Publication

This report addresses the relationship between Azerbaijan's independent Muslim communities and the state, asking whether there are possible security risks and how to guard against Islamic extremism. It describes alleged links between Azerbaijan and Islamic terrorists, identifies foreign influences from the Middle East, Russia, Iran and Turkey and introduces the independent Islamic groups such as independent Shiites and Salafi groups. Subsequently, the paper comments on the state's reaction that is based on the control of religion and repression. It is argued, that the exaggeration of the Islamic threat has been used to justify repression and control of religious life.