Shiite Azerbaijan: Exploring The Country's Religious Landscape

Azerbaijan is a secular country with a Muslim majority. While the majority of the Muslim population belongs to the Shia branch of Islam, a significant minority are Sunni Muslims. The differences between these two branches of Islam have not been sharply defined in Azerbaijan, and the country is considered the most secular in the Muslim world. However, the growth of Shia Islam in the country has led to tensions with the secular government and concerns about the influence of foreign powers.

Azerbaijan is a secular country with a Muslim majority

The differences between these two branches of Islam are not sharply defined in Azerbaijan. Most Shia Muslims in the country follow the Ja'fari school of Shia Islam, while Sunni Muslims typically adhere to the Hanafi or Shafi'i school. Shia Islam is prevalent in the western, central, and southern regions of the country, while Sunni Islam is dominant in the northern regions.

The secular nature of Azerbaijan can be attributed to the many decades of Soviet atheist policy. As a result, religious affiliation in Azerbaijan is often nominal and Muslim identity tends to be based more on culture and ethnicity than on religion. The role of Islam in politics and everyday life remains relatively small. A 1998 poll estimated that only 20% of the population were ardent believers.

Azerbaijan's constitution declares it a secular state, with a separation of religion and state, and equality of all religions before the law. The government maintains a secular position and has banned certain religious practices such as the wearing of the hijab in schools. The country's secularism is also reflected in its multiculturalism, with a variety of religious groups present in the country, including Christians, Jews, and Hindus.

While Azerbaijan is a Shia Muslim-majority country, its government is intensely secular and works to prevent the spread of political Islam and the influence of its Islamic neighbour, Iran. The relationship between Azerbaijan and Iran is complex due to their shared history and border, as well as their differing ideologies.

Shia Muslims are the majority in Azerbaijan

Islam is the majority religion in Azerbaijan, with estimates of the Muslim population ranging from 97.3% to 99.2%. However, the country is considered the most secular in the Muslim world. The differences between the Shia and Sunni branches of Islam are not sharply defined in Azerbaijan, and religious affiliation is often based more on culture and ethnicity than on religion, due to decades of Soviet atheist policy.

Shia Islam is prevalent in the western, central, and southern regions of Azerbaijan, with villages around Baku and the Lankaran region considered Shia strongholds. In contrast, Sunni Islam dominates in the northern regions. Most Shia Muslims in Azerbaijan follow the Ja'fari school of Shia Islam, while Sunnis typically adhere to the Hanafi or Shafi'i school.

The history of Islam in Azerbaijan is complex and has been influenced by various empires and neighbouring countries. Arabs brought Islam to the region in the seventh century, gradually supplanting Christianity and pagan cults. In the sixteenth century, the Safavid Dynasty established Shi'a Islam as the state religion, and the populations of what are now Iran and Azerbaijan were converted at the same time.

In the nineteenth century, Sunni Muslims emigrated from Russian-controlled Azerbaijan due to Russia's wars with the Ottoman Empire, shifting the balance in favour of the Shia population. During this period, Azerbaijani nationalism emphasised a common Turkic heritage, reducing antagonism between Sunnis and Shias.

After gaining independence from Russia in 1918, Azerbaijan became part of the Soviet Union in 1920, leading to the closure of most mosques and the promotion of an Azerbaijani national consciousness over religious identification.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the number of mosques rose dramatically, often built with support from other Islamic countries. While the majority of Azerbaijan's population still identifies with Islam, studies show that Azerbaijani society has remained relatively secular. The role of Islam in politics and everyday life remains small, and the government maintains a secular position.

Despite its secular nature, Azerbaijan has witnessed a rise in religious extremism due to various factors such as corruption, poverty, and government rule. The government has responded with laws restricting religious practices and attempting to cultivate a homegrown Islam based on local values and traditions.

Sunni-Shia differences are not sharply defined in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is a secular country with a majority Muslim population. While the majority of the Muslim population adheres to the Shia branch of Islam, a significant minority follows Sunni Islam. Despite the religious differences, the Sunni-Shia divide is not sharply defined in Azerbaijan.

