Two citizens of Ukraine, Crimean Tatars Ayder Saledinov and Rustem Ismailov, who are illegally detained in a penal colony in the Russian republic of Bashkortostan, were unreasonably placed in a punishment cell for attempting to pray namaz, Verkhovna Rada Human Rights Commissioner Liudmyla Denisova has said.
“The illegally imprisoned citizens of Ukraine, Crimean Tatars Ayder Saledinov and Rustem Ismailov, held in the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia in the Republic of Bashkortostan were unreasonably placed in a punishment cell for attempting to pray namaz [canonical Muslim prayer]. The cynicism of the actions of the colony administration is that that prayer is obligatory for Muslims on Eid al-Adha,” Denisova said on Facebook on July 23.
She said the prejudice on the part of the staff of the correctional facility towards the Crimean Tatars contradicts international standards.
“In particular, Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 8 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, according to which everyone has the right to freely practice their religion,” the commissioner said.
She turned to Ombudsperson for Human Rights in the Russian Federation Tatyana Moskalkova with a request to take appropriate measures in order to restore the rights of convicted citizens of Ukraine to freedom of religion, in accordance with Article 14 of the Criminal Executive Code of the Russian Federation.
“I call on the international community to unite efforts to force the aggressor country to comply with the norms of international law and to release illegally imprisoned citizens of Ukraine,” Denisova said.
