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AUGUST 2008 |
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| CHRONICLE
AND REVISION OF RELIGIOUS EVENTS IN AZERBAIJAN IN AUGUST 2008 August 6 Chairman of State Committee to Work with Religious Structures Orujov made official visit on August 6-13 to Iran at the invitation of Culture and Islamic Relations Organization of Iran. H met with Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki, and discussed with him the possibility of strengthening of relations between the Iranian and Azeri people. Orujov met also with the heads of NGOs, culture and science men, Azerbaijani students studying in the Iranian scientific department Jamiatu-al-Mustafa-al Alamiye. August 7 "The meetings in the USA were useful to propagate Azerbaijan and our religion," Sheikh Allahshukur Pashazadeh said at the press conference on Thursday. On July 28-31 he participated in the conference in Yale University entitled: Love to God and Neighbors: What It Gives Us. He said there are a lot of opportunities in the USA to propagate for Azerbaijan, but they are not used. He noted the Azerbaijani Diaspora’s weakness, and said Azerbaijan should help this. Concerning the attitude to religion, he said Islam is wrongly interpreted in the USA. The USA wants to see isolated Islam, which is impossible. Concerning women’s involvement in the religious activities as clergymen, the Sheikh said it is a kind of tolerance well understood by the Americans. August 8 "In the religious dialogue there are a number of serious problems, but we hope that they will be solved," Turan was told by the head of the Trans-Caucasian Muslim Department (CMD), Allahshukur Pashazadeh. He did not clarify what prevents the inter-religious dialogue, but noted that the equal-right dialogue requires "the change of other religion representatives’ attitude to Islam." Concerning the situation in Iraq, the Sheikh said the USA plans to create a state based on the Sunni, Shiite and Kurd communities there. He doubted the success of such an attempt. In fact it means the split of the society, which leads to a religious split that can hardly be overcome August 17 Two people died and 13 ones were wounded during yesterday’s grenade explosion in Abu-Bekr mosque in Baku’s centre. A source from the first aid hospital told TURAN that seven of 13 people taken to the hospital yesterday were discharged after rendered assistance. Six people stayed in this hospital this morning, two of whom are in grave condition. Last night Ministers of Internal Affairs and National Security Ramil Usubov and Eldar Makhmudov visited the crime scene. Search for people involved in the explosion continues. The mosque will be closed till end of investigation. Sources from Prosecutor’s Office reported that various versions of the crime, including act of terrorism and personal animosity, are under consideration. Narimanov region Prosecutor’s Office said the matter has been brought into Baku Prosecutor’s Office. Ramiz Rzayev, press officer of Baku Prosecutor’s Office, told TURAN that investigative group has been working on the crime scene and he will be able to make any comments only by 4.00 p.m. Security services reported that Abu-Bekr mosque is visited by radical Wahabits. But the mosque administration claimed that Sunis-Salafites perform religious rites here. * SCWRS condemned act of terrorism in Abu Bekr mosque "Attack on Abu-Bekr mosque, irrespective of its motives, is first of all a human tragedy. We deeply mourn over victims of the act of terrorism and condemn those who have committed this crime," Ilgar Ibragimoglu, head of Juma mosque in Icheri-Sheher, told TURAN. Ibragimoglu said it is too early to comment on the reasons of the crime, but he stressed that the attack must be considered within the context of the processes in the world and region. He said the crime is not typical for the Azerbaijani society. "Solution to the conflicts by exploding grenades in the mosque is not peculiar to the Azerbaijani mentality," said Ibragimoglu. Ibragimoglu added that such methods of the conflict settlement are characteristic for some provinces of Russia, Pakistan, Iraq and other countries. He stressed importance of strengthening of religious education of population. He added that this topic must be discussed on television; otherwise people try to get religious knowledge in the basements of religious extremists * Religious books selling
of which is prohibited was confiscated in Abu Bekr Moscow as
a result of joint operation of National Security Ministry and
