How likely are the versions about the cause of death of Haji Shahin Hasanli?

Baku/02.03.23/Turan: The most authoritative and popular cleric of the country, Haji Shahin Hasanli, passed away  on March 2. According to official information, he died of a heart attack.

In 2013, Haji Shahin Hasanli was appointed akhund of the “Mashadi Dadash” mosque, and since 2014 he has been appointed the authorized representative of the Caucasus Muslim Administration for the Nasimi  district.

The news about the death of the famous theologian and cleric Haji Shahin Hasanli has become one of the main topics on the country's agenda. 48-year-old Shahin Hasanli was one of the real candidates for the highest religious position in Azerbaijan.

The sudden death of a religious figure with great authority inevitably arouses suspicion. The country's media also write about these suspicions. Against the background of the recently aggravated Iranian-Azerbaijani relations, there are those who believe that the sudden death of a cleric who is not in the sphere of influence of Iran, but at the same time has a large number of supporters and speaks from the position of the state, may be the work of Iran's secret services.

Security expert Ilham Ismail shares his thoughts on this issue in the "Difficult Question" program.

According to him, Haji Shahin Hasanli was one of those representatives of the clergy who oppose the use of religion against the state and statehood, he actively opposed it.

"Last year, when Islamists attacked the Azerbaijani embassy in London, on the same evening, believers with Azerbaijani flags came to the Baku mosque "Mashadi Dadash" at his call to participate in an action condemning this act.

Being a Shiite, he treated other tariqas of Islam with great respect. His life credo was to preserve the unity of the Muslims of Azerbaijan. He was generally opposed to any extremes, including in the field of religious beliefs," the expert said, adding that the huge authority of Haji Shahin among believers, the fact that, according to many, he was a real contender for the title of Sheikh-ul-Islam and the post of chairman of the Caucasus Muslim Board, as well as his remoteness from the influence of various foreign states, his age and sudden death, the suspicions that have arisen in society about the physical elimination of this person are natural. Because our people have often been the victim of provocations.

However, in his opinion, the possibility of physical elimination of Haji Shahin is unlikely.

"This is indicated by the circumstances of  Haji’s death – he died in the morning at his home. Nevertheless, two versions of his death are put forward.

The first is connected with the prospect of receiving the title of Sheikh-ul-Islam and the post of chairman of the Caucasus Muslim Board. But this version does not stand up to criticism, because he had a wonderful relationship with Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukuyu Pashazade. In addition, he himself nominated Haji Shahin, appointing him as an authorized representative of the Caucasus Muslim Administration for the Nasimi district.

The second version is connected with Iran, more precisely with the fact that Iran could not make Haji Shahin its tool. However, in the current situation, I do not consider this to be real. According to the official version, he died of heart failure," Ilham Ismail said.