Administration of Muslims of Georgia is Saakashvili's ambitions and split in an Islamic community

Creation of Administration of Muslims of Georgia led to emergence of a conflict situation with Administration of Muslims of the Caucasus – the organization which settles down in Azerbaijan and before supervised the affairs of all Muslims of the South Caucasus. The director of the Center of Strategic Researches of the Caucasus Mamuk Areshidze tells about the history of creation of Administration of Muslims of Georgia in interview to “The world and we”.

- In your opinion, what purposes were pursued by president Saakashvili at creation of Administration of Muslims of Georgia?

President Saakashvili had the certain ambitious plans concerning the regional policy. Several years ago Vladimir Putin declared that Russia will participate in Islamic conference. Experts estimated participation of Russia on this platform, as aspiration to strengthen the positions in the Islamic world.

Saakashvili often repeated some steps of the Russian management and it is possible to say that the creation of Administration of Muslims of Georgia is in this context. He wanted to participate in the big-time regional policy too as the country in which the Muslims are presented by own independent body. Demonstration of it happened on November 19 in Istanbul at conference which was called “Islam in the Eurasian space”. Exactly there the Georgian delegation was presented as independent one. But as often happens, the ignorant people dealt with an issue of creation of the Administration of Muslims of Georgia and the result turned out not that was expected. This step caused certain changes in Muslim society of Georgia which started to break up to separate groups. Thus, the participation in the regional policy was probably a main goal of creation of this structure, but it didn't play such role just because it was the unprepared decision and not professionally created organization.

- Some experts expressed opinion that the purpose of creation Administration of Muslims of Georgia was bringing the extremist organizations supported by the Turkish-Saudi Wahhabism to the borders of Russia …

I don't think that Saakashvili could “grow” to such thoughts. I will describe in detail what occurred after the going out of Administration of Muslims of Georgia from under control of Administration of Muslims of the Caucasus. First of all, the Administration of Muslims of Georgia is the organization where people are presented artificially. Many of them are presented from the Azerbaijani community and have no authority in the Shiite community. Representatives of the Sunni society, the head of which is the mufti of Adjara Jemal Paksadze are more authoritative. But he is in Batumi, and the main stronghold of Islam settles down in East Georgia. So he nominally directs this organization. There are most of all the Muslims in East Georgia and there are Azerbaijanian Shiites. They have sheikh David Akbarov whom appointed artificially to this position. He has no authority among the Azerbaijanian Shiites. The representatives of the different nationalities, the different directions of Islam were entered into administration. There are the representatives of Kists-Chechen of Georgia, both representatives of Adjara and representatives of Azerbaijanian Shiites and Sunni Azerbaijanians.

In a counterbalance to creation of this organization, Allahshukur Pashazadeh, the chief of the Administration of Muslims of the Caucasus, created the representation which Ali Aliyev headed, more authoritative, than David Akbarov, the head of Shiites. Thus, the split was already observed in it. When the general management was carried out from the Administration of Muslims of Georgia, then the representatives of other countries where Islam is predominating religion and who came to Georgia, tried to consider the Administration of Muslims of Georgia. And after the creation of the Administration of Muslims of Georgia, the representatives of the different Arab states, first of all Iran and Turkey became more active and the fight for believers began. Therefore there is invisible internecine war, but very serious, between the representatives of the different countries and different currents. Thus, the Administration of Muslims of Georgia can't carry out fully those functions for which it was intended. First of all, because its structure is built not correctly. There are a lot of representatives of secular society in it who have no relation to Islam, but are related to the previous power.

For example, the governor of Kvemo Kartli or the representatives of the Congress of Azerbaijanians in Georgia are the puppet organization, being under control of the previous government. The power tried to take over the control of a situation on the Islamic direction, and instead any “comedy” turned out and now each is in his own way. For example, at conference which happened in Istanbul, Georgia was presented by Administration of Muslims of Georgia and other organization which presented the Administration of Muslims of Georgia and Abkhazia was presented as an independent Muslim community under the leadership of the mufti. When all Muslims of the South Caucasus were under the control of the Administration of Muslims of Georgia under the leadership of Allahshukur Pashazadeh, such situation was impossible. In principle I’m not against the autonomous organization Administration of Muslims of Georgia existed, but it was necessary to think over everything, not to act rashly and agree with all, it was possible, but it was necessary to approach to this question competently.

- How the Wahhabism is widespread in Georgia?

In Georgia there is not so much Wahhabites – about 500-600 people. It is active, solid group. They defend their rights in the Pankisi Gorge very persistently. And within 10 years there is a serious fight between traditionalists and Wahhabites. All that occurred in the summer of this year in the Lopotsky Gorge is just the results of this fight. The men who died in collision with the Georgian intelligence services, were the Wahhabites.

The Wahhabism in Georgia has a bit different, not such, as in the North Caucasus. If there is often certain Islamic “underground”, so in Georgia these people are engaged generally in spiritual education. They declare the aspiration to pure Islam and many young people go to these organizations of Wahhabite sense. But they have no aggressive character, at least, while, and don’t have a certain danger. On the other hand, if the state won’t deal professionally with this issue, so the consequences can be very heavy.

- Does the new Georgian power have the plans on reforming of Administration of Muslims of Georgia?

In my opinion, this organization has to be unambiguously reformed. It is necessary to approach to it intelligently, to study a question as a whole. Now the countries which surround us, try to influence this organization and to have the people there. All expect the moment when re-elections of the sheikh and the management of this organization will begin, so there will be a fight for voices. Arabs, Iranians, Turks try to participate in it, proceeding from their interests. It is to speak early how the new authorities will approach to it because I don't see the people in power structures who can professionally be engaged in it. This question is really actual, but its decision while is postponed as the new authorities understand a situation round this organization.