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An action of protest took place in the Azerbaijani close-to-Baku settlement Nardaran, due to the publishing the Prophet Muhammad caricature in the French journal “Charlie Hebdo.” Although the action hadn’t been coordinated with the authorities of the country, the protesters didn’t meet any obstacle. Any police officer wasn’t seen around the square, “Caucasian knot” correspondent says.

It’s noted in the article that some two hundred people were present at the demonstration. They were holding banners labelled with the following inscriptions: “Islam is not unprotected,” “France is afraid of Islam,” “Up with the Prophet,” etc., as well as green flags with religious inscriptions and the three-coloured flags of Azerbaijan.

The protesters in Nardan were calling on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan to express their attitude regarding the insulting of the Prophet, the Azerbaijani information agency “Turan” reports. During the action the slogans “Death to Israel,” “Death to America,” “Death to France,” “Death to Germany,” “Death to Denmark” were heard.

As the article has it, the protesters burnt down the flags of France, USA, Israel and Armenia. The speakers of the rally condemned the US for “double standards” and support to the Nagorno Karanakh Republic. The Turkish President Erdoghan was criticized as well, who “speaks as “the guardian of Islam,” yet in action he “lets” the warriors to Syria through Turkey.” Along with that the Nardaranis are convinced that the Muslims are going to win under the leadership of Ali Khamenei, the head of Iran.

Alongside with the Nardaranis, other residents of Balu villages took part, the Azerbaijani information agency “Report” reads.
The large settlement of Nardaran situated near Baku is well-known for its residents’ religious and oppositional approaches. The Nardaranis have more than once held mass protest actions because of social injustice, the ban of the Azerbaijani authorities to wear hijabs at school, etc. On 21 December, 2012 Natik Kerimov, the chairman of the aksakal council, told that the Azerbaijani police officers and people in civilian clothes were watching the villagers at night. The Nardarani believers were pushed into cars and taken to police stations without any reason. Kerimov noted that those detained are charged with drug use despite the fact that they don’t even smoke cigarettes.

Besides, The Islamic party of Azerbaijan (IPA) was established in this very Nardaran in 1991. In 1996 the registration of the party was cancelled under the suspicion of maintaining relations with Iran. However, the party still has got an influence in Nardaran despite Movsum Samedov, the leader, and his supporters’ arrest and accusations of attempting to seize the authority forcefully, illegally keeping arms, preparing terror attacks. In October, 2011 Samedov and 6 other members of IPA were sentenced to long prison terms.