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Chechnya - The Forgotten Cry |
The Republic of Chechnya covers some 6,000 square miles and sits on
Russia’s Southern flank. With more than two fifths of the country covered with mountains,
Chechnya is stunningly beautiful with picturesque scenery found commonly within its borders.
Grozny, Chechnya's capital city, was once the biggest and most beautiful city in the North
Caucasus, and home to more than 450,000 inhabitants. Chechnya boasted an economy unrivalled
in the Caucasus and had an industrial potential worth 70 billion dollars. Life in Chechnya
was both peaceful and traditional with a population of more than 1.1 million in 1994.
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This was prior to the Russian onslaught.
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The first Chechen war between 1994 and 1996 turned Grozny into a
virtual ghost town, during the fiercest fighting 4,000 bombs and mortars rained upon the
residents of Grozny every hour. According to an American human rites activist the first Chechen
war claimed the lives of 80,000 innocent citizens, and caused the disappearance of 15,000 people.
When the Russians departed they left more than 500,000 land mines, which are maiming and killing
innocent Chechens to this day. Chechen refugees returned to their homes, praying that the peace
would last, hoping they would never witness those dark days they experienced during the war.
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The peace did not last.
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The Russians again launched an offensive on the 23rd of September
1999 with air strikes on Chechen targets; the second Chechen war is still being fought. The
firepower released on to Grozny was more severe than the first war; massive use of tactical
missiles against civilians. The present hostilities have created 502,803 refugees, and
according to the Danish Refugee Council 89,650 people continue to be displaced in the
neighbouring Republic of Ingushetia (15/06/03).
Around 200,000 now live in Grozny, most in half-destroyed buildings with bombed out windows,
leaky roofs, and no electricity, running water or heat. Many of the buildings are structurally
unsound and residents are in danger of being buried under them if they collapse. A Turkish
based relief agency has reported that 18,000 civilians have gone missing since the start of the
second war; several concentration camps have been assembled within Chechnya where innocent
Chechens are put through torture and eventually killed.
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Amnesty International clearly reported on the occasion of the EU-Russia summit;
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In so-called "mopping up” operations aimed at flushing out rebels from the local
villages, Russian soldiers have repeatedly been accused of committing atrocities, torturing and murdering
innocent Chechens. Routine reports tell of Russian soldiers wearing facemasks taking men and boys from their
homes. Many of those abducted vanish; others are found only as corpses often in shallow graves.
"We reiterate our conviction that true stability and human security in Chechnya can
only be achieved if the impunity that those responsible for 'disappearances’, extra judicial executions and
torture, including rape, continue to enjoy, is tackled decisively." (31/05/03)
"Russia should be urged to revise its policy of treating Chechnya as a no-go zone
for independent monitors." (31/05/03)
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People continue to "disappear' following detention at checkpoints and during nightly
raids. The 'disappearances' recently appear to have replaced the notorious large-scale sweep operations by
Russian federal forces. According to an unpublished government report on serious crimes committed on the
territory, between January and February 2003 126 people were abducted and 19 persons 'disappeared'.
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Words of Fatima resident of Kalinina, Grozny.
"It was Thursady 24th October 2002, the second day of the Nord - Ost hostage crisis.
Around three in the afternoon, six men in balaclavas kicked down the door and burst into
our home. They were armed and wearing camouflage fatigues with the insignia of the
Russian interior ministry.Without a word they seized Ahmed, my twenty-two year old eldest son,
and dragged him outside. They tied him to a telegraph pole. They shot him to pieces and
vanished. I had to go and pick up the scattered bits of his brain."
The disappearance of Rizvan Yaragievich Appazov.
Rizvan Yaragievich Appazov (born 1969) was reportedly detained by Russian soldiers after passport
control at a military checkpoint at the fork road leading to the villages of Vedeno and Elisthanzi
on 5th May 2003. Rizvan was travelling by bus in the direction of Grozny for some private appointments.
At the mentioned checkpoint soldiers stopped the bus. After controlling Rizvan’s passport the control
of all the other passports was stopped. Without any explanations, the military service men allegedly
brought Rizvan to a former asphalt factory, where currently a military unit of the federal armed forces
are located. The attempts of fellow passengers to clarify the motives for the detention of Rizvan had
no result. Relatives, the head of the municipality, and the local Mufti inquired about his whereabouts
and the reason for his detention. They were only able to clarify that Rizvan had been brought to the
military base at Khankala for further checks. It had been reported that a large number of prisoners
are being held at Khankala. Russian federal servicemen detained Rizvan’s brother in 2001 while herding
cattle. He remains unaccounted for to date. The reason for Rizvan's detention and his whereabouts
remain unknown.
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The abduction of Musa Khozhaevich Zaurbekov.
At around 3am on the 6th of May 2003 thirty-two year old Musa
Khozhaevich Zaurbekov was abducted from his home in Kataiama in the Staropromyslovskii region
of Grozny. Unidentified masked armed men dressed in camouflage clothing abducted him. They
arrived in several khaki coloured jeeps. They then broke into Musa's house without producing
ID or explaining the purpose of their visit. Musa's wife and children were detained in a
separate room, they were tied and gagged. Musa was eventually dragged into the street and
taken to an unknown destination. The efforts of relatives and neighbours to locate Musa have
been unfruitful; many of their requests had been ignored. Musa had only recently returned to
Chechnya in hope of a new beginning. The reason for Musa’s abduction remains unknown.
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From ruin and rubble and repeated resistance against occupying forces
in the 18th, 19th, and 20th century, Chechnya has shown the world that through sacrifice and
struggle the Rays of Imaan still shines brightly from the blood of the innocent. It seems as
though the spirit and vigour displayed by the spiritual leader of the Kafkaz, Imaam Shamil
(R.A) buried in Madinah, lives on.
Again the eternal Qur’an continues to miraculously accurately prophesise in the following
verse:
“And they did not take revenge from them (for any reason) except that they had faith in
Allah.” Surah Burooj
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However the accountability of helping and aiding our Chechen brethren
lies upon the Muslim Ummah, which has been blessed with the title of ‘The Best Ummah’ by the
Noble Prophet (S.A.W). We need to raise ourselves and become a cohesive living and breathing
Ummah, which as described by the Noble Prophet (S.A.W) “The Ummah is like a single body….” It
is the duty of the Muslim Ummah to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our Chechen brethren by
providing relief for them with whatever means we are capable of. UWT will endeavour to provide
aid to help facilitate the growing needs of the Chechen people in the form of Emergency Relief
Aid. We promise that 100% of your donations will reach those in need.
Inshallah.
Please Donate Generously
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Most Urgent Project in Chechnya |
Family Sponsorship
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family for only £50 a month |
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Chechnya
Facts |
- Status: Republic within
Russian Federation
- Population: Approximately
600,000
- Capital: Grozny
- Major languages: Chechen,
Russian
- Major religions: Islam,
Christianity
- Natural resources: Oil
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