Political Islam in Chechnya

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Political Islam in Chechnya
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The Chechen conflict

• To what extent has political Islam gained a
  foothold in Chechnya?
• How did a nationalist-separatist movement become
  radicalized under the banner of political Islam?
• Homegrown vs. exported?
• Compatibility with Chechen culture and society?
• Impact of Russian Chechenization policies?
• Implications on the Chechen struggle toward
  independence

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The North Caucasus
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Chechnya backgroundhistorical timeline

• 1858 incorporated into Russian empire
• 1930 Chechen-Ingush autonomous republic
• 1944 mass deportations under Stalin
• 1957 Rehabilitated under Stalin
• 1991 de-facto independence
• 1993-1996 First Chechen War
• 1999-2002 Second Chechen War

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The Key Players
Akhmad Kadyrov
Shamil Basaev
Aslan Maskhadov
Abdul-Khalim Sadulaev
Ramzan Kadyrov Alu Alkhanov
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Moving toward independence

• First Chechen War 1994-1996
• Russian invasionfear of disintegration of
  Russian Federation.
• Khasavyurt agreementRussian troop withdrawal,
  ceasefire, constitutional status of Chechnya
  delayed until 2001.

Dzhokhar Dudaev
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Inter-war period (1996-1999)

• 1997 Maskhadov democratically elected president
• Lawless society failure to demobilize,
  corruption, hostage taking, recruitment of
  radicalized youth
• Deadlock over Chechnyas status
• Increasing polarizationmoderates vs. political
  Islamists/war lords
• Sharia law instituted-establish order, appease
  opposition
• 1998 military clashes between political Islamists
  and Tariqahtists (Sufi orders)
• Incursion into Dagastan led by Basayev provides
  pretext for Moscow to begin second invasion of
  Chechnya to

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Outcome of Second Chechen War

• Current policy of Chechenization
• 2003 Referendum approves new constitution giving
  Chechnya more autonomy but enshrining its
  position within Russian Federation.
• Pro-Russian Akhmad Kadyrov elected president.
• Campaign of zachistki and other massive human
  rights violations by Russian and Chechen security
  forces
• Increase in terrorist tactics by Basaev
• Worsening socioeconomic conditions?recruitment of
  disaffected youth

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Revival of Islam in Chechnya does political
Islam have a future?

• Islam as a unifying factor against Russian
  troopshistorical roots of jihad.
• Ideological split between nationalist-separatist
  cause and Political Islam
• Marginalization of moderates
• Political Islam vs. Sufi Islam successful
  recruitment of disaffected youth
• Spread of political Islam in Caucasus region
• External financial support

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Obstacles to Political Islam

• Features of Chechen society
• Historically divided into clans (teips), Chechen
  society retains a high degree of autonomy.
• Teip society governed by Adat a collection of
  customary lawsquite liberal, allow for high
  levels of clan independence.
• Practice of Sufi Islamfusion of religion,
  ethnic customs and pagan beliefs produced
  Peoples Islam at odds with Political Islam.
• Soviet legacy
• Secularization, womens roles, alcohol use
• Terrorist tactics
• Disagreement among leadership over tactics used.
  Alienation among Chechen population

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Chechen resistance post Maskhadov

• Increasing radicalization toward political Islam
• Basaev considered symbol of continuity of Chechen
  struggle
• Rise of Sudalaevpolitical clout, represents new
  Chechen militant searching for legitimacy in
  Political Islam independent of external
  influences.
• Consolidation in religion between moderates (Sufi
  tariquats) and political Islamists against
  pro-Moscow Mufti

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Using the War on Terror

• Chechen Rebels
• Declaration of jihad, legitimizes struggle and
  gain acceptance among other Islamic countries
• External financial support
• Demoralize Russian population and turn public
  opinion against Russian government policies
• Russia
• International support for policies
• Masking humanitarian violations
• Justifies non-negotiation with terrorists
• Scapegoat for current failure of policies
• Justifies continuation of war

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The real crisis in Chechnya

• Political leadership
• Government has no legitimacy
• Moderates marginalized after Maskhadovs death
• Religious consolidation against state controlled
  Mufti
• Continuation of state sanctioned violence by
  pro-Moscow government on local population
• Propaganda war framing dominated by Moscow,
  prohibits meaningful discourse that could end war
  and start negotiations.
• A stateless community destruction of Chechen
  society that could otherwise mitigate leanings
  toward political Islam
• Growing regional instability

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Future of Political Islam in Chechnya

• Still uncertain
• Continuation of Russian policies
• Human rights violations
• Change of leadership Sadulaev vs. Basaev.
  Failure to negotiate on both sides
• Escalation of regional instability
• What is clear is that the political Islam that is
  currently emerging has a distinctly domestic
  agenda