Why do Azerbaijanis fight in radical groups and how to stop this evil?

Baku / 10.12.19 / Turan: According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan in October 2018, provided by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 1,477 Azerbaijanis (1,136 men and 341 women) arrived in Syria and Iraq to join terrorist groups. It is estimated that 903 of them (749 men and 154 women) have died or gone missing. This is stated in the final report, “Studies of sensitivity and resistance to radicalization in a number of Azerbaijani communities,” posted on the IOM website - http://www.iom.az/news/

The report was prepared in the framework of the project “Strengthening Sustainable Communities”, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in conjunction with the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations of Azerbaijan.

According to the report, the majority of Azerbaijani citizens who joined extremist groups in Syria and Iraq represent the northern region of the country. The authorities have taken a number of measures to prevent this process. So, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 309 people (261 men and 48 women) were returned to the country and these were residents of Sumgait, Gusar, Balaken and Zagatal.

According to the report, 24 Azerbaijani children in conflict zones lost their parents, but were returned to the country; 270 Azerbaijani children who have lost one of their parents are in detention camps in Syria and Iraq. The report notes that children who are directly involved in the hostilities or injured need special care for rehabilitation. “It is necessary to create special centers for former militants and their families to facilitate their reintegration into society,” the document says.

Journalist Inara Rafigizi, who covered the trials of former militants who fought in Syria and Iraq, said the largest number of such cases occurred in 2012-2013. “They were deceived by religious fanatics and involved in terrorist organizations. Most prisoners admitted in court that they were deceived and repented,” the journalist said.

According to her, the majority of those who fought in Syria were members of the Talysh Agyl detachment, also known as the Emir of the “Sumgait Jamaat”.

Former First Deputy Minister of National Security Sulhaddin Akbar believes that the participation of Azerbaijani citizens in terrorist groups has a political, religious, ideological and socio-economic reason. The active participation of Azerbaijani citizens in terrorist organizations falls on the period 2012-2015, when a civil war began in Syria and ISIS activity increased there. The reason that the majority of religious radicals from Azerbaijan come from the northern regions and Sumgait is because Sunni radical groups are active there. “To combat this evil, a complex of measures is needed: political, religious, ideological, informational, intelligence, financial and others,” says Sulhaddlin Akper. -03B-