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full version - World Organisation Against Torture

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Violence <strong>Against</strong> Women: 10 Reports / Year 2003husband searched for her for four months, and then she wasfound in the basement of small house in Grozny, where shehad been killed by three bullets, one in the back of her headand two in her chest. There was also a deep cut runningacross her abdomen. All efforts by her husband to investigateand find justice on this case have been thwarted bythreats and violence against him. 89Additionally, in recent months, in an effort to find female suicidebombers, women are at greater risk of being detained and thus, potentiallyvulnerable to violence while in detention. After the suicide bombings inTushino, allegedly committed by women terrorists, the governmentreportedly issued Order No. 12/309 on July 9, 2003, known as operation“Fatima,” whereby police were instructed to detain all women wearing thetraditional Muslim headscarves. 90 As part of this new operation, accordingto testimonies, women are strip searched at checkpoints. Althoughwomen guards are supposed to conduct these searches, oftentimes maleguards are present. People from Chechnya are outraged by this practicebecause, in their culture, making a woman undress is a severe form ofhumiliation. With regard to searches, it is also reported that pregnantwomen are vulnerable to being searched at checkpoints because the soldierswant to verify that the women are actually pregnant and not hidingexplosives. 91One case resulting from operation “Fatima” is the disappearance ofAyshat Saydulayeva. According to reports, Ms. Saydulayeva was arrestedin her home village in the Urus-Martan District, being accused of havingcontacts with guerrillas based on the allegation that she had photos of herselfwith members of the Chechen resistance. She has not been seen sinceher arrest and her whereabouts are unknown. 92 Another recent case concerneda woman who had received a letter from a friend, who was one ofthe women who participated in the Moscow hostage taking, previous tothat attack. According to the report, members of the FSB arrested therecipient of the letter and detained her for four days. When she wasreleased, they warned her that if a terrorist attack happens, she will be thefirst suspect. 93Women are also targeted because of their relationship to fighters on eitherside of the conflict. For instance, the body of Mrs. Tsagareva, sister of a320

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