CHRONICLE AND REVISION OF RELIGIOUS EVENTS IN AZERBAIJAN IN MARCH 2008

March, 2008

CHRONICLE

March 4

In order to increase elective activity of people at the coming presidential elections to be held in October, the State Committee for Work with Religious Structures (SCWRS) conducted seminar-training "2008 year: believers as electors", Idayat Orujov, the head of the SCWRS said at the seminar.
He said there are some forces which want to use the religious factor, so it is necessary to pay attention to this question and to revise the existing legislation; 31 of them are non-Islamic religious communities.

March 7

Vatican’s state secretary Cardinal Tarchizio Bertoni arrived in Baku to participate in the ceremony of opening of Catholic Church in Baku.
* The Catholic Church was built in the Nobel Avenue in Baku.

March 7

The head of Caucasian Muslims Department (CMD) Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazade received the state secretary of Vatican Tarchizio Bertoni. The guest treated the opening of Catholic Church in Azerbaijan as coming of one more temples into Azerbaijan’s religious community. He said that thank to efforts of all confessions inter-religious tolerance and agreement is developed in Azerbaijan.
Pashazade called on all 5,000 ambassadors of Vatican all over the world to inform the truth about the Karabakh conflict band the tragedy of innocent killed people. Sheikhulislam invited Bertoni the opening of the main mosque Teze-Pir after reconstruction. Bertoni noted with great satisfaction that he was received in Azerbaijan with the since of fraternity and friendship. He treated it as a result of historically formed traditions; he said that Azerbaijan was on the right way of religious tolerance, and said that it was thanked to the president and Pashazade personally.
"Your activity is an example that religion should not be used for hostility and for political purposes, "Cardinal said, and added that religious stability is the guarantor for peace and stability.
Cardinal was received also by the President Ilham Aliyev.

March 18

Some Publishing Houses issue religious literature without the permission of SCWRS, Orujov said during the meeting with the heads of the leading Publishing Houses functioning in Azerbaijan.
Religious books are brought to Azerbaijan from abroad, or are published in the country, Orujov said. He said that last year 35 appeals regarding publications of religious literature were received. It was allowed to publish 20 books, and it was decided to send to expertise the 13 books. Publication of two books was prohibited. Orujov did not name Publishing Houses which publish books inciting national hatred.
Heads of the "Azerbaijan national encyclopedia" scientific center, Azerneshr, Adiloglu, Apostrof, Shirvanneshr and the Director of the Commercial "Ulu" firm participated in the meeting.

March 26

Report of the International Crisis Group "Azerbaijan: State and Independent Islam".
He participants discussed the disclosure of act of terrorism in Azerbaijan in the end of 2007, and noted that the Islamic extremism is very dangerous for this country rich in oil.
After the destruction of USSR in 1991 there appeared Shiite and Sunnite groups which refused to admit official Muslim clergy.
Some of those groups pursue political goals, but there can hardly be one or two who could use force to eliminate the state. Nevertheless, the government is concerned with regarding these "independent groups" and tries to control them including taking measures, even repression.

After its independence and due to its geographical location Azerbaijan has turned into a target for religious movements. Missionaries and charitable organizations from Iran, Middle East, Turkey, and northern Caucasian arrived in Azerbaijan to spread religions. Some of them were connected even with military Islamic groups, including Al-Qaeda. Most of them were evicted, and only some Turkish groups continue their activity allowed by the state.
Salafism about which we have heard nothing for more than 20 years ago emerged in the north of the country. Groups of Shiites which refuse to admit the power of clergy supported by state also increased. The state suspects all independent expressions of Islam, and tries to control such groups through the SCWRS and the CMD. Those who do not obey are persecuted, ill treated and detained. The government explains such a tough approach by the necessity of fight against extremism and prevention of terrorism. In the beginning of 1990 the state was weak and some extremist groups activated in the country. The state has strengthened now, but sometimes it is difficult to determine who really has relations with extremists.

It is evident that the government applies extreme measures to control the religious activity, trails are held behind the closed doors, and testimonies are often collected under force.
Independent religious communities, just like the members of political opposition state that the authorities exaggerate the threat of Islamic terror in order to obtain a silent agreement for their non-democratic actions. This tactic by authorities increases the possibility of appeals of peaceful groups to return measures: jihad and radicalization.

The government made steps towards cooperation with believers through improvement of religious education of young clergy and the change of the CMD. It tries to cultivate native Islam based on local values and traditions, to stop the intervention of foreign religion, to obtain the attraction of NGOs and independent communities into broad debates about the state and religion. One of the most important tasks is to develop relations with independent religious communities so that to stop their criminalization and respect of their religious rights.
One of main tasks is to improve the relations with independent religious communities which would stop criminalization and respect their religious rights.

