Azerbaijani security expert Ilham
Ismayil said that the current influx of Arab tourists to the country is unlikely to increase chances of an act of terror. He dismissed some of the terrorism warnings recently sounded by the former chairman of the State Committee of Azerbaijan for Work with Religious Structure, Rafiq Aliyev. He pointed out that the tourists have their luggage checked at the airports.
Ismayil added that there is no need for any radicals in Azerbaijan to resort to their services. The following is the text of
Xayal's report published by Azerbaijani opposition newspaper Azadliq on 20 August headlined "What threat do the Arab tourists in
Azerbaijan pose?" and subheaded "Security expert comments on the accusations that the former committee chairman voiced. Ilham
Ismayil: ?Suicide bombers can use this route to come to Azerbaijan. Therefore, attention has to be paid to this area'"; subheadings inserted editorially:
"I am more worried about the Arabization of tourism, rather than about Gulen's followers in Azerbaijan. Today Azerbaijan is a target of ISIS (the Islamic State armed formation that is engaged in bloody acts of terror in Iraq and Syria - editorial office)," the former chairman of the State Committee of Azerbaijan for Work with Religious Structure, Rafiq Aliyev, said in an interview with Radio Liberty.
Influx of Arab tourists
He said that Gulen's followers are organized in Azerbaijan and they even have
abetters among high-ranking government officials. However, Aliyev believes that the biggest threat to the country emanates from the Arab tourists who flow to our country: "The number of tourists who came from the Middle East, especially from Iraq and Syria, in the past two months is too big. I even regard this as Arabization of tourism. Arabs account for 40 per cent to 50 per cent of tourists. Those that visit do so in groups of seven or eight people. There is one elderly man or woman among them and the rest are young people and their heads are covered. I am an Orientalist. When they talk in Arabic you realize that they talk with the Arab tourists who go to Azerbaijan's regions and receive information. They all have serious links with each other. You can hear this talk when passing around the hotel. This makes me panic."
Security risks
According to Aliyev, security measures are not being taken in hotels and the luggage is not checked. "One day I saw seven to eight pipes in the baggage of one of them. Why is it necessary? There may be cameras in hotels. However, these cameras are of use once acts of terror are committed. What we need is for acts of terror not to take place.
Hence, I say that today there are not many Gulen's followers in Azerbaijan, but people who attempt to carry out acts of terror. Gulen's followers have nothing to do with terrorists. They are related to ISIS, the Islamic caliphate. Azerbaijan is the only Muslim country in the vicinity of the Middle East that is safe and stable. We can face many hardships if they cause a stir here."
Aliyev said that Azerbaijan is a target for ISIS and added that they have explicitly reiterated this. "However, do we take security measures when we know that we are a target? I do not think so. When I see the influx of tourists and their conduct I realize that nobody is dealing with them. The business of hotels is to make money and security
is low. Hence, I am worried. We do not have a serious group of experts to monitor the arrivals. Money is necessary to spend two to three months in a five-hotel star. Where does such money come from for a group of seven to eight people? Why do they come here? Why do young people spend three months of summer here? Are there such well-off people in Iraq and Syria? Do they have the means to come? Maybe they come with Syrian and Iraqi passports from other countries? Why do not they go to [Turkish resorts in] Antalya or Bodrum?
," Aliyev said expressing his concern.
No evidence, expert says
What steps
then should the relevant agencies take? To what extent is the idea of Arab tourists being a source of threat plausible?
Expert on security issues Ilham
Ismayil said that before arriving in Azerbaijani territory tourists board a plane and pass through the customs. It is at this stage that their luggage is checked. The expert said that there is no evidence of them bringing explosive materials with themselves to Azerbaijan. As for these people obtaining something after coming to Azerbaijan and getting in touch with radical believers, radical believers can manage this on their own. There is no need to resort to the services of a tourist for this: "It is not credible that an Arab tourist will commit an act of terror in Azerbaijan. Arab tourists do not follow the etiquette rules that we accept. Although this is not a threat, there are undesirable aspects here. Yet,
at any rate this area has to be monitored as well. Because suicide bombers can use this route to come to Azerbaijan. Therefore, as in all other areas, attention has to be paid here as well."
www.ann.az
