Chairman of GSVA ‘Alraid’ complains to Ombudsman about ID checks at mosques

This is reported by “Religion in Ukraine".

Sheikh Seyran Aryfov, Chairman of the Alraid, who is a member of the Coordinating Council under the Ombudsman, is convinced that participation in this Council will help solve the problems of not only immigrants, but also Ukrainians and people who legally reside on the territory of Ukraine, but often become victims of ethnic and religious profiling, should spend hours of their lives dispelling the suspicions of security forces and the migration service.

In his opinion, law enforcement authorities apply the presumption of guilt. Aryfov drew the attention of the participants of the meeting to the fact that it comes to such cases: people are stopped at the exit of the mosque and detained if they do not have an identity card.

How come that citizens are required to carry it with them when going to prayer in the temple, asks the Sheikh.

The Chairman of the Association “Alraid” touched pon the problems faced by asylum seekers and people who decided to legally move to Ukraine, observing all the requirements of Ukrainian legislation.

These problems are known to him from his brothers in faith who asked for advice and help, but such situations are typical for all immigrants, regardless of religion or ethnicity. Thus, asylum seekers have problems with access to medical care — these issues have only worsened in the context of the pandemic — and with employment.

The Sheikh did not avoid the issue of Ukraine's extradition of refugees to States where the regime poses a threat to the life and health of these people. In particular, numerous cases of political refugees — even those who fought for Ukraine were deported to Russia, where they were later convicted and tortured in prison.

Seyran Arifov believes that the Coordinating Council at the office of the Ombudsman can become a mouthpiece to voice existing problems.