Muslim man jailed in Russia over Hizb ut-Tahrir links dies in penal colony
A Muslim man jailed in Russia over alleged involvement in the banned group Hizb ut-Tahrir has died in a penal colony.
Rustam Khalikov, 49, from the city of Chelyabinsk, is believed to have died on 27 September in Penal Colony No. 4 in Penza Oblast, the human rights project, Free120, said. The cause of his death is unknown.
Rustam Khalikov was arrested in November 2019 and sentenced to 12 years in prison on charges of taking part in Hizb ut-Tahrir and involving others in the group.
Hizb ut-Tahrir is an international Islamist organisation that Russia designated a terrorist organisation in 2003.
His mother has said that he was interested in the group’s activities but was not a member. She has also said that religious literature was planted on him during a search.
