Whom is Ali Hasanov hinting at?

Some religious movements and missionary organizations are trying to be structured in Azerbaijan and to create an extensive network in order to realize their interests. However, the Azerbaijani state will not let upset the atmosphere of religious tolerance in Azerbaijan.

This was the leitmotif of the speech of the head of the socio-political department of the Presidential Administration Ali Hasanov at the conference on "Freedom of religion, missionary activity and the media" on March 7.

According to Hasanov, these trends and organizations "are trying to structure their activities and they wanted to adapt public policy to their own interests."

However, the Azerbaijani government "will continue to thwart attempts of religious missionaries and some groups to impose their interests on others."

In this, according to Hasanov, the state should receive help from the media and civil society institutions.
Hasanov did not say specifically what movements he meant.

However, in recent days, the media close to Hasanov have been actively discussing the topic of Nur penetration into the power structures of Azerbaijan.

In this, specific names of officials of the younger generation are called, including the head of the information policy and analysis department of the Presidential Administration, Elnur Aslanov, the head of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President, Farhad Mammadov, the head of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations, Elshad Isgandarov, etc.

Representatives of this camp make broad hints that media and educational structures controlled by Hasanov are associated with Nur. These media criticize as weak the information policy on covering the head of state activities, which Hasanov oversees.

Nursizm in Azerbaijan began to be perceived by the authorities as dangerous after the relations between the Turkish authorities and the leader of Nur Fethullah Gulen, in exile in the United States, got strained. Ankara has accused the organization Hizmet (Service) headed by Gulen of  penetrating the government, law enforcement agencies, the media and the security services and the " creation of a parallel state."

After that a covert campaign began in Azerbaijan against educational institutions of Nur, and in particular, against the university Caucasus and the lyceum network Chag Oyretim, controlled by the movement. Their control was transferred to SOCAR.

However, these structures do not comment these reports.

The government groups began to use the subject of combating Nursizm in fighting with each other. -06D -