SCWRS. August 18 What happened in Abu Bekr Mosque is a result of conflict between the two groups which hate each other, therefore it must not be presented as a religious problem, head of Caucasian Muslims Department A. Pashazade said. August 19 A group of 40 clergymen of Azerbaijan condemned the attack on the Abu Bakr Mosque on August 17, and treated it as a crime not compatible with Islam. They said no reason could justify such a cruel attack endangering the lives of so many people. "This is a challenge to the national and spiritual safety of Azerbaijan," the statement reads. The clergymen stated that all the social groups must demonstrate they would never allow destabilization of the situation in Azerbaijan. Only in this case the forces trying to turn Azerbaijan into a ground for conflicts and violence will refuse of their plans, the statement read. In their opinion, the events are directly connected with the low level of the religious enlightenment of Azerbaijan’s population. Only thanks to enlightenment the society will be able to "effectively resist all kinds of provocation and disclose the forces which want to realize their filthy aims in Azerbaijan under the religious mask," the document reads. The authors called on all the people (first of all, religious ones) to condemn the criminal assault. The statement was signed by the Imam of the Juma (Friday) Mosque in Icheri Sheher (the Baku Fortress), Ilgar Ibrahimoglu and others. * August 20 Explosion in the mosque can be a result of the conflict in Georgia, but it also can be some policy aimed at destabilization of situation during the coming presidential campaign, Head of Mountainous Jewish Community Semen Ikhiilov said. August 21 Two people were killed and 19 were wounded in the explosion in the Abu Bakr Mosque in Baku on August 17. The list of the victims includes Vaghif Abbasov, a Baku resident born in 1957, and Tayar Veliyev born in Agsu in 1984, the Advisor of the Baku City Public Prosecutor Office, Ramiz Rzayev said. Religious literature of hostile contents was revealed and confiscated from the flat, which Emin Rasulov from Astara rented in Plotnikov Street. Rasulov was detained as suspect, and the Sabayil Court arrested him under Article 283.1 of the Criminal Code (Actions Causing National, Racial and Religious Hatred). Rasulov’s alleged participation in the explosion of the Abu Bakr Mosque is being investigated. According to other sources in the law enforcement bodies, the investigation is revealing the sources of financing the local Wahabiites by a number of business companies. A lawsuit has been filed on the explosion on the following articles: Brutal Murder, Murder of Two and More People, and Possession of Explosives. The investigation is conducted by the Interior Ministry, the National Security Ministry and the General Public Prosecutor Office. August 23 It is very difficult to say if explosion in Abu Bekr mosque was the act of terrorism or this crime had any other motive, Gamet Suleymanov, imam of Abu Bekr mosque, told Turan. He said investigation will establish real reasons of the crime. He did not rule out that the crime has been committed by external forces. Suleymanov said he will make statement after detention of people that attacked the mosque. Suleymanov said he does not know the person detained on suspicion of explosion in Abu Bekr mosque and said he has known that from press. Suleymanov said he continues his treatment at home. August 23 Pilgrims are not allowed to make foods at the territory of worship Eskhabi-kehv in Nakhchivan. According to Culture and Tourism Ministry of Nakhchivan, the reason for prohibition is that giving meal in holy places is contrary to Islam, and the other reason is anti-sanitary. August 18 Chairman of permanent
parliamentary commission for human rights Rabiyat Aslanova does
not exclude the presence of forces which want to break stability
and tolerance in religious sphere in the country. August 25 Security measures in
three synagogues in Baku have been reportedly strengthened,
including the presence of police near synagogues and supervision
on the part of law enforcement bodies. The synagogue representatives
have been warned that they should be very attentive and inform
about suspicious people or subjects. These measures have been
taken after the explosion of a grenade in the Abu Bakr Mosque
in Baku on August 17. At the end of last week the Israeli press
reported about possible acts of terrorism against synagogues
in Azerbaijan. The synagogue leaders and the Jewish communities
