Terrorist Attack Unleashes Chaos and Controversy in Moscow
Click to watch the trailer of "Sabaya"
MOSCOW - Crocus City Hall, situated on the outskirts of Moscow, became the scene of horror and tragedy as gunmen stormed the venue just before a concert by the rock group “Picnic” was set to begin on Friday evening. The attack, occurring about 20 kilometres away from the Kremlin, unfolded rapidly, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.
The aftermath of the attack revealed a grim toll - at least 137 lives were lost and many more injured. The victims encompassed a wide spectrum, from elderly individuals to young children, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the violence unleashed that night. The attack marked a dark chapter in Russia's recent history, garnering international attention and condemnation.
The assailants said to be affiliated with the Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISIS-K), inflicted havoc within the hall. Russia's Investigative Committee reported that "The terrorists used a flammable liquid to set fire to the concert hall's premises, where spectators were located, including wounded."
Five years ago this month, an American-backed Kurdish and Arab militia ousted Islamic State fighters from a village in eastern Syria, the group’s last sliver of territory. Since then, the organization that once staked out a self-proclaimed caliphate across Iraq and Syria has metastasized into a more traditional terrorist group — a clandestine network of cells from West Africa to Southeast Asia engaged in guerrilla attacks, bombings, and targeted assassinations. None of the group’s affiliates have been as relentless as the Islamic State in Khorasan, which is active in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran and has set its sights on attacking Europe and beyond. In January, ISIS-K carried out twin bombings in Iran that killed scores and wounded hundreds of others at a memorial service for Iran’s former top general, Qassim Suleimani, who was targeted in a U.S. drone strike four years earlier.
The perpetrators managed to escape the scene, prompting a swift and intensive manhunt by authorities. In a surprising turn of events, the suspects were apprehended and brought before a Moscow court, visibly bearing the physical scars of their capture. As Andrei Soldatov, an expert on Russia’s security services, pointed out, "This is a sign of how far we have gone with accepting the new methods of conducting a war."
However, the use of torture during interrogation, as evidenced by the defendants' condition, drew criticism from human rights advocates and activists. Ruslan Shaveddinov, an activist and investigative journalist, affiliated with the Anti-Corruption Fund of Aleksei Navalny emphasized the need to denounce torture unequivocally. He tweeted, "It is important to say: Torture is not normal... The cops and the state today torture a terrorist, they see approval of this method, and tomorrow they will torture an activist, journalist, or anyone else. They don’t know any other way."
His words underscored a fundamental truth - that the principles of justice and human dignity must remain steadfast even in the face of heinous crimes. The tragedy in Moscow serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the imperative of upholding universal values in times of turmoil.
As Russia grapples with the aftermath of this devastating attack, the collective soul-searching continues. It is a moment that beckons us to reaffirm our commitment to compassion, integrity, and the pursuit of a more just and humane world.
As the Trailer of the week, we present you the film “Sabaya” nominated by the Cinema for Peace Awards for Most Valuable Documentary of the Year 2022 by director Hogir Hirori. The film follows a group in Syria's Al-Hol, a dangerous camp in the Middle East, as they risk their lives to save women being held by ISIS as abducted slaves.