Crimea: Islamist movements and danger of radicalization (Part II)

Crimean Tatars
(Image: Al-Jazeera)

Part I.

One of the most numerous Islamist radical organizations operating in Crimea is Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami (Party of Liberation of Islam), which was originally founded in 1953 in Jerusalem, by the local Islamic judge Taki ud-Deen an-Nabahani. His ideas spread rapidly in Arabic, Middle Eastern, Central Asian and even Western European countries, and the group itself was branded as a terrorist organization and banned in many countries, including the Muslim countries as well. This group started its work in Crimea in 2003. In Ukraine though Hizb ut-Tahrir isn’t banned as its members never engaged in any criminal, violent and terrorist activities in Ukraine and operate rather as a political party with the religious background.

Crimea: Islamist movements and danger of radicalization (Part I)

Crimean Tatars during one of the demonstrations
(Image: The World)

The issue of Crimean Tatars, who survived terrible Sürgün – mass deportation from Crimea by Joseph Stalin on 18 May 1944, and who returned back home after Ukraine gained its independence, remains still unresolved and very sensitive, as Ukrainian government paid unfortunately very little attention to the problems of Crimean Tatars, and Russian military invasion and illegal annexation of Crimea in March 2014 made situation of Crimean Tatars, who are indigenous inhabitants of the peninsula, tenser and more problematic.

Crimea: Islamist movements and danger of radicalization

Originally written for Islamist Gate.

Crimean Tatars praying in the mosque
(Image: Muslim Village)

The issue of Crimean Tatars, who survived terrible Sürgün – mass deportation from Crimea by Joseph Stalin on 18 May 1944, and who returned back home after Ukraine gained its independence, remains still unresolved and very sensitive, as Ukrainian government paid unfortunately very little attention to the problems of Crimean Tatars, and Russian military invasion and illegal annexation of Crimea in March 2014 made situation of Crimean Tatars, who are indigenous inhabitants of the peninsula, tenser and more problematic.

Ukraine: Russian backed illegitimate “referendum” on Crimea has been held amid increasing Russian military presence

Referendum in Crimea
(Image: Telegraph)

Amid an increasing Russian military presence in Crimea, numerous cases of attacks and abductions of Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar activists, journalists and reporters and presence of Russian citizens playing the role of pro-Russian Crimeans and despite the demands of Ukrainian government and international community to cancel illegitimate referendum Crimean puppet government has held the polls on Sunday, 16 March.

Crimean crisis: tensions escalate on the eve of the referendum, amid official decision about dismissal of Crimean Parliament and international pressure

Massive rallies in Kyiv Maidan (Independence Square)
(Image: National Post)

Situation in Ukrainian Crimea, occupied by Russian military troops and controlled by the self-proclaimed pro-Russian puppet Parliament and government, remains tense, as Russia refuses to de-escalate situation, and Crimean authorities insist on holding illegitimate “referendum” about potential joining Russia.

Despite the continuous demands of Ukrainian government to immediately withdraw the troops and military technique from Ukrainian territory and growing international pressure, Russia continues to increase its military presence in Crimea and also along the Ukrainian-Russian borders, deploying new troops and military technique on the eve of the Crimean “referendum”, scheduled for Sunday, 16 March. Ukrainian military bases and soldiers remain under Russian siege, as there were no commands fro Ukrainian Armed Forces to respond with force. In addition to that Russian troops are moving towards mainland Ukraine, as a group of Russian paratroopers has landed in Kherson region, but was prevented by Ukrainian soldiers.

Ukraine: Crimea declares its independence amid an increasing Russian military presence and Western pressure

Ukrainian Crimean Peninsula

Situation in Ukrainian Crimea, occupied by Russian military troops and waiting for the Crimean referendum to be held on 16 March, remains tense and complicated, as Russian troops still seize Ukrainian military bases and units blocking Ukrainian soldiers and making provocations. In addition to that Russian Armed Forces have started unprecedented military training of its paratroopers units close to Ukrainian borders. Ukrainian Armed Forces representatives reported about nearly 220 thousands of Russian troops and military technique deployed along the Russian-Ukrainian border. Ukrainian military is in state of alert, as mobilization was announced, and Maidan self-defense started to form National Guard in case of Russian military aggression in Crimea and other Ukrainian territories.