Abdulla Alishayev
Encyclopedia
Abdulla Telman Alishayev (died September 3, 2008) was a Russia
n Dagestan
i journalist and writer. Alishayev was the television host of a popular mainstream
Islamic television station
in the Republic of Dagestan, a multi-ethnic Russian republic within the Caucasus
region.
Alishayev hosted a popular Islamic themed television program called, "Peace to Your Home," which aired on TV Chirkey (Tv-Chirkei), a mainstream Muslim television station
. He was a prominent opponent of fundamentalist Islam within Dagestan
and Russia
. He had recently hosted and aired a documentary
on TV Chirkey criticizing radical forms of Islam. Alishayev was particularly critical of Wahhabism
, which has taken root in neighboring Chechnya
, and actively advocated for more moderate forms of Islam.
Alishayev was shot in the head and shoulder by two unknown assailants while driving his car on the evening of September 2, 2008. The attack took place in the Dagestani capital city
, Makhachkala
. He was rushed to Makhachkala’s Central Hospital, where he was operated on. However, Alishayev died on the morning of Wednesday, September 3, 2008. His funeral was attended by over 1,000 people.
U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack
said of the killing of Alishayev that "There needs to be people held to account for what happened. There is in Russia itself, unfortunately, a sad recent history of violence against journalists who are merely seeking to do their job. And the kinds of threats, intimidation, and violence that's used against a free press
or those seeking to work in a free press in Russia have been unacceptable."
Alishayev's killing came less than three days after the police shooting of journalist
and businessman, Magomed Yevloyev
, the owner of Ingushetiya.ru
, in the nearby Republic of Ingushetia. He Yevloyev was in police custody at the time of his death.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n Dagestan
Dagestan
The Republic of Dagestan is a federal subject of Russia, located in the North Caucasus region. Its capital and the largest city is Makhachkala, located at the center of Dagestan on the Caspian Sea...
i journalist and writer. Alishayev was the television host of a popular mainstream
Mainstream
Mainstream is, generally, the common current thought of the majority. However, the mainstream is far from cohesive; rather the concept is often considered a cultural construct....
Islamic television station
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
in the Republic of Dagestan, a multi-ethnic Russian republic within the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
region.
Alishayev hosted a popular Islamic themed television program called, "Peace to Your Home," which aired on TV Chirkey (Tv-Chirkei), a mainstream Muslim television station
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
. He was a prominent opponent of fundamentalist Islam within Dagestan
Dagestan
The Republic of Dagestan is a federal subject of Russia, located in the North Caucasus region. Its capital and the largest city is Makhachkala, located at the center of Dagestan on the Caspian Sea...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. He had recently hosted and aired a documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
on TV Chirkey criticizing radical forms of Islam. Alishayev was particularly critical of Wahhabism
Wahhabism
Wahhabism is a religious movement or a branch of Islam. It was developed by an 18th century Muslim theologian from Najd, Saudi Arabia. Ibn Abdul Al-Wahhab advocated purging Islam of what he considered to be impurities and innovations...
, which has taken root in neighboring Chechnya
Chechnya
The Chechen Republic , commonly referred to as Chechnya , also spelled Chechnia or Chechenia, sometimes referred to as Ichkeria , is a federal subject of Russia . It is located in the southeastern part of Europe in the Northern Caucasus mountains. The capital of the republic is the city of Grozny...
, and actively advocated for more moderate forms of Islam.
Alishayev was shot in the head and shoulder by two unknown assailants while driving his car on the evening of September 2, 2008. The attack took place in the Dagestani capital city
Capital City
Capital City was a television show produced by Euston Films which focused on the lives of investment bankers in London living and working on the corporate trading floor for the fictional international bank Shane-Longman....
, Makhachkala
Makhachkala
-Twin towns/sister cities:Makhachkala is twinned with: Sfax, Tunisia Siping, China Spokane, United States Vladikavkaz, Russia Yalova, Turkey Ndola, Zambia-See also:*...
. He was rushed to Makhachkala’s Central Hospital, where he was operated on. However, Alishayev died on the morning of Wednesday, September 3, 2008. His funeral was attended by over 1,000 people.
U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack
Sean McCormack
Sean McCormack is a former United States Assistant Secretary of State. He was sworn in as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs and Department Spokesman on June 2, 2005, and served until January 20, 2009.-Early career:...
said of the killing of Alishayev that "There needs to be people held to account for what happened. There is in Russia itself, unfortunately, a sad recent history of violence against journalists who are merely seeking to do their job. And the kinds of threats, intimidation, and violence that's used against a free press
Freedom of the press
Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and published materials...
or those seeking to work in a free press in Russia have been unacceptable."
Alishayev's killing came less than three days after the police shooting of journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and businessman, Magomed Yevloyev
Magomed Yevloyev
Magomed Yakhyаvich Yevloyev was an Ingush journalist, lawyer, and businessman, and the owner of the news website Ingushetiya.ru, known for being highly critical of Murat Zyazikov, the President of Ingushetia, a federal subject of Russia bordering Chechnya...
, the owner of Ingushetiya.ru
Ingushetiya.ru
Ingushetia.org is a non-government Ingush news agency and web site and was owned by Magomed Yevloyev. Its server is located in the United States....
, in the nearby Republic of Ingushetia. He Yevloyev was in police custody at the time of his death.