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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Jihad declared against Wahhabism |
| 2006-04-16 |
| In the Chechen Republic August is marked not only for sharp growth of tension, routine “strengthening of security measures” in line with the anniversary of the seizure of Grozny by Fighters –6 August 1996, but also for the reoccurring declarations of jihad. On 4 August the new Mufti of Chechnya Sultan Mirzaev announced to accept of phetva– the clerical-legal decision of Islamic scholars on an actual question – which declared holy war on Wahhabism and terrorists. The First Vice-Premier of the Government – Ruslan Kadyrov, Minister of the MVD –Ruslan Alkhanov, Commander of all Power Structures of Chechnya and Imams of fourteen regions of the called Wahhabism took part in the ceremony proclaiming the new jihad. The Mufti called Wahhabism the “scourge of the XXth and XXIst centuries” and declared that there must be no doubt in the correctness of the activities of those who with this declaration struggle. He also expressed his personal readiness to take up arms and fight with Wahhabi militants. It is far from the first attempt to start ‘holy war’ on the territory of the Chechen Republic. There have been several in the past fourteen years. In the fall of 1991, after Djokhar Dudaev came to power in the republic and attempts of the Russian leadership to enforce Emergency Rule onto the territory of the Chechen Republic, several spiritual personages called to declare jihad on Russia (in an integrated Caucasian Gazavat). His announcement most likely has prevented the quick failure of stated action. Just three years later, in the winter of 1994, when the Kremlin announced the start of armed operations for “restoration of constitutional order” on the territory of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, jihad was declared on Russia. This was done by the then Mufti of the Republic Makhmad-Khusein-Khadji-Aslabekov. However Aslabekov retracted his declaration after a few months. In 1995 the new-named Mufti of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, Akhmat-Khadji Kadyrov once again declared jihad on Russia. After the completion of the “first Chechen War” the necessity of declaring jihad didn’t disappear. His declaration was now against the kidnappers and even against each other. In 1998 after the confrontation in Gudermes between the security forces of CRI and the “jamaat-ites”, these and others declared jihad. But all it was limited to words. During that time, “faces of Arab nationality” began to appear in Chechnya (many of whom for some reason or another spoke excellent Russian). These also advocated the idea of jihad among Chechen youth. “Valiant and brave Chechens” were called to “make jihad” not to any old place, but to the Near East, more specifically – to Jerusalem, in order to liberate the “holy city” and one of the most important of Mosque Al-Aqsa. In 1999 after the beginning of introduction of Russian troops to the territory of the Republic, Aslan Maskhadov appealed to the clergy to call the people to gasavat. Today the new mufti of Chechnya called for a sequential jihad-in holy war against the Wahhabis and terrorism. (Incidentally, the incitement to “holy war” has a place not only in Chechnya. Since the beginning of military activities in Iraq by the USA, the head of the spiritual authority of Muslims in the European part of Russia, also declared jihad ...against the United States.”) The First Vice-Premier of the Government - Ramzan Kadyrov, called the Muftis’ accepted document important and timely, proclaiming jihad against Wahhabism and terrorism on the territory of the Chechen Republic. “I welcome this decision. I welcome in the name of all the leadership of the Chechen Republic as well as the workers of the law-enforcement organs, which factually are located on the front lines in the war against terrorism and Wahhabism. These are the ones who must be sure that their actions do not conflict with the Koran and Islam”, he announced. The State Duma of Russia Deputy Ruslan Yamadaev is unified with the First Vice Premier. “I consider that it is a very important, timely and well thought-out decision, giving an answer to that complicated question worrying the minds of Chechen society as a whole and of fighters of the MVD and other security structures in particular.” – he stated to the agency “Interfax”. “In the fight against Wahhabis and terrorism hundreds and thousand of workers of law enforcement organs have been killed. Among them - tens of my loved ones and relatives, the President of Chechnya Akhmat Kadyrov and his nephews. My brother was killed – the hero of Russia Dzhabrail who was commanding special subdivision “East”” – he noted. They blew up and shot many police officers, imams, and state servants, all in the name of jihad. But now we give a clear-cut and singular-meaning answer to that question – who in the fact is of value on the path of jihad.” However, the proclamation of jihad against Wahhabism and terrorism in Chechnya did not find the support of the religious and social actors of Russia. In an interview with Russian