Nine persons suspected of preparing a coup arrested in Russia
The press service of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) reported that nine members of the radical Islamist political organization Hizb ut-Tahrir were arrested. Hizb ut-Tahrir is recognized as a terrorist organization in Russia, Germany, Denmark, the UK, as well as in South and South-East Asia.
According to a report published on the website of the FSB, two persons among arrested are leaders of the group.
"The members of the organization carried out anti-constitutional activities based on the doctrine of creating the so-called "worldwide Caliphate," the destruction of secular society institutions and aimed at overthrowing the current government by force. According to intelligence agencies, Islamists also formed similar units of international terrorist organizations in Russian regions and provided financial support for them. Using the measure of conspiracy, extremists secretly spread terrorist ideology among residents and recruited Muslims into their ranks," reads the report of FSB.
Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami was founded in Palestine in 1953 by the Jordan Sharia Appeal judge from East Jerusalem, Taqi al-Din al-Nabhani, who proclaimed the party as a "fighters for pure Islam."
The organization has declared the fight for the creation of a "Worldwide Caliphate" based on Islamic religious law (Sharia) as its goal.