Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAKU324
2006-03-01 10:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:  

AZERBAIJAN: MALL PROTEST OVER DESTRUCTION OF THE

Tags:  PREL KISL PHUM ASEC AJ 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUEHMRE RUEHPW RUEHSR
DE RUEHKB #0324 0601016
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O 011016Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9753
INFO RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000324 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2016
TAGS: PREL KISL PHUM ASEC AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: MALL PROTEST OVER DESTRUCTION OF THE
GOLDEN MOSQE

REF: BAKU 293

Classified By: DCM Jason P. Hyland for reasons 1.4 b and d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000324

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2016
TAGS: PREL KISL PHUM ASEC AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: MALL PROTEST OVER DESTRUCTION OF THE
GOLDEN MOSQE

REF: BAKU 293

Classified By: DCM Jason P. Hyland for reasons 1.4 b and d.


1. (C) On February 25, fifteen miles north of Baku in the
village of Nardardan, approximately 75 protesters
demonstrated against the February 22 destruction of the
Al-Askariya mosque in Iraq. Newspaper reports stated that
Nardaran demonstrators also burned U.S., Danish and Israeli
flags to express their continuing opposition to the
publication of the Danish caricatures of the prophet Mohammed
and to blame the West for Iraq's political violence.
Nardaran, a community widely known for its Shiite Muslim
conservatism - and one which the Azerbaijani government
watches closely - was among the only Azerbaijani communities
to publicly express anger about the mosque's destruction.
(Many observers contend that the Iranian Government provides
financial support to the Nardaran religious community. Post
will report septel on Islam in the Nardaran area.) Although
Azerbaijan is a majority Shiite country, there was very
little public outcry over the terrorist act in Samarra.


2. (U) The Chairman of the Caucusus Muslim Board, Sheikh
Ul-Islam Pashazade strongly condemned the bombing in his
public statements criticizing politicians "who do not believe
in God" for contributing to Iraq's instability. The Sheikh
commented that "there are no Sunni or Shiite mosques; all are
the home of Allah and nobody has the right to destroy them."
He urged Shiite and Sunni leaders in Iraq to avoid a
"fratricidal war."


3. (U) The GOAJ released a press statement on February 24
condemning the attack and affirming Azerbaijan's secular,
tolerant religious tradition (reftel). Prominent Muslim
activist Ilgar Ibrahimoglu who also condemned the attack in
statements to the press told us his community will
commemorate the bombing at services on March 1 in Baku.
Afterward, Ibrahimoglu plans to travel privately to Nardaran
mosques to worship with the local community.
HARNISH