Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
Abstract
Salafism as a relatively new phenomenon has obtained an active and growing role in Islamic affairs of the Russian Federation especially in the Northern Caucasus, in various dimensions.The realization of radical salafis’ endeavors in separatist militants’ activities, either in the framework of al-Qaeda linked Emirate of the Caucasus or in IS Caucasus Province are not the whole story. Another aspect of this phenomenon is the efforts of moderate salafis to increasingly open up the areas for public and official activities in the religious sphere of Northern Caucasus republics. There is so much evidence to indicate salafism as the fastest growing Islamic sect in the Northern Caucasus, which given especial Importance to this phenomenon.
According to the internal dynamics of the region, continuation of insecurity in the North Caucasus and the failure of the Russian government to implement its stated policy to eradication of separatist and extremist movements in the region, this phenomenon has been emerged as a crucial problem with national dimension in Russia. In the current situation, there is no doubt about ties between radical salafism in Northern Caucasus and sponsors of radical salafism in regional and international level.
The main problem of this paper is about the historical, cultural and political factors which have been playing role in the emergence and development of salafism in the Northern Caucasus. The problem of the paper has been explained and analyzed by descriptive – analytical method.
To answer the problem of the paper, a series of historical, cultural and political factors of the Northern Caucasus, including the background, and the political - defiant characteristics of Islam in the region, weakening of Islam during soviet period, post – Soviet sphere and the transformation of the roles of religious actors, rejection of Sufi Islam by the salafists, the lack of a coherent and coordinated policy towards Salafism in the North Caucasus, counterproductive rivalry between Muslim scholars of Russia, counterproductive ethnic rivalry in the region, the consequences of Chechnya wars, assassination of scholars and thinkers of traditional Islam and de-Iranization of the Northern Caucasus have been introduced and surveyed as the hypothesis of the paper.
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