Russia detains 7 members of banned extremist group

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said Wednesday it had detained seven members of the Tablighi Jamaat religious organization, which has been banned in Russia as an extremist group.

The group, consisting of Central Asian natives, was charged with propaganda of extremism ideology and the recruitment of new members, the FSB statement said.

"Three leaders and four active members of the clandestine cell were detained, who held gatherings of organization members, during which they spread the ideology of Tablighi Jamaat, which undermines the foundations of Islam, and involved new supporters in the destructive activity," the statement said.

The FSB said it had seized forbidden literature and paraphernalia at the residences of the detainees.

Tablighi Jamaat, also known as the Society for Spreading Faith, has been banned in Russia and some Central Asian countries.