have not commented on the situation. * Gamet Suleymanov, imam of Abu Bekr mosque, hopes that the mosque will resume its activities till beginning of Ramazan September 1. He said in his exclusive interview to Turan that his health condition has been improving after explosion in the mosque on August 17, 2008. "My wounds heal up and stitches have been removed," he added. Suleymanov he was interrogated during three days after the explosion, but results of investigation are unknown. Suleymanov said beards of 20 members of his religious community were shaved off on August 26, 2008 in the police stations No 8 and 9 in Sabail region. One believer’s head has been also shaved off, said imam. Imam said majority of the believers is Karabakh war veterans. Suleymanov said people that committed act of terrorism in the mosque must be found and punished. Suleymanov found it difficult to say who can be involved in the terrorism attack. "These are, probably, some radicals," said Suleymanov. He confirmed his previous statements about some religious communities linked to foreign countries, which are opposed to the mosque. Asked if reports about liquidation of the community’s registration are true, Suleymanov said he has no information yet. On August 17, 2008 in the evening grenade was fired in the mosque’s window. Two people died and 13 ones were wounded. Abu Bekr mosque is popular among Wahabits. August 29 Police did not allow
the believers of Abu Bekr mosque, closed after explosion on
August 17, to make Friday namaz in the Lezgi mosque in Icheri
Sheher. August 30 The actions of police
not allowing Friday namaz in mosques once again testifies incompetence
of authorities, said the head of DEVAMM (Center of Protection
of Conscious and Religion) Ilgar Ibrahimoglu. If these actions
were connected with security measures, the television was to
inform that it is not recommended to make namaz in the open
air, Ibrahimoglu said. It is inadmissible to use police. This
work must be connected with the representatives of State Committee
for Work with Religious Structures (SCWRS.) The police could
interfere in case of violation of public order, Ibrahimoglu
considers. Conduction of such measures on the eve of Ramazan
only strengthened negative moment of these events, he considers.
Latest events show that nor are neither SCWRS, nor spiritual
institutes left from the soviet times able to lead processes
of religious life and orientate under crisis situations. * August 30 Employees of law enforcement bodies (220 km to the north of Baku) conducted operation against wahabits. Armed incident took place not far from the village of Hazra in Gusar between border men and wahabits trying to cross border illegally. One soldier died and one was wounded. Revision There are several groupings
among the members of the religious community of the Abu-Bakr
Mosque, said the Imam of the Mosque, Gamet Suleymanov in his
interview to Turan in October 2007. He said the community included
Sunnites-Salafites, among whom there were radical groups, such
as Modern Hevariji, Jamiati Al-Teklif Vel-Hijret, Ihvan and
others. The activity of these groups was dangerous, as they
discussed such questions as coming to power in violent ways.
Therefore, Suleymanov considered these groups a real threat,
and believed that not only law enforcement bodies, but also
common civilians should fight against them. He said those groups
were concentrated mainly in Sumgayit, Zagatali and several other
northern regions. Wahabiism began to develop in Azerbaijan in
the 1990s, but the Wahabiites call themselves Sunnites and supporters
of pure Islam. They deny mediators between the Muslims and Allah
(mullahs and religious departments). Azerbaijan’s law enforcement
bodies accuse Wahabiites of attacking the law enforcement bodies
in Azerbaijan’s north and of terrorizing the local population
in the early 2000s. In autumn last year Senior Lieutenant Kamran
Asadov escaped from the army and took several sub-machine guns.
He prepared armed attacks on the Embassies of USA and Great
Britain in Baku; the Wahabiites also attacked petrol stations
and other objects. Two weeks after Suleymanov’s interview to
Turan a group of 18 people led by a citizen of Saudi Arabia
(nicknamed Abu-Jafar) was disarmed. Then it was stated that
the group belonged to religious extremists and had conspiracy
flats and supporters in Sumgayit. After that a fight against
Suleymanov began in Internet and radicals began attacks on him.
Suleymanov was announced out-of-religion (Zindig), and they
demanded he should leave the mosque. Last year the fight between
different groups in the Abu Bakr Mosque strengthened, so it
can be supposed that one of the radical groups indignant with
the Imam’s views could be involved in the attack on the mosque
on August 17.
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