Azerbaijan (Sort of) Celebrates Muharram, Ashoura

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000990 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, DRL/OIRF E.O.12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV KISL SCUL SOCI AJ IR SUBJECT: Azerbaijan (Sort of) Celebrates Muharram, Ashoura BAKU 00000990 001.3 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) On December 18, Muslims worldwide started celebrations for the holy month of Muharram. In Azerbaijan, the date was marked by a simple statement, without fanfare, from the Caucasus Muslim Board. For Shi'a Muslims, including those in Azerbaijan and neighboring Iran, Muharram has a special meaning, separate from the broader context and practices among Sunni Muslims, as it is associated with sorrow and mourning for the killed grandsons of Prophet Muhammad. ¶2. (SBU) The culmination of Muharram for Shi'a Muslims is the day of Ashoura which is the tenth day after the start of the month. In 2009 it will fall on December 27. Shi'a Muslims commemorate on Ashoura the tragic killing of Huseyn, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, which took place in the end of seventh century near the city of Kerbela (modern Iraq) in the course of fight for the political power in the Caliphate. This event is believed to set the schism in the Muslim world which divided the community into Sunni and Shi'a Muslims. The Iranian Influence -------------- ¶3. (SBU) During the Safavid dynasty, the Iranian rulers converted most of the peoples under their rule, including Azerbaijanis, from the Sunni to the Shi'a sect of Islam, in juxtaposition to the Sunni Ottoman Turks. Muharram became an opportunity to demonstrate love toward the Prophet's family (Ahle Beit) and a chance to strengthen Shi'ism, the new faction of Islam, and to encourage others to join it. Also in this era, Muharram was instrumental in uniting Iranian ethnic groups to counter the threat of the Ottoman Empire, which eventually gave rise to the formation of the first Iranian empire after Islam. The Tradition of Ashoura in Azerbaijan -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Above all, during Muharram Shi'a Muslims in Azerbaijan and other countries, particularly in Iran, refrain from any joyful celebrations, weddings and engagements. On Ashoura, religious people in Azerbaijan would go to local mosques for participation in mourning ceremonies and chant marsiya (sorrowful elegies). In some conservative parts of the country people fast and may spent a night in mosques. ¶5. (SBU) In the past, practicing Shi'a Muslims would flagellate themselves on Ashoura with special chains made for this purpose. Self-flagellation was often accompanied with crowds walking through quarters of towns and villages chanting "Huseyn vay" as an expression of grief. Despite commonplace practice in the Soviet time forbidding such religious ceremonies, the tradition survived in the most conservative parts of Azerbaijan as the south of the country and several villages located on the Absheron peninsula as Buzovna, Nardaran, Mashtaga, etc. The religious practice revived especially in the end of 1980s and the beginning of 1990s, but such demonstrations remain larger and much more common in Iran than Azerbaijan. As It Is Actually Practiced Today -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Though Azerbaijan is traditionally a majority Shi'a country, the majority of Azerbaijanis appears to be secular. The absence of religious practice is likely a lingering effect from the Soviet era, yet it seems to be a preferred course for the Ilham Aliyev administration. Typically, Azerbaijanis are not familiar with the traditions of Muharram and Ashoura. In that sense, the holiday season passes somewhat without notice, and differs greatly from widespread, popular practices in Iran. ¶7. (SBU) While religious practices are not forbidden in Azerbaijan - and the GOAJ continues to boast of an overall spirit of religious tolerance - the environment for religious observance has tightened, with the government requiring religious organizations, among other things, to register with authorities. Similarly, there have been complaints of mosque closings, at times tied to property disputes and sometimes because of other issues, and efforts to some extent to restrict the distribution of religious materials. Some government leaders in Azerbaijan have also expressed dismay in the past at what is perceived as the heightened religious agenda of the Turkish Government, and complained about woman in headscarves as portrayed by Turkish television. ¶8. (SBU) Nonetheless, it is common for Shi'a Muslims in Azerbaijan - BAKU 00000990 002.3 OF 002 those practicing and otherwise - to postpone weddings and engagements if the date overlaps with Muharram. Occasionally, weddings and engagements may take place only in those regions with predominant Sunni population. But Muharram is known as a month of mourning throughout Azerbaijan and the scheduling of weddings and other joyful celebrations significantly decreases at this time of the year. ¶9. (SBU) On Ashoura, many mosques in Azerbaijan, as well as families may provide free meals/sherbet (sweet flavorful drinks) and this procession is known as ehsan. It is particularly widespread in the south of the country in districts of Astara, Lenkaran and Lerik. To date, Ashoura remains a personal and family holiday for believers in Azerbaijan, and has not yet taken on the quasi-political or "protest" undertones that have often marked Ashoura observances in Iran. A Call to Give Blood -------------- ¶10. (SBU) In recent years, Sheykh ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazade, Director of the Caucasus Muslims Board (CMB),has called upon Azerbaijanis to donate blood on Ashoura in lieu of taking part in mourning processions and engaging in self-flagellation. There has been no official statement by the Sheykh ul-Islam for this year's Ashoura. However, last year he said, "... the Azerbaijani Government has created conditions to commemorate this day (Ashoura). Shedding blood, chain beating (flagellation),chest cutting are not appropriate on Ashoura. Blood shedding is not considered in Islam as a positive thing." On December 15, the Council of Ghazis (top ranking clergy) of the CMB issued a fatwa for this year's Ashoura stating, "On Ashoura flagellation and infliction of bodily injuries is unacceptable; order must be observed at all sanctuaries. Blood donation which has been organized for several years by the Board, and should be set as a sample for Taziya (passion play)." ¶11. (SBU) The CMB has announced that blood donation will be organized this year at central mosques of Taza Pir, Ajdarbey, Haji Soltanali and Icharishahar. The Ministry of Health in collaboration with the CMB will set mobile labs at those mosques and people wishing to donate blood may come there for this purpose. It has also been announced that Sheykh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade will join the action this year as well.