CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VOLUME VII (1, 2) Contemporary-Eurasia-3new | Page 151

KRISTINE MARGARYAN
giosity among people 24 , which then became a factor leading to the radi-
calization of the society, since “violence triggers violence”. 25 During the
fi rst infl ux of Salafi sts in Azerbaijan, the authorities of the country toler-
ated their presence, however, the period from 2001-2003 became a turn-
ing point, as the authorities started to persecute followers of Salafi sm. 26
As proof, in 2001 the state authorities initiated an unoffi cial campaign
against the followers of Salafi group. As the majority of followers were
Chechens, the government tried to suppress them by creating poor con-
ditions for Chechen refugees. Moreover, regional police was ordered to
shut down the mosques and oppress Salafi sts by any necessary means. 27
Those oppressive measures made Valiyev claim that Azerbaijan may soon
be threatened by terrorism. Geybulla, in its turn, states that Azerbaijan
will soon face the threat of domestically emerged militant radical Salaf-
ism. Wilhelmsen points out, that radical branch of Islamism seems to be
“the most potent ideology of resistance.”
The deterioration of secularity stemmed from further amendments
in 2009 over religious law, which regulated all religious activities in the
country, which in its turn resulted in increase of arrests and sanctions on
religious groups. 28 The restrictions even touched such Islamic manifesta-
tions as long beards, headscarves and the right of mosques to carry out
call for prayers (azan). 29 Later on, some amendments were presented over
control of religious books and materials.
State response has indiscriminate character, targeting all activists of
a particular group, which resulted in further its radicalization. 30 Harsh
treatment of security forces was an important factor in pushing the soci-
ety towards extremism. Beating, burning and shaving the beards of Salafi
followers was counter-productive, which created fertile ground for radi-
calization. 31
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Ter-Matevosyan and Minsayan, Praying Under Restrictions; Valiyev, “Foreign Terrorist Groups
and Rise of Home-grown Radicalism in Azerbaijan; Grigoryan, Radicalism in the Caucasus,
67.
Wilhelmsen, Islamism in Azerbaijan, 732-734; Karagiannis. “Political Islam in the Former
Soviet Union, 55; Geybulla, Radical Islam or Government Paranoia in Azerbaijan, 13-15.
Anar Valiyev. “The Rise of Salafi Islam in Azerbaijan,” Terrorism Monitor, 3:13, (2005),
https://jamestown.org/program/the-rise-of-salafi -islam-in-azerbaijan/ (accessed December 7,
2018).
Ibid.
Geybulla, Radical Islam or Government Paranoia in Azerbaijan, 13-15.
Ter-Matevosyan and Minsayan, Praying Under Restrictions.
Ibid; Salayeva and Baranick, Addressing Terrorist Threats in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan;
Wilhelmsen, Islamism in Azerbaijan, 732-734.
Geybulla, Radical Islam or Government Paranoia in Azerbaijan; Kotecha, Islamic and Ethnic
Identities in Azerbaijan.
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