GAZETE the Supreme Mufti of the Asian part of Russia, Sheik Hafigulla Ashirov declared with the absence of legal definition of Wahhabism in the modern RF legislation, such calls in the name of a Muftiat (that is to say a social organization) cannot have legal force. “They break the united legal field of the Russian Federation- said Ashirov – Wahhabism has nothing to say about calls to terror. It is a trend in Islamic thought and not a tactic in the conduct of struggle. Also the modern legislation does not forbid thought.” Aleksei Malashenko – member of the Scientific Council of the Moscow Carnegie Center and political analyst agrees with Ashirov. The GAZETE printed his opinion. “The Pro-Russian segment of Chechen Society enraptured with Islam and it cannot be a factor in mobilization. The fighters will only laugh at those to whom also one former komsomolets declared jihad. It is not the most intelligent route. More likely the report on the done work in reply to Basayev's interview in the USA. “Jihad” now has become a word of provocation. You declare jihad on me – fine, I declare jihad on you. These are any checkers», he said. The Jihad or Holy War of which Prophet Mohammad spoke has purpose. But this purpose is somewhat different in character from that of the interpretations various spiritual leaders come up with today. The word “jihad” comes from a root word in Arabic meaning ‘endeavor, apply strength”. In Islam jihad means any exertion directed towards the dissemination of truth. Gazavat or little jihad – is holy war. In accordance with Islamic law, in countries where Shariat does not apply, to declare war even holy war is a right only the head of state may have. Undoubtedly, one of the forms of jihad is war, but only in those circumstances when avoidance is impossible. The Prophet Mohammed, in reference to jihad said that “the Supreme Jihad, in which struggles a person is the jihad with one’s own self.” This means that the true believers must above all struggle with their own selves, with their own shortcomings and mistakes, straining to correct them and not tolerate them in the future. In the khadis of Mohammed it is stated that as the Prophet Mohammad returned from one of his engagements, said, “...we returned from a little jihad, in order to arrive at the Great Jihad.” Make note of the fact that afterwards he never again took part in any battles. According to one of the imams of a mosque in Grozny, not one line of the Koran in its historic and textual purity permits fighting on the grounds of ethnic, religious or racial discord. “The armed jihad is not only strictly restricted by words which may or may not grant it legal force, but is severely regulated. The Prophet Mohammed said, as it is necessary to behave on a battle-field,” said the imam. “Never resort to war of a peaceful solution is possible. Measures must be pure and not egoistic or personal, nor for national interests, and plans must not be present force. There must be a proclamation of war, announced by official powers and after appropriate consultations. The civil population must not suffer. Never permit marauding, looting and wonton destruction.” The declaration of jihad against Wahhabism and terrorism after a six year “counter-terrorist operation” on the territory of the Chechen Republic, which cost the lives of tens of thousands of our countrymen, definitely looks a bit strange and out of place. The inflammatory call to “strike with jihad the Wahhabis and terrorists” hardly will result in the establishment of peace and stability in our republic or of the accord and mutual understanding in which our already broken Chechen society is lacking. Jihad is definitely necessary for us today, but not that jihad in which one Chechen will exterminate others. We need jihad against murders and the kidnapping of people, jihad against extra-judicial killings and torture, jihad against the bureaucratic apparatus, against bribery and arbitrary of the bureaucracy, against total unemployment, against drug addiction and alcoholism - Jihad for the renewal of a nation, restoration of our republic and the future of our descendents. |
| Posted by:Flelet Spavinter3070 |
| #5 Correction: recumbent, as in recumbent folding (geological term) |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-04-16 22:07 |
| #4 Jihad against Wahhabism, ya say? How .........er......recumbant... |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-04-16 22:05 |
| #3 Jihad against Wahhabism? I've got the popcorn concession! I'm gonna be rich. :-D |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2006-04-16 12:43 |
| #2 The Chechens ar no ones fool. They see the losses in Afghanistan and the whole Wahhabi movement falling down. It look to me that they are distancing themselves and their fight from the East. Next event will be their political movement calling for peace. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-04-16 11:00 |
| #1 strike with jihad the Wahhabis and terrorists OOO-kay, this is one of 3 things: 1. 2.Garbled in translation. 3.The Chechens are starting to get a clue. My initial reaction is 1. I hope its 3. |
| Posted by: N guard 2006-04-16 09:49 |