27.03: Nakhchivan’s authorities adopted decision to regulate funeral ceremonies and wedding. From now there will not great wedding parties or pompous funeral processes in Nakhchivan. The mullahs in mosques were given written "instructions" that there should be nothing but tea and sugar, and there is no need to use lemon, halva or plough. Those who ignore these instructions are subjected to pressure. Policemen will watch the following of these instructions.
The term of funeral processes is restricted up to days, and after 19:00 people should go away.

According to local observers, the goal is to prevent the assembly of many people in one place. Concerning wedding parties, there cannot be two wedding parties on the part of groom and on the part of bride. It is allowed to hold only one wedding party, and the menu is restricted only up to two main courses.

REVISION

About the decision of authorities to regulate mourning ceremonies.

On March 28 Bizim Yol newspaper published an article titled "Three different points of view regarding unofficial instruction by authorities on mourning ceremonies".
The author of the article appealed to the expert for religious questions Elshad Miri , a politician born in Nakhchivan Gurban Mamedov and the lawyer Alovsat Aliyev. Theolog, a teacher of "Western" University Elshad Miry was not aware of these innovations, but said that if it is really so, then it is very good. Even the prophet said that mourning should not last more than three days.

Lately the conduction of mourning ceremonies has turned into sphere of business, and it is tax liable. Hundreds of people earn money by providing such services. The number of mullahs has increased considerably, and it is contrary to Islam. Unfortunately, the people calling themselves mullahs are mostly uneducated, and cannot spread Islamic values.

It would very good if such instruction was applied in all other regions of Azerbaijan.
The experts consider that interference of executive bodies into religious ceremonies takes place because of officials responsible for religious sphere and religious men. He said that the interference of state under such situation is natural.

Famous politician and lawyer Gurban Mamedov said that the new rules noted in the newspaper have been introduced long ago, and not thank to the instruction by Vasif Talibov, but at the initiative of local clergy.

"It is very difficult to live in Nakhchivan , there are not working places, people are kidnapped. How can people conduct such expensive ceremonies?

Religious ceremonies are part of tradition which has been formed for hundreds years. It is not possible to regulate them by instructions. Even totalitarian bolshevist system did not manage to liquate our mourning rituals. Vasif Talibov would not b able to change anything by his order,. It is a demand of society. Thanks to Nakhchivan’s clergy that they have understood it.
The lawyer Alovsat Aliyev said that unofficial instruction of the leadership of Nakhchivan about interference into mourning ceremonies is illegal: "There are not any legal norms conducted with execution of religious ritual. So , giving such instructions by Vasif Talibov is illegal. To stop the activity of mullahs is a violation of the freedom of religion. It is the task of CMD. Conduction of such rituals is not a violation of public order. In legal state everything must be regulated by law. To reform mourning ceremonies it is necessary to enlighten people, and not use illegal administrative methods.

Azerbaijan’s Islamic Party condemns world Zionism.

Press-secretary of the Islamic Party Akif Heydarov made a number of statements at the press-conference.
"Azerbaijan’s Islamic party stated more than once that the OSCE Minsk Group is not able and is not going to promote the resolution of the Karabakh conflict. The latest events proved our rightness", he said regarding the refusal of the OSCE Minsk Group to support the UNO Resolution on Nagorno Karabakh. Then Heydarov touched on the subject on genocide of Azerbaijanis on March 31, 1918. "Bloody events in 1905-1907 and in 1918 are part of scenario planned by great powers against Azerbaijanis and Muslim cities. These interests are backed up by great powers of the world, he said. According to Heydarov , lately the growing number of attacks on Azerbaijan is that our country is a Muslim country. "Every year millions of people accept Islam and the West is concerned with it. As a result, they strengthen anti-Islamic mood," he said.
Heydarov is sure that the crusade of the West against Islam and Muslim countries continues, and has acquired a form of ideological aggression against the Islamic culture and religion. "We more often become witnesses of provocation and insulting caricatures on Islam and the Prophet Mohammed," he said.

As an example he mentioned an anti-Islamic film "Fitna" made recently by the chairman of the rights-party for freedom , member of Holland parliament Hert Vilders. Heydarov is convinced that such provocation is controlled from single world center backed up by Zionism, and Israel.

Deputy Chairman of the Islamic Party hajji Vagif Abdullayev stated that recently the Knesset (parliament of Israel) discussed the question on Armenian genocide. "On the one hand Azerbaijan speaks about its friendship with Azerbaijan, on the other hand it discusses the question on Armenian genocide." It is a policy of double standards. But in fact, Israel is a country-aggressor, which occupied Palestine, and Armenia occupied Azerbaijan’s territories," Abdullayev said.

He expressed solidarity with the previous operator that cochairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group have made nothing during 15 years to settle the Karabakh conflict.
"The Islamic Party considers that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen should be deprived authorities to settle the Karabakh conflict," he said.

The conference adopted a statement calling on all Muslim states to give relevant answer to the insult of Islam and to break diplomatic relations with Holland.
It was noted that the present leadership of Israel is fighting against Muslims and the humanity.

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