Russian underground sect members to stand their ground
- 12 years ago
Members of an Islamist cult that have been living under ground in Russia for close to a decade say they will stand their ground.
Russian police raided the compound earlier this month. Prosecutors are considering child abuse charges.
The sect includes about 20 children, some whom had never seen daylight.
Members have no plans to leave.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SECT MEMBER GUMAR GANIEV, SAYING:
"Whatever they will do to us, whatever verdict they hand down we are not going anywhere. We are going to ask for help only from Allah."
A nearby shopkeeper says members often came by.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SHOP WORKER GUZEL, SAYING:
"They buy something and leave. They always buy milk and kefir. And sometimes the mullah with the beard comes. He buys cookies."
Religion was suppressed in the Soviet Union which collapsed in 1991, prompting various cults and sects to flourish in the vacuum.
Russian police raided the compound earlier this month. Prosecutors are considering child abuse charges.
The sect includes about 20 children, some whom had never seen daylight.
Members have no plans to leave.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SECT MEMBER GUMAR GANIEV, SAYING:
"Whatever they will do to us, whatever verdict they hand down we are not going anywhere. We are going to ask for help only from Allah."
A nearby shopkeeper says members often came by.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SHOP WORKER GUZEL, SAYING:
"They buy something and leave. They always buy milk and kefir. And sometimes the mullah with the beard comes. He buys cookies."
Religion was suppressed in the Soviet Union which collapsed in 1991, prompting various cults and sects to flourish in the vacuum.