Russian occupants continue to complicate the Crimean Tatars’ life. On Tuesday morning of June 24 Russia’s Federal Security Service rummaged the Higher Medrese of Hafidh in Kol’chugino village (Simferopol district), where children are taught the Holy Qur’an.

After a 5-hour rummage they took hostage of Mr.Aider Osmanov, the deputy Headmaster, and confiscated several computers, the Religious Administration of Muslims of Crimea reports.

“They searched in every nook and cranny in the building, including the children’s personal belongings. Nothing suspicious was found. They confiscated several computers and took hostage of Mr.Aider Osmanov, the deputy Headmaster. People in camouflage uniform with galloons that signed “BERKUT” (Ukrainian special security forces) introduced themselves as officers of Russian Federal Security Service. They never explained their actions,” — the report says.

At the same time, Russian Federal Security Service Office in Crimea reported that they had nothing to do with the rummage.

According to the information by RAMC, the children were sleeping when fake “BERKUT” officers arrived. About 30 officers entered the territory of Medrese. The entrance door and some windows were smashed out.

Some unknown men also snashed out the door of the house where the Deputy Headmaster lived. They found Aider Osmanov himself, his wife and two little kids inside. Mr.Aziz Sadykov, Head of local Mejlis, arrived on situ immediately. They let him inside the Medrese so that he could make sure the children were safe.

Video report by the RAMC Press-service (in Russian and Crimean Tatar)

Note:
Higher Medrese of Hafidh was opened in 2003 by RAMC under the auspices of All-Ukrainian Association of Social Organisations “Alraid”.

Higher Medrese of Hafidh in Crimea is the only Muslim educational institution of this kind in Ukraine. Pupils aged 13 to 16 study the Holy Qur’an here, apart from attending the regular school. Many of the Medrese graduates represented Ukraine at a variety of prestigious international Qur’an reciting contests.