The information about burning the Christmas Three in Baku on the night of 1 January on the famous Fountain Square, where young people hold their protests and flash mobs, was confirmed.
The news was spread at night by a number of Azerbaijani sites citing a user Babek Goyush, who exposed the night photo of the ignited Christmas tree, nears the "Azerbaijan" cinema. The Interior Ministry reported that the Christmas tree ignited because of electrical short circuit of garland.
Turan correspondent, who visited the Fountain Square in the morning on January 2, did not notice any signs of overnight fire. The place around the burnt three was cleaned. Nothing on the square and adjacent squares reminds about the night incident.
However, this is an interpretation of Interfax news agency that stated hypothetically that the fire had been done by radical Islamists. "Presumably, the arson was committed by a group of radical young Muslims to protest against the celebration of New Year's Day on the day of the death of the prophet Muhammad," wrote the agency.
A week before New Year the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan (IPA) really called the head of the Caucasus Muslims, Sheikh Allahshukur Pashazade to take measures to prevent the New Year celebrations on December 31. Islamists motivated the appeal by the fact that this year, according to lunar calendar, December 31 fell on the day of the death of the Prophet Muhammad and the death of his grandson, Imam Hassan.
"We believe that the day of the Prophet's death should be celebrated as a national day of remembrance. On this day the number of holiday shows on TV should be restricted, and more time should be spent on sermons and conversations of theologians," read the appeal.
Administration of the Muslims did not comment on this call.
But the Islamic Party has never called on not to celebrate the New Year. "We are not against the celebration of the New Year, and this issue has never been discussed," Turan was told by a member of the Supreme Majlis of the Islamic Party, the head of the community of Nardaran’s elders, Haji Natig Karimov.
Christmas trees have been installed in Baku almost all areas and parks, the tallest of them with the height 38 meters stands on the Azadlig Square. It is noteworthy that no one is guarding it.
ANN.Az
