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The head of Azerbaijani “Caucasus Muslims Office” Allahshukur Pashazadeh made a sensational statement announcing that while some officials in Azerbaijan work in a civil service and get a salary form the state budget their children join different sects and radical groupings. Alkhas Ismailov told about this in his article published in Azerbaijani portal Haqqin.az.

Azerbaijani conflictologist Arif Yunusov in regard to this noted that he don’t have any certain information about the children of high rank officials.

“However, as far as I know from the Media such practices occur. Once it has been reported that the son of Hajibala Abutalibov (chief executive of Baku) is an active member of Salafi grouping. But again I should repeat that I’ve learnt about that from the press. However I cannot say that this is impossible,” the expert said.

On its turn, according to head of a clan of Nardaran region Hajiaga Nuriev Wahabbis and Nursis in reality occupy chairs in the government of Azerbaijan.

“The representatives of these sects settled in universities as well as in parliament and anytime can pull the country into the mess like for example happened in Turkey. That’s why I think that the fight against them should be carried out at the state level. Azerbaijan is a small country and everyone knows who is doing what. Not only are the children of the officials among the Wahhabis but also the relatives of senior military officials. Wahhabis penetrated into our police and the army. Consequently, this is a serious problem,” he said.

The Akhund of Ashurbey mosque of Baku Surhai Mamedli noted that there is a surge in the activities of Salafis in Azerbaijan. According to him, in the mosque in which he serves unpleasant events occur. In particular, the representatives of radical movements come with their sermons to the mosques to attract new followers to their network. If we don’t solve the problem in the near future civil strife can take place.

Meanwhile, according the Haqqin.az, the representatives of Salafi groupings have really created an extensive network in Azerbaijan. Many of them are engaged in small and medium-size businesses, construction and other types of entrepreneurship. As one of the Salafis told the portal, they have a kind of mutual assistance cage which provides support to low-income families of the sect. According to him many Salafis are engaged in trade, particularly in the markets of Sadarak and Bina.

To the question why the Salafis go to Syria and take part in the military fighting he said that it is their sacred duty to fight for the rights of Muslims.

While speaking about the help to Salafis the interlocutor said, “Glory to Allah, our brothers help each other. We are as well thankful to Haji Israfil (the son of the Mayor of Baku, Abutalibov) and Haji Aynur (the son of the former Minister of Food Industry, Sevil Zeynalov) who help us in everything.”

As Haqqin.az notes Israfil Abutalibov is a businessman and works in the construction sector, while Aynur Zeynalov is the owner of Construction Company “Sevil Construction” which has recently set out a goal of providing the poor as well as the young families with the opportunity to purchase land.

“Thus, it can be concluded that Salafis are part of the power structures of Azerbaijan and influence the situation of the country,” Haqqin.az sums up.

In the last period of time the media reported about a number of deaths of Azerbaijani terrorists in Syria. In early April, the Turkish sites have reported that about 30 terrorists from Azerbaijan have already been killed in Syria. According to the Azerbaijani conflict scientist Arif Yunus more than 300 Islamists from Azerbaijan are fighting in Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, according to Arif Yunus and the "Facthaber” portal, over 100 Azerbaijani terrorists are fighting in Syria. Azerbaijani terrorists had even placed an online video-record calling for "jihad.

The relationship between international terrorist groups and Azerbaijan originated in the early 1990s. That time, the Azerbaijani army, having failed in the aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), retreated with losses. Trying to save the situation, the Azerbaijani leadership, headed by Heydar Aliyev attracted to the war against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh international terrorists and members of radical groups from Afghanistan (groupings of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar), Turkey ("Grey Wolves", etc.), Chechnya (groupings Basayev and Raduyev etc.) and some other regions.

Despite the involvement in of thousands of foreign mercenaries and terrorists in the Azerbaijani army during the war, the Azerbaijani aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh Republic failed, and the Baku authorities were forced to sign an armistice with the NKR and Armenia. However, international terrorists found ties in Azerbaijan, and used them in the future. Recruitment was conducted among Azerbaijanis, who then were sent to Afghanistan and the North Caucasus, where participated in the battles against the forces of the international coalition and Russian organizations.

In recent years, the citizens of Azerbaijan are actively involved in terrorist and extremist activities in Russia, Afghanistan and Syria. In Azerbaijan the citizens are brought to criminal liability for participating in "illegal armed groups" in Afghanistan, sentenced to minor terms of imprisonment.