The roots of this blurred divide can be traced back to the Soviet era's atheist policies, which resulted in religious affiliation being largely cultural and ethnic rather than religious. In addition, the promotion of Azerbaijani nationalism, with its emphasis on a common Turkic heritage, helped diminish antagonism between Sunnis and Shias in the late 19th century.

While Shia Islam is prevalent in the western, central, and southern regions of the country, with villages around Baku and the Lankaran region considered Shia strongholds, Sunni Islam dominates the northern regions. Furthermore, the majority of Shia Muslims in Azerbaijan follow the Ja'fari school of Shia Islam, while Sunnis typically adhere to the Hanafi or Shafi'i school.

Despite the religious differences, Azerbaijan has a history of Sunni and Shia Muslims praying together in mixed mosques, demonstrating the country's unique ability to bridge the Sunni-Shia divide. However, in recent years, there have been efforts to restrict certain religious practices, particularly during the Ashura commemorations, due to concerns about rising religious extremism.

Religious affiliation in Azerbaijan is largely cultural and ethnic

Azerbaijan is a secular country with a Muslim majority. Various reports estimate that 97.3% (CIA, 2020) or 99.2% (Pew Research Center, 2006) of the population identify as Muslim, with the majority adhering to the Shia branch (55-65%) and a significant minority (35-45%) being Sunni. Shia Islam is prevalent in the western, central, and southern regions of the country, while Sunni Islam dominates the northern regions.

Historically, the differences between these two branches of Islam have not been sharply defined in Azerbaijan. The religious affiliation of many Azerbaijanis is largely cultural and ethnic rather than religious, due to decades of Soviet atheist policy. While the importance of religion in everyday life remains low, expressions of religion have increased following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The Azerbaijani government maintains a secular position and is often considered the most secular in the Muslim world. It has taken steps to promote a home-grown Islam based on local values and traditions while controlling independent religious groups through various committees and boards. However, critics argue that the government's tough approach and repression of peaceful religious activities risk radicalizing otherwise peaceful groups.

Overall, religious affiliation in Azerbaijan is influenced by cultural and ethnic factors, with Islam playing a significant role in shaping the country's history and present-day society.

Azerbaijan has witnessed a rise in religious extremism

Azerbaijan is a secular country with a majority Muslim population, most of whom are Shia. However, the country has witnessed a rise in religious extremism in recent years, with a shift from relative openness in the 1990s to increasingly harsh regulations and restrictions on religious freedoms since the early 2000s. This has resulted in the suppression of religious minorities and the targeting of Muslim communities, particularly Shia Muslims.

A Shift Towards Religious Extremism

Azerbaijan has a long history of secularism, influenced by decades of Soviet atheist policy. However, in recent years, the country has seen a rise in religious extremism, with a growing number of pious Shia Muslims and increasing expressions of religion following the collapse of the Soviet Union. This has created tension between the secular government and the religious population, with the government accused of trying to stamp out religious practices and repressing Shia Muslims.

Suppression of Religious Minorities

The Azerbaijani government has been accused of leveraging the threat of Islamic extremism to justify the adoption of more autocratic policies and the suppression of religious minorities. The US State Department, for example, has placed Azerbaijan on its Special Watch List for "severe violations of religious freedom", citing an uptick in the suppression of religious freedoms and the persecution of Muslim communities. This includes the imprisonment of religious individuals, prohibitions on public prayer outside mosques, and the closure of places of worship.

Targeting of Shia Muslims

Shia Muslims, who make up the majority of the Muslim population in Azerbaijan, have been particularly targeted by the government's crackdown on religious extremism. Hundreds of Shia Muslims have been arrested and imprisoned on politically motivated charges, often related to their online support for Shia clerics in Iran or their participation in religious pilgrimages to the country. The government has also restricted Shia religious practices, such as Ashura commemorations, and banned children from taking part in religious ceremonies.

A Growing Trend of Religious Extremism

The rise of religious extremism in Azerbaijan is fuelled by various factors, including continued problems such as corruption, poverty, and government rule, as well as disillusionment with the West. Additionally, the country's strategic geographical position makes it susceptible to influences from various Islamic groups, including those from Iran, Russia, and Turkey. While the government has justified its actions as necessary for security and stability, human rights organisations and international observers have raised concerns about the extensive nature of the crackdowns and the use of dubious charges to suppress dissent.

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