After visiting "Tangim" Mosque, Dagestani resident complains about "prophylactic registration"

Law enforcers have summoned a resident of Kaspiysk to the police station and threatened to put him on the so-called "prophylactic register" as an extremist. They were interested in the man because of his visit to the "Tangim" Mosque, the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" has informed.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the practice of putting people on the prophylactic register had been actively used in Dagestan. Law enforcers explained their actions by the fact that a person wears a beard or visits a mosque. In 2017, the republic's Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) announced the cessation of this practice. However, the practice continues, but its measures have become less intrusive, the HRC "Memorial" has noted.

The man, Rasim, 32, said that he had received a summons to be questioned as a witness. On October 30, he came to the police station and learned that the reason for the summons was his long beard and his visit to the "Tangim" Mosque in Makhachkala.

The policeman asked Rasim how he felt about the events in Syria, stating that the parishioners of the "Tangim" Mosque adhere to the radical-extremist Islam and treat policemen as kafirs (infidels).

The law enforcer has added that Rasim is likely to be placed on the "prophylactic register"; and he will have to report about his trips out of the republic. Rasim treats such police's actions as unlawful.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in July, a resident of Kaspiysk complained to human rights defenders about being put on the "prophylactic register". He feared that it could negatively affect his work, and stated that his rights and freedoms were violated.