Islamic Party of Azerbaijan
Encyclopedia
The Islamic Party of Azerbaijan ( or AİP) was an Islamic party
in Azerbaijan
.
The Islamic Party of Azerbaijan was founded in 1991 in the town of Nardaran
, which lies northeast of the capital Baku
on the Absheron Peninsula, and is a lone stronghold of conservative Shi'a Islam
in staunchly secular and religiously progressive Azerbaijan, and was officially registered in 1992. Its registration, however, was cancelled in 1995, and has not been revoked since.
It advocated stronger ties with Iran
and even proclaiming the state of Azerbaijan into an Islamic Republic
as it rejected the ideas of pan-Turkism
, regarding them as dangerous and utopian.. Nevertheless it was also an Azerbaijani nationalist
party and was known for its fiery nationalist and anti-Armenian
rhetoric and frequently advocated a military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict which is currently under Armenian occupation. It was fiercly opposed and advocated a ban of proselytism
and Christian missionary
activities.
The party was also anti-USA
, anti-Zionist and anti-EU and supported Hezbollah and its leader Hassan Nasrallah
. The leader of the party was Movsum Samadov.
In 1995, the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan and the Islamic Republic of Iran were respectively accused by the government of Azerbaijan of being covertly financed by some people in Iran, and Iran of covertly financing it, which Azerbaijan regarded as an interference in its domestic affairs, and which is illegal under Azerbaijani law
. Therefore, the leaders of the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan were arrested and the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan was officially banned. Subsequently under the updated secular laws of Azerbaijan
, Islamic parties and the formation of Islamic parties are now banned.
Islamic party
An Islamic party is a party that works for promoting Islam while an Islamic political party is a political party that promotes Islam as a political movement by offering nominees for election in a democracy - of which there are several in the Islamic world. They are important to distinguish from...
in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
.
The Islamic Party of Azerbaijan was founded in 1991 in the town of Nardaran
Nardaran
Nardaran is a settlement and municipality on the Abşeron Peninsula in Baku, Azerbaijan. It has a population of 8,300.Located 25 kilometers northeast of central Baku, it is politically part of the Baku city-subdivision and treated as a suburb...
, which lies northeast of the capital Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
on the Absheron Peninsula, and is a lone stronghold of conservative Shi'a Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
in staunchly secular and religiously progressive Azerbaijan, and was officially registered in 1992. Its registration, however, was cancelled in 1995, and has not been revoked since.
It advocated stronger ties with Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and even proclaiming the state of Azerbaijan into an Islamic Republic
Islamic republic
Islamic republic is the name given to several states in the Muslim world including the Islamic Republics of Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Mauritania. Pakistan adopted the title under the constitution of 1956. Mauritania adopted it on 28 November 1958. Iran adopted it after the 1979 Iranian...
as it rejected the ideas of pan-Turkism
Pan-Turkism
Pan-Turkism is a nationalist movement that emerged in 1880s among the Turkic intellectuals of the Russian Empire, with the aim of cultural and political unification of all Turkic peoples.-Name:...
, regarding them as dangerous and utopian.. Nevertheless it was also an Azerbaijani nationalist
Azerbaijani nationalism
Azerbaijani nationalism was relatively slow to develop under the communists. "Rather than imagining themselves as part of a continuous national tradition, like the Georgians and Armenians, the Muslims of Transcaucasia saw themselves as part of the larger Muslim world, the umma." After the end of...
party and was known for its fiery nationalist and anti-Armenian
Anti-Armenianism
Armenophobia is the fear, dislike of, hatred or aversion to the Armenians, Republic of Armenia and the Armenian culture, which can range in expression from individual hatred to institutionalized persecution...
rhetoric and frequently advocated a military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict which is currently under Armenian occupation. It was fiercly opposed and advocated a ban of proselytism
Proselytism
Proselytizing is the act of attempting to convert people to another opinion and, particularly, another religion. The word proselytize is derived ultimately from the Greek language prefix προσ- and the verb ἔρχομαι in the form of προσήλυτος...
and Christian missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
activities.
The party was also anti-USA
Anti-Americanism
The term Anti-Americanism, or Anti-American Sentiment, refers to broad opposition or hostility to the people, policies, culture or government of the United States...
, anti-Zionist and anti-EU and supported Hezbollah and its leader Hassan Nasrallah
Hassan Nasrallah
Hasan Nasrallah, became the third Secretary General of the Lebanese political and paramilitary organization Hezbollah after Israel assassinated the previous leader, Abbas al-Musawi, in 1992. Hezbollah in its entirety is considered a terrorist organization by The United States, the Netherlands,...
. The leader of the party was Movsum Samadov.
In 1995, the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan and the Islamic Republic of Iran were respectively accused by the government of Azerbaijan of being covertly financed by some people in Iran, and Iran of covertly financing it, which Azerbaijan regarded as an interference in its domestic affairs, and which is illegal under Azerbaijani law
Law of Azerbaijan
The legal system of Azerbaijan is based around civil law. As the country was a republic of the Soviet Union until 1991, its legal history has also been influenced heavily by socialist law.-Criminal law:...
. Therefore, the leaders of the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan were arrested and the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan was officially banned. Subsequently under the updated secular laws of Azerbaijan
Law of Azerbaijan
The legal system of Azerbaijan is based around civil law. As the country was a republic of the Soviet Union until 1991, its legal history has also been influenced heavily by socialist law.-Criminal law:...
, Islamic parties and the formation of Islamic parties are now banned.