In Dagestan, supporters of a nonexistent "extremist" organization have been convicted
A court in Dagestan has sentenced three residents of the republic for participating in the At-Takfir Wal-Hijra organization, which is banned and designated as "extremist" in Russia. The final sentences range from 2.5 years probation to six years in prison.
The investigation alleges that the accused, D. Daudov, A. Kurashev, and R. Radzhabov, were members of the organization between 2018 and 2023 and promoted its ideology aimed at undermining the state and creating a "Worldwide Caliphate."
However, as human rights activist Vitaly Ponomarev and other experts note, the existence of At-Takfir Wal-Hijra as an organized entity is questionable due to a lack of concrete evidence.
"There are no hidden audio or video recordings in any known criminal cases in Russia that mention this name. Nowhere is it stated that the organization has membership, a membership procedure, a clear hierarchy, or a leader," the human rights activist noted.
