Crimean political prisoner Rustem Seytakhaliyev is being denied the opportunity to perform his morning prayers.

The Kremlin prisoner Rustem Seytakhaliyev, sentenced to 14 years in prison, is not allowed to perform the morning prayer in correctional colony No. 9 in Petrozavodsk (Russia).

This was reported by the political prisoner’s wife, Elzara.

The woman learned about this during a long visit with her husband, which was permitted for the first time after six years of his arrest.

She explained that the colony administration allows Muslim inmates to pray only during their personal time, which does not always coincide with the prayer times. The woman specified that the restrictions apply not only to the morning prayer but also to all five daily prayers.

Additionally, after his transfer from prison to the colony in October 2024, Seytakhaliyev had his Quran taken away, which has not yet been returned, citing a ban on its use.

“For a practicing Muslim, this is a significant problem and a violation of his rights to observe his religion as it should be,” stated the wife of the Kremlin prisoner.

It is worth noting that on March 27, 2019, the largest searches in the homes of Crimean Muslims since the beginning of the temporary occupation of the peninsula took place in Crimea. Investigative actions were conducted in Kamyanka, Strogonovka, and Bely – villages primarily inhabited by Crimean Tatars.

Twenty-five Crimean Tatar public activists – Ruslan Suleimanov, Alim Karimov, Rustem Sheikhaliev, Medzhit Abdurakhmanov, Yashar Muyeidnov, Bilal Adilov, Dzhemil Gafarov, Riza Izetov, Izet Abdullayev, Asan Yanikov, Shaban Umerov, Tofik Abdulgaziev, Seytveli Seytabdiev, Rustem Seytakhaliyev, Akim Bekirov, Farhod Bazarov, Servet Gaziev, Seyran Murtaza, Erfan Osmanov, Osman Arifmemetov, Remzi Bekirov, Eskender Suleimanov, Enver Ametov, Vladlen Abdulqadyrov, and Rayim Aivazov – are accused of involvement with the Islamic political party “Hizb ut-Tahrir.”

According to the case materials, the accused had no weapons, explosives, or ammunition, did not plan to commit terrorist acts, and did not incite others to engage in terrorist actions.

On March 18, 2022, the Southern District Military Court sentenced Rustem Seytakhaliyev to 14 years in prison. On July 7, 2023, the Military Appeals Court in Moscow upheld this decision.

The Islamic political party “Hizb ut-Tahrir” was designated as a terrorist organization in Russia in February 2003. Human rights defenders believe this decision is unfounded and was made in violation of transparency and equality of the parties, as only the prosecution – the FSB – participated in the closed proceedings.

In Ukraine and most countries worldwide, the organization operates without restrictions under national legislation.

Earlier, ZMINA reported that the health of Crimean Tatar activist Rustem Seytakhaliyev, a participant in the second Simferopol group of the “Hizb ut-Tahrir” case, has deteriorated in detention: the man suffers from chronic headaches and back problems.