2023-10-24 11:23:00
Crew Against Torture
“Russian authorities must promptly investigate a threat to the life of prominent human rights lawyer Magomed Alamov and his family and provide them with effective protection”, declared Amnesty International.
On October 23, Magomed Alamov, who works for the non-governmental organization Team Against Torture, dedicated to helping victims of domestic gender violence in the North Caucasus, received threats from relatives of a young woman who had run away from her home in Ingushetia with the help of the organization.
In an audio recording made public by local human rights defenders, Magomed Alamov is heard saying, while speaking on the phone with the young woman from her family home: “I am in your house, surrounded by your family. My life and the life of my family is in danger. They set a condition: they give you a week to return home. If you don’t come back, they will kill me.” Colleagues of Magomed Alamov immediately contacted law enforcement agencies, but as of this writing, they have not taken any action. Magomed Alamov was able to leave the house without hindrance, but fears that he and his family are still in danger.
“The inaction of the authorities in a situation where a human rights lawyer’s life is at risk because of his work is simply unacceptable,” said Natalia Prilutskaya, Russia researcher at Amnesty International.
“The authorities must act urgently to provide effective protection to Magomed Alamov and his family, and without delay carry out a thorough, independent and impartial investigation into the threats made against him and his family in order to identify those responsible.”
“The case of Magomed Alamov further highlights an alarming reality in which Russian authorities continually fail to act against the surge of cases of domestic gender-based violence reported across Russia. This includes reports from the North Caucasus, where a growing number of reports paint a grim picture of domestic gender-based violence perpetrated primarily against young women trying to build an independent life away from their family or separate from their partners. Many are forcibly kept in the family or, if they manage to escape, they are forcibly returned to the family home or that of their partner. Unfortunately, these human rights violations persist with the complicity of law enforcement officials who should combat these injustices.”
According to the Anti-Torture Team, the threats against Magomed Alamov came from relatives of a young woman who hold high positions in Ingushetia.
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