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Koran Translated Into Abkhazian. Turkish Religious Affairs Directora

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  • Koran Translated Into Abkhazian. Turkish Religious Affairs Directora

    KORAN TRANSLATED INTO ABKHAZIAN. TURKISH RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE TO SEND ABKHAZIAN-SPEAKING CLERGYMEN TO ABKHAZIA
    by Elza Tsiklauri

    Rezonansi
    Nov 24 2008
    Georgia

    The Turkish Religious Affairs Directorate is the first official
    organization, which has started official dialogue with the de facto
    Abkhaz authorities. According to the Turkish media reports, an
    agreement has already been reached that Abkhazian-speaking clergymen
    will be sent from Turkey to Abkhazia in order to satisfy religious
    needs of residents of Abkhazia.

    Ties established between Muslims in Abkhazia and Turkey

    The Turkish media also report that, in addition, a Turkish religious
    foundation will fund the construction of a new Mosque and the
    translation of Koran into Abkhazian and its dissemination in Abkhazia.

    Ankara has not yet made a statement in this connection. The Kremlin
    is keeping silence too. However, Georgian experts are saying that
    Moscow will not allow the strengthening of Islam in Abkhazia, which
    it has recognized, and will do all it can to prevent this religion
    from acquiring a foothold here.

    According to GHN agency, it was the Turkish Hurriyet newspaper that
    reported on the start of cooperation between the Turkish Religious
    Affairs Directorate and separatist Abkhazia. The newspaper reported
    that the head of the Presidency of Religious Affairs, Ali Bardakoglu,
    met Abkhaz Deputy Mufti Timur Dzyba in Ankara last week.

    It was decided at the meeting to establish bilateral religious
    relations.

    "It was decided at the talks to satisfy Abkhazia's religious needs,
    in particular, through Muslim clergymen and places of worship," the
    newspaper wrote, noting that it is first and foremost the question
    of sending to Abkhazia Abkhazian-speaking Turkish clergymen.

    An agreement was also reached at the talks on the participation
    of a Turkish religious foundation in the construction of a mosque
    in Abkhazia.

    In addition, it was also agreed at the meeting to supply Koran to
    Abkhazia and to publish Koran in Abkhazian with support of the Turkish
    Presidency of Religious Affairs.

    The Spiritual Administration of Abkhazia's Muslims was founded in
    1999 with direct support from the unrecognized republic's de facto
    president Vladislav Ardzinba. However, both before and after the
    [Georgian-Abkhaz] military conflict [in 1992-1993], Ardzinba was
    against Islam's being widespread in Abkhazia.

    The aforementioned organization now unites more than 100 members.

    It is also known that the Spiritual Administration of Abkhazia's
    Muslims has established close relations with Muslims residing in
    Russia, who supply Abkhaz Muslims with literature. An agreement on
    cooperation with Russian Muslims was signed in March 2005.

    Places of worship of followers of traditional Islam emerged in Abkhazia
    after the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict. One of such places was built in
    the village of Agudzera near Sukhumi. At the same time, the Wahhabi
    movement headed by well-known Wahhabi Khazamat Gitsba also became
    active. However, the movement did not become widespread. In the
    same period, this small circle of Muslims decided to build a mosque,
    but the building was blown up at the very beginning and unidentified
    people killed Gitsba.

    The spreading of Islam in Abkhazia and the resettlement of descendants
    of Abkhaz Muhajirs [evicted from Abkhazia by Tsarist Russia following
    the Russian Turkish war in the late 19th century] from Turkey are
    categorically unacceptable to the Russian authorities. A couple of
    years ago, a member of the Russian Duma, Sergey Mitrofanov, even made
    such a statement in a private conversation: "What terrible thing we
    did! We evicted the Georgians from Abkhazia and Islamic centres are
    now being opened there".

    Correspondingly, Tbilisi assumes that Moscow will ultimately not allow
    cooperation between the de facto authorities and the Turkish Religious
    Affairs Directorate and will use all available levers to prevent it.

    Separatist authorities "play their own games"

    "The Turks are trying to strengthen their positions in Abkhazia through
    this cooperation. Given that, this action of theirs is understandable
    and clear. In addition, it is obvious that they are preparing grounds
    in advance for the return of Muhajirs' descendants.

    "However, [representatives of] Sunni Islam, who signed this document
    on cooperation, do not represent an aggressive wing of Islam and,
    correspondingly, are less dangerous. However, I can say one thing
    for sure: Russia will by no means allow Turkey to enter Abkhazia and,
    on the other hand, religious activities to become particularly active.

    "The de facto Abkhaz authorities often play their own games. Although
    the Kremlin has warned them on a lot of occasions, Sukhumi continues
    to insist on the idea of returning Muhajirs' descendants. This
    causes serious anger in Moscow. It seriously warns the authorities
    in Sukhumi through the local Armenian diaspora that it will not
    allow this, particularly ahead of the [2014 Winter] Olympics [to be
    held in Russia's Sochi adjacent to Abkhazia] and in such a troubled
    situation. Therefore, it is another issue how Sukhumi is to implement
    this idea.

    "Incidentally, the de facto Abkhaz authorities will fail in this
    issue just like it failed in building a Western vector [of foreign
    policy]. Russia will achieve its goal anyway," expert in Caucasus
    issues Mamuka Areshidze told Mteli Kvira.

    Islam strong as never in Abkhazia

    Another expert in Caucasus issues, Gia Anchabadze, does not rule out
    that the Kremlin may take measures against the rising strength of
    Islam in Abkhazia. However, he finds it difficult to say what shape
    all that may take.

    "In general, there is no clear division line between Christians
    and Muslims in Abkhazia. Christians celebrate Bairam and Muslims -
    Easter. At the same time, both have strong vestiges of paganism,
    but there are no tensions between them.

    "As regards percentage, from 80 to 90 per cent are Christians in
    Abkhazia, while the rest account themselves Muslim. Despite the
    percentage, Islam has never been as strong in Abkhazia as now. There
    are cases when young Abkhaz go to Turkey and convert to Islam. There
    is talk now that a mosque may be built too and Muslim organizations,
    first and foremost of Turkish origin, will most probably start their
    activities in Abkhazia following that.

    "As regards the Russia factor, of course, strengthening Islam is
    not agreeable for Moscow, because that will be viewed against the
    background of what is happening in the North Caucasus. However,
    it is very difficult to say today what measures Moscow will take in
    this case and how it will act, although it is already clear that it
    will resort to anything against this," Anchabadze added.
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