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Mufti, sheikh and imam of Georgian Muslims Board comment on discontent of Caucasian Muslims Board

17 June 2011 09:56 (UTC +04:00)

We do not distinguish between Shiites and Sunnites. We respect Caucasian Muslims Board and its head Allahshukur Pashazadeh. He is our sheikh, we love him, we have not separated from this board,â€ mufti of the newly-established Georgian Muslims Board Jamal Paksadze told APAâ€™s Georgia bureau while commenting on the discontent of Azerbaijan, particularly of the Caucasian Muslims Board with the establishment of the board.

Paksadze, who was elected imam in Adjara for the eighth time, said they want mosques to be registered in Georgia the way they are registered in Muslim countries.
â€œThe goal of our nongovernmental organization is to solve all the problems together. We do not distinguish between Sunnites and Shiites. We all are brothers, we love one another. We will successfully continue our religious service. Being mufti my duty is to serve five regions of Adjara, at the same time the Muslims living in Adigun, Samskhe-Javakheti, Kakheti and other regions. I am Muslim, my great grandfather was imam. Our office will be based in Tbilisi, at the same time I will work in the mosque in Batumi. I am teaching Koran to the students in the mosque,â€ he said.

Jamal Paksadze said representative of Caucasian Muslims Board Haji Ali Aliyev is his friend.
â€œAli is my brother. We hold consultations. This representation is continuing functioning,â€ he said.

Sheikh of the Georgian Muslims Board Vagif Akperov told APA they purpose to serve the religion only. He said Allashukur Pashazadeh is a religious leader of the Caucasus. â€œHe has done much work during the communist time and until now. We created such board in Georgia now and we are looking forward for the close and friendly relations with the Caucasian Muslims Board, other Muslims organizations and etc. The Georgian representation of the Caucasian Muslims Board has been functioning since 1996. But I am not a representative or member of the Caucasian Muslims Board. I am serving the Georgian Muslims Board. I donâ€™t accept these protests and donâ€™t understand reasons of those protests. I would say only that we want to establish good relations with the Caucasian Muslims Board, honorable Haji Allahshukur Pashazadeh, as well as with all Muslims over the world. Our purpose in establishing this organization is only to do useful work for our peopleâ€.

Imam of the Georgian Muslims Board Yasin Aliyev told APA establishing the Georgian Muslims Board had negative effect on the Caucasian Muslims Board. â€œThe Caucasian Muslims Board led the Georgian Muslims long time, and such situation today had negative effect on it. But we established this organization as an independent country. It is naturally that they express protest, because Georgian Azerbaijanis are not subjects of this board now. This step is not against the Sheikh. We need to welcome this condition created for us by the Georgian state. This board doesnâ€™t lead to the division of Muslims. We will work not to allow dividing of Muslims. I have been working the deputy representative of the Caucasian Muslims Board in Georgia for 14 years. It is not correct to search reasons for our separation from the Caucasian Muslims Board. We have only established our independent organization in our independent stateâ€.