Amiraslan Alikhan oglu Isgandarov (Azerbaijani: Əmiraslan Əlixan oğlu İsgəndərov; born 1976[1][2]) was the alleged head of a Salafist group in Baku, Azerbaijan.[3][4]

From 1999 to 2003, he attended Afghan training camps, and ostensibly studied how to focus on recruiting young female mujahideen.[3] TNT, grenades and detonators were seized during the arrest.[5]

The Ministry of National Security released a press notice claiming that Isgandarov "engaged in anti-Azerbaijan campaign [sic] among representatives of ethnic minorities instilling hosility and hatred towards Azerbaijan", and accused him of trying to form a "Jamaat" or army.[6]

Trial

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After a closed trial, Azerbaijan's Court for Serious Crimes passed sentence on Isgandarov and five accomplices, Alirza Macid oglu Babayev (b. 1965), Zaur Aliyevich Aliyev (b. 1984), Abdulla Mahammadovich Mahammadov (b. 1986), Sumgayit Hidayet Pirivey (b. 1971) and Rizvan Abdulgadirov.[1][2][7][8] Isgandarov and Babayev were each sentenced to 14 years imprisonment, under 28.214.2.1 for illegal possession of explosives and ammunition, while Abdulla and Alivey were sentenced to 5 years under 228.2.1 and Abdulgadirov was sentenced to 3 years under 228.1.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b ANS TV, Baku. March 17, 2005
  2. ^ a b c ""Al-Gaeda" supporters attempting to commit terror acts in the territory of the Azerbaijan arrested".
  3. ^ a b http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=4587 The Two Faces of Salafism in Azerbaijan. Terrorism Focus Volume: 4 Issue: 40, December 7, 2007, By: Anar Valiyev
  4. ^ "EurasiaNet Eurasia Insight - Watching for Wahhabis: The Religious Factor in Azerbaijan s Parliamentary Election Campaign". Archived from the original on 2005-09-23.
  5. ^ http://addm.az.iatp.net/marcen.html
  6. ^ "Minister of National Security of Azerbaijan Republic : The fight against terrorism that challenged the international community, the world's most influential and powerful states, today is also very crucial for Azerbaijan, and prevention of subversive and terrorist and other kind of destructive activities creating a serious threat the national interests of our country, material and spiritual values of the society is one of the most important tasks". Archived from the original on 2010-11-26. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  7. ^ "Azerbaijan: Watching for Wahabis | Women Living Under Muslim Laws". Archived from the original on 2011-02-01. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  8. ^ RFE/RL: SIX SENTENCED ON TERRORISM CHARGES IN AZERBAIJAN, 2005 Archived September 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine