President Aslan Maskhadov of Chechnya (or as, the Chechens prefer to call it, the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria) had a successful visit to Britain last month. He was on a private visit, invited by Lord Alistair MacAlpine, Leader of the Referendum Movement and former Deputy Chairman and Treasurer of the Conservative Party. The President met businessmen, Muslim community leaders, Foreign Office officials, Lady Thatcher and visited various institutions.
The President discussed investment opportunities in Chechnya during his dinner engagement with Lady Thatcher and Lord MacAlpine on March 9. They also discussed the two hostages being held in Chechnya, Jon James and Camilla Carr, who were kidnapped last summer. The Chechen Government is denying it is responsible and blames the Russians. Chechen forces led an unsuccessful attempt to free them on March 16, a week after President Maskhadov’s visit to Britain. “The issue of hostages is painful to us”, he said during a press conference in London. However, the most important outcome of the meeting with Baroness Thatcher was the proposal to set up an international commission (under her Chairmanship) to look into legal status of Chechnya vis a vis the Russian Federation. “We determined our status when we declared independence in 1991. We expect the documents that will be examined by the commission will show that there is not a single piece of evidence that shows Chechnya voluntarily joined either the Soviet Union or the Russian Federation,” said President Maskhadov.
The President met the families of the British hostages and promised to do their best to get them released. The issue of the hostages was the main point discussed with the officials at the Foreign Office. “We also discussed issues of mutual interest,” said the President. The FO told The Muslim News: “We made it very clear to President Maskhadov the importance of the safe release of the two British hostages. He did raise the possibility of economic assistance.”
President Maskhadov delivered a moving speech at Chatham House on March 10 where he outlined the history of the Chechen nation. He described how the Russians failed in its many efforts to conquer the Chechen people and in 1944, the Russians deported “the entire Chechen people (mainly women, children and the elderly) to north-eastern regions of the Soviet Union - Siberia, Kazakhstan and Kirgistan,” he said bitterly. He added: “On February 27, 1944, 700 inhabitants of the mountain village Haibah were burnt alive. Over 300,000 people were deported, that is 45 per cent of the Chechen population.”
He recounted one of the worst atrocities committed by the Russian forces when it invaded Chechnya in November 1994, destroying 50 cities, including Grozny, Gudermes, Argun and Shali, killing over 100,000 civilians (including over 8,000 children) and 80 per cent of the population were made refugees. “It was very painful for us when the Russian Federation invaded us; we did not receive any support from anyone. That is why we depend on ourselves. We do not expect help from anyone. We only rely on Almighty Allah to help us,” said the defiant President.
The President pleaded for the world to recognise the independence of Chechnya. “The world refused the Chechen people the right not just to be free but to exist,” he said. President Maskhadov reminded the audience that his people would never compromise on freedom and their National Anthem reflects this, it is called ‘Freedom or death’.
“Chechens have shown that there are still Muslims in this world, full of courage and full of daring,” said Guy Eaton, at a meeting organised by Imran Khan in honour of the Chechen President. He added that the quality of daring and the capacity to bluff is the secret to power, but both of these are lacking in the Muslim world. He gave an example of Britain as experts in the “power of bluff”. “It is not a strong country, but Britain persuades others that it was strong,” he said. Rana Kabbani gave a brief account of the history of Chechen people and emphasised their spirit of independence and free will. She said that Chechnya is just one example of atrocities meted out against Muslims. “We would like to see the end of colonialism everywhere and Muslims would like to be free everywhere and would like to be treated like human beings.”
Dr Zaki Badawi took up the theme of the pathetic condition of Muslims. “Muslims are beleaguered, pushed around all over the world. It is very difficult for a Muslim to be a Muslim in the world today. Being a Muslim is a crime,” he said. The reason of the plight of Muslim, argued Dr Badawi, was because “we have lost faith in ourselves, we are defeated by fear instead of defying it, we do not fight for rights but beg for mercy from our enemies”. He then congratulated the Chechen President by saying that “you and your nation have restored the ummah the sense of dignity that we have lost, the pride we have so much missed and faith we have come to doubt”. He added that young Muslims have now a role model to follow: “You and your nation have provided inspiration, you have given our young people hope and courage to stand for their faith and for their dignity.”
Yusuf Islam praised the Chechens on the way they stood up to a super power. Imran Khan praised the courageous people of Chechnya and condemned Muslim leaders for not helping Chechen in their time of need. “Please do not care about the Muslim leaders because Muslim people are with you,” he said.
President Aslam Maskhadov thanked the speakers for their support and pledged that the Chechen people would continue to fight for independence and preserve their Islamic identity. “Chechen people will never leave their Islamic identity,” he said. The President reminded the meeting that it was Islam that helped them defeat the mighty army of Russia. He said “Victory is with Allah, it was with the blessing of Allah we became victorious.” He said his people have not lost hope even though “our cities and towns lie in ruins, many of our people are homeless and wondering when will they have shelter and more than 120,000 have been killed”. He made a scathing attack on those who condemned Chechens for enacting Islamic Law. “The greatest love and understanding is in the laws of Shar’iah. The Chechen people and nation were never subdued and lived under no other laws except Shari’ah.”
He reiterated the desire of Chechnya to follow Islamic Law during Jum’a prayers on March 13 at the Turkish mosque in Clissold Road, north London. “Chechen nation is an Islamic state and governed under Islamic Law. The West is trying to make it into a threat but it was through Islam that we became victorious,” he said. He added: “When we found ourselves totally isolated and forgotten during the war, it was in such a dark hour that we had hope, hope in Allah and felt Him with us. It was not only hope but proof that Allah was helping us.” He warned those Muslims who are trying to impose their interpretation of Islam. “We have our own awliyas and we will not accept anyone who say that what we are following is not correct.”
An interview with President Maskhadov will appear in the next issue.