POLITICAL MOTIVATION BEHIND MOSQUE CLOSURE IN AZERBAIJAN
Fariz Ismailzade: 3/02/04

A Baku court has ordered the eviction of Islamic worshipers from a mosque located in the heart of the capital’s old town. Worshipers are vowing to resist the decision, saying it is politically motivated. The mosque has operated outside the control of state oversight bodies, and its imam is vocal critic of President Ilham Aliyev.

Judge Yusif Karimov of Sabayil District Court ruled March 1 that the Juma mosque must close its doors to worshipers. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit brought by the representatives of the Icari Sahar historic center, an organization dedicated to the architectural preservation of Baku’s Old Town. The group argued that the Islamic worshipers posed a threat to the architectural integrity of the mosque.

Worshipers at the Juma mosque contented that the group’s claim was frivolous, given that the structure had served as a place of worship for centuries. Nacaf Allahverdiyev, a Juma mosque representative, said worshipers would not recognize the ruling, and intended to keep using it as a place of worship. He also alleged that the lawsuit’s real aims were to fulfill a government desire to stifle freedom of religious expression, and to punish the mosque’s imam, Ilgar Ibrahimoglu, for his recent political activity.

"We do not plan to leave this place. They [authorities] are pushing us for provocations. We will not allow this. We will not answer the use of force with force," said Allahverdiyev, who is a brother of Ibrahimoglu.

During the Soviet era, the Juma mosque was used as a warehouse and, later, as a carpet museum. Following the 1991 collapse of Communism, the mosque was restored and re-registered as a place of worship. The Juma community, although registered at the Ministry of Justice, was never officially sanctioned by the State Commitee for Religious Affairs or by the Council of the Caucasus Muslims (QMI), as required by law. Azerbaijan’s Constitution provides that persons of all faiths may choose and practice their religion without restrictions. Nevertheless, the lack of clarity concerning registration created a legal opening for a government move to close the mosque.

Authorities have long viewed the Juma mosque’s activities as nettlesome, in large part because of its ability to operate outside the officially established framework for religious institutions. A charismatic public speaker, Ibrahimoglu served as the head of Azerbaijani branch of the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA), a non-sectarian group based in Washington, DC. He also was the coordinator of a local NGO called The Center for Protection of Freedom of Religion (DEVAMM). In recent years, the Juma mosque has also been involved in a number of charitable causes, including organizing blood drives.

Over the same period, Ibrahimoglu has been a prominent critic of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party. DEVAMM backed the candidacy of Isa Gambar, the leader of opposition Musavat party, in the October presidential election. That vote was won by Ilham Aliyev amid widespread criticism over vote-rigging. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Ibrahimoglu was taken into custody in December after being charged as an instigator of post-election protests. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Rafiq Aliyev, the chairman of the State Committee for Religious Affairs, said in a recent interview with the British Broadcasting Corp. that Ibrahimoglu had misused his religious position for political purposes, and thus posed a danger to stability in Azerbaijan.

A statement issued by the US Helsinki Commission on February 5, said Ibrahimoglu’s imprisonment, along with the government’s move to close the Juma mosque, constituted a "serious breach of OSCE commitments on religious freedom." The commission’s chairman, US Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ), accused Azerbaijani officials of trying to "expropriate" authority over the mosque from worshipers.

Editor’s Note: Fariz Ismailzade is a freelance analyst, specializing on politics and economics of the Caucasus region. He obtained a masters degree from the Washington University in St. Louis.

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Posted March 2, 2004 © Eurasianet
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