books from the collection of works written by Turkish theologian Said Nursi.

In its decision, the European Court concluded that the Russian courts did not provide sufficient grounds for interference with the applicants' right to freedom of expression guaranteed by Article 10 of the European Convention.

"Although Said Nursi's books have been widely available in many countries for many decades, the Russian side has not shown any evidence that their spread has led to any religious tension or violence," emphasizes the European Court's decision translated by the "Caucasian Knot".

The ECtHR pronounced the decision to oblige Russia to pay 7500 US dollars in favour of Ibragimov in compensation for harm, as well as to pay legal costs.

The decision of the ECtHR will be the basis for challenging the sentences to followers of the Turkish theologian, believes Associate Professor Ilkhom Merazhov, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, and the former Imam of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) in the Asian part of Russia.

"11 years have passed since the first appeal to the ECtHR, and the persecution continues. Even at the very moment, seven people are kept in prisons just for reading Said Nursi's books," Ilkhom Merazhov noted.

* "Nurdjular" organization has been recognized extremist in Russia and banned by the court

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 31, 2018 at 07:22 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.