A Crimean Tatar political prisoner has been held in strict conditions for over a year
Muslim Aliyev, a Crimean Tatar sentenced to 19 years, is being held in a maximum-security prison (MSC) and is periodically sent to a punishment cell, where he has already spent over 1,140 days. This was reported by his wife.
One of the most recent reasons for Aliyev's transfer to a punishment cell was his decision not to interrupt his prayer when the prison warden entered his cell. The court rejected the appeal against the punishment.
MSC and SHIZO are the strictest prison conditions in prisons and are used as a form of punishment: prisoners are placed in cold, small cells and are deprived of visitation rights and parcels.
Before his imprisonment, Muslim Aliyev worked as a tractor driver and was an active member of the Alushta Muslim community. He organized funerals, holidays, and performed rituals such as prayers and weddings. In 2016, he was arrested in connection with the Islamic party Hizb ut-Tahrir, and three years later, a military court sentenced him to 19 years in prison.
Pressure against Aliyev began immediately after his transfer to Bashkortostan's Penal Colony No. 2 in 2020: three weeks after his arrival, he was given his first punishment—10 days in solitary confinement. Since then, he has been regularly sent to solitary confinement, often before his previous sentence has expired.
