5 months since she heard from her son

"My son disappeared and it has been two months already. I filed a complaint with the police... and they said they would look at it. I'm counting on the Almighty and, after him, on you. I have no one else to expect help from... I plead: help me, Ramzan." This message was sent by Malika Bakayeva to Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of the Chechen Republic, in Russia. Malika is the mother of Zelim, a 26-year-old pop singer that disappeared in Chechnya last year. There are strong indications that he is among the victims of the "anti-gay purge" in the region, where authorities are still kidnapping and torturing gay and bisexual men. More than 28,000 people have already signed our petition demanding #JusticeForZelim and the many others persecuted in Chechnya. If thousands of people hear about Zelim's story, we'll have a better chance of pushing Russian authorities to take concrete action and provide Malika – and the world – with answers. Luc, will you sign and you help us reach 50,000 signatures? – Matt SOURCE: (in Russian)  ● "I'm counting on God and on you, Ramzan" – Kavkaz.Realii, September 16, 2017 Previous email: -------------------

Luc, Zelim Bakaev is a young pop singer from Chechnya, Russia. Last August, he traveled home for his sister's wedding. He was reportedly dragged into a car by security officials – and hasn't been seen since. There are indications that Zelim is one of the victims of the atrocious "anti-gay purge" in Chechnya, where local authorities have been kidnapping, torturing, and murdering gay and bisexual men. Russian authorities promised to investigate, but have taken no concrete action. Today marks five months since Zelim's disappearance, so the Russian LGBT Network and All Out are launching #JusticeForZelim, a global campaign demanding a thorough investigation into this case. I am confident that Zelim is still alive and we need your help to find him. Please sign to demand #JusticeForZelim. There is little doubt Zelim was arrested because of his sexual orientation. Some survivors of the anti-gay attacks in Chechnya told me they had been questioned about his sexuality. At only 26, Zelim was building a musical career in Moscow. He had been banned from performing in Chechnya because, according to his friends, his music was considered too "different". Zelim has become the face of Chechnya's anti-gay crackdown here in Russia. If we get his story out to the rest of the world, we can put the atrocities happening to gay and bisexual men in Chechnya back in the spotlight – and demand an end to it. Luc, will you add your name to our #JusticeForZelim campaign, and demand answers from Russian authorities? Thanks for going All Out, Igor Kochetkov Russian LGBT Network SOURCES:  ● ︎Singer still missing after Chechnya's anti-gay purge – Human Rights Watch, 7 November 2017  ● Famous singer Zelimkhan Bakaev goes missing after being detained in Chechnya – Crime Russia, 17 August 2017 Want to support All Out's ongoing work? Our tiny team stretches every dollar to make it count. DONATE TODAY

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