Young victim of radical Islamists

“Nobody knows what he is doing in the Vahabit Church. I know one thing – number of Vahabists has significantly increased in the village,” these words cost life for 23-year-old Pikret Ahmedov that he told to one of the Georgian TV-Companies. On December 27, 2015 he was wounded to death. His friend Ramin Isaev is suspected in the murder.

The TV-reportage was about conflict between two denominations of Islam in Ponitchala.

Pikret’s mother Zerengul Akhundova said the suspected young man is their relative. “In the past Ramin and my son used to eat from one plate,” she said. 

On January 5, Azerbaijani people from different regions of Georgia participated in the protest in Ponitchala. They were holding banners with slogans: “Vahabism is vandalism!” “Vahabism is not Islam!” “NO to Vahabism!”

Pirket’s cousin Elman Abbasov said two years ago Vahabists started construction of a mosque in Ponitchala but after three protest rallies organized by local population in front of the Tbilisi City Hall the construction stopped. Regardless the fact, on Fridays, over one hundred Vahabists gather in the half-constructed building to pray.

“They obtained permission to construct a house but then started building of a mosque. Vahabists come here to pray in the basement of the building on Fridays. They come here by more than 50 cars. Is not it dangerous? What does the police do in this country?” he asked.

Pikret’s family members state Ramin Isaev fled to Azerbaijan after the murder. Ponitchala police is investigating the case. The family members are discontent with the process. Zarangul Abbasova said during the murder Ramin was not alone and requested to punish his supporter too.

“The accident was recorded by a video-camera from pharmacy. It shows that after wounding my son the person took Ramin to the car. Police claims Ramin has fled to Azerbaijan and it is difficult to find him now. We understood that they cannot arrest Ramin but why do not they arrest the second person? When we ask about it, the police claim they do not have ground to arrest him. What other grounds do they need to arrest a person who assisted the murderer in escape?”

Young people from Ponitchala, who protest radical denomination of Islam, state they are under risk. Novras Alyiev said after he made comments to several TV-Companies about Pikret Ahmadov’s murder he is also threatened.

“After my TV-comment, a vahabist from the village sent audio message to me where he suggests behaving well or they will cut my head off.”

Pikret’s relatives are also in danger. His cousin Elman said he is also threatened with murder but police does not do anything to help him. 

“They sent us message saying we can only give interviews. That we cannot kill a person but they can do that. So they warned us to behave well.”

Head of the press-center at the Ministry of Internal Affairs Thea Pataraia said investigation into Pikret Ahmedova’s case has not finished yet and she cannot issue information about the ongoing criminal case.

Sheikh of Georgia Ramin Igidov said they have sent special petition to the Government of Georgia about the Ponitchala tragedy: “This criminal case once again proves that we really have reason to worry. It is necessary to take some legal measures to fight against radical denominations of Islam in the regions inhabitants with Muslim people. We believe the Government of Georgia will take necessary measures.”

We contacted several MPs for comments but they refused to speak about the issue. “Georgian Parliament has never discussed this issue and I cannot say anything,” MP Eliso Chapidze said.

Conflict scientist Vakhtang Maisaia said if spread of radical Islam is not stopped in Georgia, we will have more problems in future.

“Nobody in the government is aware how many dominations are in Vahabism. They believe it is problem of only Muslim countries. If you do not know what salapism is, you cannot plan anything to fight against it. Government of Georgia shall cooperate with the experts of the field and other experienced countries.”

Pikret’s brother Intizar said more young people may be killed because of radical denomination of Islam in future. “Pikret is dead and nobody will return him to us. If it continues like that in future others may also share his fate. It must be prevented.”

Intizar hopes the government will take measures against vahabists. 

P.S.

When working on the article, the supporter of the suspected in the murder of Pikret Ahmedov was arrested. The investigation blames him in supporting Ramin Iseav to escape from the country.

The publication was prepared in the frame of the project implemented by the Human Rights House Tbilisi with financial support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Tbilisi. Human Rights House Tbilisi is responsible for the content of the article and the views in it might not at all express the views of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.