Islam in Abkhazia

Abkhaz public declares its unity, regardless of nationality, religion or party affiliation

 In a shooting at a private house in October in the town of Gudaut, which Abkhaz Muslims had turned into an improvised mosque, a representative of the Muslim community was killed and two others were wounded. A few people linked this crime with the September attack on the Vice-President of Abkhazia, Alexander Ankvab, but many remembered the summer when the head of the Gagra branch of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of Abkhazia and member of the Public Chamber of the Republic, Emiko Chakmach oglu, was killed. There were even hints about the targeted elimination of Muslim leaders in Abkhazia. Perturbed by attempts to sow inter-religious hatred in the Republic, the SAM convened a roundtable discussion in Sukhumi on “Islam in Abkhazia: Myth and Reality.” “Vestnik Kavkaza” publishes fragments of the most interesting speeches made at the discussion (by Apsnypress).

The head of the Abkhaz administration of the SAM, Timur Dzyba: After the war of 1992-1993, when the republic, at the expense of those repatriated and representatives of the Northern Caucasus, increased the number of people professing Islam, it became necessary to “organize their religious life.”  The SAM was created with the support of the first president, Vladislav Ardzinba ... We are trying to provide religious, financial and spiritual assistance, especially to those citizens who consider themselves a part of that religion. We have established friendly relations with the Council of Muftis of Russia, the Spiritual Directorate of the Turkish Republic. Every year, the Muslims of Abkhazia, in addition to assisting the faithful during the holiday of Kurban Bayram and the Eid al Adha festival, organize events to provide food aid for kindergartens, schools, orphanages, nursing homes ...

... The killing of one and wounding of two parishioners of the Gudauta mosque on the 8th of October was the last point. The situation is heating up, and we need to know, in addition to the opinion of the administration, public opinion, because this is not just a problem for Muslims, because the Muslims of Abkhazia are a part of Abkhaz society, part of the people. The country's highest leadership have to announce that, in our country, there is no Muslim extremist trend. And if there are certain individuals, then let them be investigated by the law-enforcement bodies.

Parliamentary deputy, Valery Kvarchiya: We have always treated all religions with respect, and, thank God, this tradition has survived. 

At the same time, our fathers were not fanatics, we've never crammed into churches and mosques, and today this is not happening. In the past two to three years there has been an abnormal trend in the country - it seems that someone is specifically pursuing our Muslims.

Historian, Stanislav Lakoba: There has never been any confessional incidents in Abkhazia. It does not matter what confession a person belongs to, above all he or she is a citizen of Abkhazia. And what occurred in the Gudauta mosque on the 8th of October is nothing but terrorism.

Vice-Premier and Chairman of “United Abkhazia,” Daur Tarbes: It is inappropriate to put this event in a political context. Muslims have their ideals, Christians - their own, everyone is entitled to their faith. But one should not connect the present processes with politics. The notorious murder cases of Yuri Voronov and Zurab Achba are still not solved. There are crimes that cannot be uncovered quickly, they need time.

Member of Parliament, Batal Kobakhia: What happened in Abkhazia with the Muslim community is without doubt connected with intolerance. Those in power always take responsibility to protect the rights of a citizen, his or her right to life and all the other rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution, but today we do not see it. We have always traditionally been religiously tolerant towards each other. I do not know who is interested in splitting Abkhazia. 

The roundtable participants addressed: 

- The law-enforcement agencies, with a requirement to publish the results of the previous investigations of the murders (from 2007 to 2010) of representatives of the Muslim community.

- The Security Services, the Interior Ministry and the General Prosecutor's Office, with a requirement to use all possible force and means to prevent further acts of terror, violence and intimidation against citizens of Abkhazia who follow Islam. 

 - The leadership of the country, to identify the status of Islam in the republic. 

- The Parliament of the country, to proceed with the development and adoption of a Law on Religion, involving all stakeholders. To preserve and maintain inter-religious peace and harmony, to consider the creation of an Inter-religious Council of Abkhazia, which will include representatives of all religions that are registered in the Republic.

- The administration of the AGTRK, TV channel "Abaza TV", with a request to open a series of programs and roundtable discussions on religious issues, in order to provide reliable information about the values of world religions, and to enhance the spiritual and moral level of our society.

“We, the public of Abkhazia, declare our unity, regardless of ethnic, religious or political affiliation in the face of common threats to peace and stability in our society,” it was emphasized in the appeal. 

Ekaterina Tesemnikova. Exclusively for “Vestnik Kavkaza.”