Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAKU953
2006-06-28 13:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baku
Cable title:
AZERBAIJAN: CHAIRMAN OF STATE RELIGIOUS COMMITTEE
how-toVZCZCXRO3264 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHKB #0953 1791310 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 281310Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAKU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0666 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000953
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: CHAIRMAN OF STATE RELIGIOUS COMMITTEE
DISMISSED
REF: BAKU 339
Classified By: Acting DCM Joan Polaschik for Reasons 1.4 b and d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAKU 000953
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: CHAIRMAN OF STATE RELIGIOUS COMMITTEE
DISMISSED
REF: BAKU 339
Classified By: Acting DCM Joan Polaschik for Reasons 1.4 b and d.
1. (C) In a June 27 announcement, President Aliyev dismissed
Rafiq Aliyev, the Chairman of the State Committee on Work
with Religious Associations (SCWRA). No reason was given
publicly for Aliyev's dismissal. Aliyev (no relation to the
president) was originally appointed in 2001 by Heydar Aliyev
after the GOAJ established the SCWRA. For the past several
months, Aliyev has been embroiled in a public dispute with
Sheikh Pashazade, the leading Muslim cleric in Azerbaijan and
Chairman of the Caucasus Muslim Board (reftel). Most
political commentators believe Aliyev's dismissal represents
the CMB's victory in retaining control over the
administration and management of the Muslim community in
Azerbaijan. Aliyev's State Committee had sought to wrest
control from the Sheikh, suggesting in comments to the press,
that the Sheikh was beholden to outside influences that
compromised his leadership of the CMB. Aliyev has also
recently pointed fingers at several GOAJ officials accusing
them of complicity with radical religious groups and of
undermining state security.
2. (C) Since January 2006 Aliyev has also been publicly
advocating legislative amendments to the religious freedom
law that would tighten restrictions on the political
activities of religious leaders. Affirming the conventional
wisdom among minority religious groups, the head of the
Baptist community Ilya Zenchenko told Poloff that the impact
of Aliyev's removal depended largely on the actions of his
successor, who has not yet been appointed. (We do not believe
Aliyev's dismissal is connected to the proposed changes to
the law and expect the GOAJ to go forward with legislative
amendments when parliament reconvenes in the fall, regardless
of who replaces him at the SCWRA.)
HYLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM AJ
SUBJECT: AZERBAIJAN: CHAIRMAN OF STATE RELIGIOUS COMMITTEE
DISMISSED
REF: BAKU 339
Classified By: Acting DCM Joan Polaschik for Reasons 1.4 b and d.
1. (C) In a June 27 announcement, President Aliyev dismissed
Rafiq Aliyev, the Chairman of the State Committee on Work
with Religious Associations (SCWRA). No reason was given
publicly for Aliyev's dismissal. Aliyev (no relation to the
president) was originally appointed in 2001 by Heydar Aliyev
after the GOAJ established the SCWRA. For the past several
months, Aliyev has been embroiled in a public dispute with
Sheikh Pashazade, the leading Muslim cleric in Azerbaijan and
Chairman of the Caucasus Muslim Board (reftel). Most
political commentators believe Aliyev's dismissal represents
the CMB's victory in retaining control over the
administration and management of the Muslim community in
Azerbaijan. Aliyev's State Committee had sought to wrest
control from the Sheikh, suggesting in comments to the press,
that the Sheikh was beholden to outside influences that
compromised his leadership of the CMB. Aliyev has also
recently pointed fingers at several GOAJ officials accusing
them of complicity with radical religious groups and of
undermining state security.
2. (C) Since January 2006 Aliyev has also been publicly
advocating legislative amendments to the religious freedom
law that would tighten restrictions on the political
activities of religious leaders. Affirming the conventional
wisdom among minority religious groups, the head of the
Baptist community Ilya Zenchenko told Poloff that the impact
of Aliyev's removal depended largely on the actions of his
successor, who has not yet been appointed. (We do not believe
Aliyev's dismissal is connected to the proposed changes to
the law and expect the GOAJ to go forward with legislative
amendments when parliament reconvenes in the fall, regardless
of who replaces him at the SCWRA.)
HYLAND