Azerbaijani academic promotes 'secular model' to encourage peace in Muslim world

A leading Azerbaijani academic says the country's secular model could be “exported” to help promote peace and reconciliation in other parts of the Muslim world.

Fariz Ismailzade, Vice Rector of ADA University in Baku, the Azerbaijani capital, believes that elements of the Azerbaijan model could be taken up by other countries in the neighbourhood.

“Azerbaijan is a small country with a population of just 9m but its secular 'model' is unique and it is something that could help promote peace and harmony to a Muslim world of 1.5 billion people,” he said.

He was speaking in the European Parliament on Tuesday at a policy briefing, “EU Neighbourhood: the case for secularism in promoting peace, dialogue and reconciliation,”  one of several events the respected European Foundation for Democracy is hosting on the issue of secularism.

The findings of a study called Secularism in Azerbaijan were formally launched at the policy briefing, which was organised by the European Foundation for Democracy, a leading Brussels-based policy institute, in conjunction with the EPP and S&D political groups in the Parliament.It was hosted by Julie Ward, a UK Socialist MEP, and Estonian member Tunne Kelam, a leading figure in the EPP.

In an interview with EU Reporter, Ismailzade detailed his thoughts, pointing out that Azerbaijan had, in fact, been a “role model” for the Muslim world in the past. But that was before the collapse of the Soviet Empire in the early 1990s which had “given way for radical elements” to emerge in Azerbaijan as well as neighbouring countries.

However, he credited the current government with having focused on redeveloping Azerbaijan, including the creation of more than 600,000 new jobs which had “helped steer young people from the path of radicalization”.

The report “Secularism in Azerbaijan" states that counter-radicalisation measures have been effective in checking the rise of radicalisation in Azerbaijan and Ismailzade says this has contributed to  the country once again becoming a “symbolic role model” of religious harmony for neighbouring states, one which he believes could be an  item for export.

An example of its success in this area, Ismailzade says, is the peaceful co-existence of groups such as Christians and Muslims, Sunni and Shia.

“Over the last five or six years, Azerbaijan has, through forums and international events, been promoting its own secular model. I am not saying this model is necessarily appropriate for all other Arab countries but elements of it could be exported.”

He cites, for example, the case of Iran, one of the two major powers on Azerbaijan´s border, whose population includes an estimated 30m who are ethnic Azerbaijani.

The “Azerbaijan model” would be suitable for such people who are seeking “more rights and inclusiveness” in their own society, said Ismailzade, who coordinates external, international and governmental relations at ADA University.           Given the “peaceful co-existence” enjoyed by Azerbaijani's  sizeable Jewish community the same model might also be appropriate in promoting peace and dialogue in the Middle East.

“In a multi ethnic country Azerbaijan has carved out its own model for religious and racial harmony and it is this version that is worth promoting.”

He also believes the country can act as a “bridge” between the West and Arab worlds, saying: “We are a young country still but it is important to acknowledge our development and modernization in the 24 years of our independence.”

Events such as the European Games, which are currently being hosted in Baku, are further evidence of the “European values” Azerbaijan “holds dear”. But he also points out that Baku is also hosting the Islamic Solidarity Games in two years, “showing that we are also part of the Islamic world.”

“This is why I believe we can play a bridging role between Europe and the Islamic world,” noted Ismailzade, who also served  in the task force to develop Azerbaijan's national educational strategy.

Looking to the future, he says, “Azerbaijan will continue to promote its harmonious model but what we need is more support from the EU and West in understanding the complexities of our region.”

These include the ethnic conflicts never far from the surface in Iran and Russia, its two neighbouring giants.

On the threat of radicalisation, he admits: “Yes, it still exists in Azerbaijan but only from small, marginalized groups that advocate a certain form of political Islam. These are on the margins and are not supported by the majority of Azerbaijani society and nor do they have sufficiently strong resources to challenge the government.”

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