AZERI CLERIC SAYS WAHHABISM THREAT “EXAGGERATED” – PAPER

Ekspress, Baku
28 Dec 04

A senior Azeri cleric has accused the religious authorities of
exaggerating the “threat” of Wahhabism to the country. In an exclusive
interview with a news agency carried by the Azerbaijani newspaper
Ekspress, Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahsukur Pasazada said “the threat is
there, to some extent… However, this must not be exaggerated”. He
also downplayed reports about an alleged conflict with some state
officials. The following is an excerpt from report by Azerbaijani
newspaper Ekspress on 28 December headlined “Sheikh-ul-Islam is angry”
and subheaded “Haci Allahsukur Pasazada ‘There are people who want to
set the state against me'”; subheadings have been inserted
editorially:

The chairman of the Board of the Muslims of the Caucasus (BMC),
Sheikh-ul-Isla m Allahsukur Pasazada, has given an exclusive interview
to APA news agency.

Involvement in politics

(Correspondent) There are reports about mutual dissatisfaction between
the BMC and the State Committee for Work with Religious Structures
(SCWRS). Chairman of the SCWRS Rafiq Aliyev has even recently levelled
serious accusations against you. He accused you of engaging in
politics.

(Pasazada) We should ask Rafiq Aliyev what does he mean by
politics. For instance, I wrote a letter of condemnation to Gorbachev
when the 20 January tragedy happened (Soviet military crackdown on
demonstrators in Baku in 1990), and I have written a letter to (former
Russian President Boris) Yeltsin about the Chechens. This is my
politics.

Etibar Mammadov, chairman of AMIP (Azarbaycan Milli Istiqlal Party)
has resigned. He had the objective to come to power because he is a
politician, whereas my activities are directed at making my nation
progress and succeed. Should I give up this stance, I will also have
to give up Azerbaijani citizenship. Does this imply that I should be
indifferent to what is happening in Karabakh? Should I refuse to make
statements on human rights?

(Passage omitted: minor details)

Propagating Atheism

(Correspondent) One of Rafiq Aliyev’s accusations was that the BMC
intervenes in the operations of the SCWRS.

(Pasazada) In fact, the SCWRS is a state agency. They have the seal
and power to intervene in the operations of the religious bodies. They
also carry out the registration of the religious organizations. We do
not have that power.

For instance, we say that Islamic values should be considered when
shrines are created. Not every place should be recognized as a
shrine. Not only do they create shrines, but they also create their
branches. You cannot do that.

(Correspondent) Then who is to clear up the matter?

(Pasazada) Atheism is being openly propagated here, that is it. The
state must monitor the process. How can a person believe in a shrine
called Xoruzlu (“xoruz” is rooster in Azeri)? Only Islam knows the
roots of this matter.

Pasazada’s opponents

(Correspondent) It is said that the group of your opponents includes
(head of the presidential administration) Ramiz Mehdiyev and (head of
the administration’s humanitarian policy department) Fatma
Abdullazada, in addition to Rafiq Aliyev. What do you think of this?

(Pasazada) Rafiq Aliyev cannot go against me. I have a good
relationship with Mehdiyev, as well as with Abdullazada. I do not talk
even against Rafiq Aliyev.

As a Sheikh I take full responsibility for every statement I make. The
faith of the people should not be allowed to rot.

Abdullazada and Mehdiyev are my friends on the family level. I know
Rafiq Aliyev as well. I was the one who found him and brought him
here. He used to be here.

I think that those who want to set the state against me are the ones
who create this conflict. My activities as chairman of the BMC have
nothing to do with the state.

The BMC is regarded sometimes even as an NGO, whereas we are involved
in religious activities.

The state and the board of Muslims

(Correspondent) The powers of the SCWRS have recently been
expanded. What is your attitude to the expanded remit of the SCWRS?

(Pasazada) They only have the powers granted by the state. Those
cannot be considered religious powers because they neither pray, nor
lead the prayers. We have our own rights and nobody can take them
away.

(Correspondent) In a statement to the press you have said that you
have a social base and there is no need for worrying about it. To whom
was the message addressed?

(Pasazada) The faithful ones make up my social base. A religious
person will not betray his country. They are the ones who love their
God and their land. These people are not dangerous.

The message was addressed to whoever fears me. I only know that it was
not addressed to the state because I am an advocate for the head of
state. If private individuals are scared, it is another matter.

Religious tolerance in Azerbaijan

(Correspondent) How would you assess the current level of religious
tolerance in Azerbaijan?

(Pasazada) Compared to other countries, tolerance is more visible in
Azerbaijan. Even if you take Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan or Russia, our
situation may serve as a good example for them. This is a result of
the correct work which I have organized. I have even been accused of
politicking because of that. However, if the truth is in politics,
then I am engaged in it.

Rafiq Aliyev should not compare me with (Patriarch of Moscow and All
Russia) Aleksiy II or (Catholicos of All Armenians) Garegin. I have
not left my land and run.

I was born is Lankaran (southwestern Azerbaijan) but I am ready to die
as a martyr for Karabakh at any moment. He (presumably referring to
Rafiq Aliyev) was the one who left the land and ran, not me. And now
he deems me inferior to Garegin. I am not inferior to any one of
them. I talk on equal terms on all issues even with Aleksiy II. It is
not right to appraise me like this.

Wahhabism in Azerbaijan

(Correspondent) Is there a threat of Wahhabism in Azerbaijan?

(Pasazada) The threat is there, to some extent, like anywhere
else. However, this must not be exaggerated. The SCWRS was set up
because of the exaggeration of Wahhabism. And then Wahhabism
disappeared. To preserve the committee, they sometimes talk about the
threat of Wahhabism, as if Wahhabism would ruin everything should the
committee cease to exist. This is their political stance.

(Correspondent) Is it possible to monitor the activities of young
people who have received religious education abroad? Sometimes various
deviations can be observed in their subsequent conduct.

(Pasazada) Yes, it is possible to monitor that. However, it depends on
the channel they used to study abroad. Education is not restricted now
and this creates some difficulties. Still, we are responsible for the
people we sent ourselves.