By German Sadulayev, special to Prague Watchdog
St.Petersburg, Russia
The Caucasus Emirate website KAVKAZAN HAAMASH recently devoted two articles to the subject of Prague Watchdog. In the first of these, PW’s editors and contributors are called "children of the galaxy" (perhaps another name for “rootless cosmopolitans”?). The article’s author essentially finds fault with PW’s site for not being Islamic (or rather, Salafist).
Indeed, PW is not a religious publication, nor is it narrowly ideological. It concentrates on the provision of information and analysis in the field of human rights, gathering different perspectives and views on the problems of the North Caucasus region. In order to be fair, KH would need to admit that PW offers a platform to all parties to the conflict, including members of the Islamic resistance, and has often taken flak for it, as a glance at the archive will soon confirm. For example, not so long ago the website published an interview with the Islamist leader Dokka Umarov. And, as the editors have frequently pointed out, the publication accepts material on the North Caucasus written from any position, provided that it is interesting, competently written and well argued.
This does not mean that PW has no position of its own. It has one, but it is not restricted to any particular ideology – religious or secular, social or political. Although I am not a member of PW’s editorial board, but only one of the site’s contributors, let me try to express PW’s stance, as I see it: it is that human rights must be respected; violence against the person is evil; the authorities should respect the rights and freedoms of the individual citizen; people should try to respect and understand one another rather than engage in confrontation; cooperation and dialogue are better than conflict. This position is one that I find congenial, and so I feel honoured to write for PW.
The second of KH’s articles was devoted to my humble self, and my article ‘Perpendicular Power’. Apparently it caused offence. I wonder why? The Emirate’s supporters ought to find it highly flattering, as it points to their unique success in having established a form of spiritual authority that is able, even from its base in the forests, to exert an influence the processes of society and, paradoxically, the decisions of its enemies. And am I not right in saying that the goal of the mujahideen is the imposition of Sharia, not the acquisition of personal power, government offices and flashing rooflights on cars? And that if Sharia is imposed, the mujahideen can be considered to have achieved their goal, even if the entire Emirate perishes? But perhaps the way I expressed it was too near the bone, and the newcomers to the resistance and its potential recruits felt uncomfortable about having their true role exposed – the role of victim, with no hope of enjoying the fruits of victory on this earth...
When we talk about the state, we mean the state as it exists in reality, not the polis of Plato or Campanella’s City of the Sun. In his article, KH’s correspondent backs up his arguments by claiming that the Caucasus Emirate is a fully-fledged state in the sense that Aristotle proposed: i.e. even a small community of people with their own laws can be called a state. I have not come across the name of Aristotle on the list of Salafist Islamic scholars before. In fact, I think he was a pagan.
But that is not the point. The question is not an abstract one, nor is it merely rhetorical. The point is that no territory can be two states at the same time, even according to Aristotle. And if we assume that the real power in the Caucasus is the Emirate, while the institutions and agencies of Russia are criminal gangs, it turns out that the Emirate is an impotent government that has failed to establish control over its territory, is unrecognized by other states and is unable to exercise its powers openly and publicly. Such a government does not constitute a state. And the fragmentary attempts on its part to hold trials and mete out punishments can only be called crimes.
I do not consider myself wiser or more enlightened than my forebears. My parents and grandparents endured harsh ordeals and retained their religious faith, and that faith sustained them. Everyone knows his own family best, of course. Perhaps my opponent’s situation is different. But I cannot believe that the faith of my forebears was "incorrect" or "deluded", and it would be even more presumptuous for me to believe that I am better than them. Of course, we live in different times and under different circumstances and may have different views. But that does not mean that one can disregard the history of one’s people or speculate on it, distorting the facts.
On the whole I am pleased that followers of the Emirate have responded to PW's articles, and in such a lively and artistic way. Discussion and reflection are far better than shooting people or blowing them up. Perhaps eventually we shall all understand one other better. Especially if we refuse to lock ourselves in a shell of dogma, throwing slogans about instead of arguments. If we are Muslims, and even if there are among us people who adhere to other faiths and philosophies but choose good instead of evil, and light instead of darkness, we shall try to reach agreement and understanding. And let there be peace in our house.
(The opinions expressed in PW's articles reflect those of each author and not necessarily those of the editors)
Photo: artyx.ru.
(Translation by DM)
© 2009 Prague Watchdog (see Reprint info).
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