Law on religious freedom sets off Islamic terrorism alarm
by Nina Achmatova
The authorities recognize for the first time the presence of a fundamentalist cell in the territory of Kazakhstan inspired by the Caucasus radicalism: the "Soldiers of the caliphate." Their recent claim of responsibility for twin bombings in the West, in retaliation for draconian law on religious organizations.
Astana (AsiaNews) - Kazakhstan has sounded a warning over Islamic terrorism. For the first time the authorities have acknowledged the presence of terrorist groups in the richest country in Central Asia thus far considered a bastion of stability, distant from the influence of fundamentalist movements. According to the Attorney General, the two bombs which exploded on October 31 in Atyrau were claimed by the Al-Djund Khalifat group ('Soldiers of the Caliphate'), in a video (see photo), the existence of which the government to date had denied. The attack, the same bombers say, was a reprisal for the draconian law on religious freedom, launched in October in Astana, which also prohibits any practice of worship within government buildings.
Three members of the group shed light on in activities admitting responsibility for the twin bombings, after being arrested last week. The other alleged terrorist, who formed the Islamic cell, was the only victim of the bombs in Atyrau, having handled the explosive material carelessly.
According to the prosecutor, the "Soldiers of the Caliphate" were born in 2009, inspired by one of the best-known figures of the Caucasian Islamic radicalism, the "martyr" Sayeed Buryatskij, a Russian convert to Islam, killed by FSB agents in Ingushetia in March. Buryatskij, 28, was considered the architect of the Moscow-St Petersburg train attack in 2009, which killed 26 people. The four would-be terrorists, moreover, have apparently fought against allied troops in Afghanistan alongside the Taliban.
Analysts also highlight the far from random target of the attack: the city of Atyrau. Located in the west of the country, not far from the tinderbox of the North Caucasus, Atyrau is the "capital" of the thriving district that includes the Tengiz and Kashagan oil fields. It is also the base for the offices of major foreign companies operating in Kazakhstan: among them Eni, Chevron, ExxonMobil and Tengizchevroil. (N.A.)
Three members of the group shed light on in activities admitting responsibility for the twin bombings, after being arrested last week. The other alleged terrorist, who formed the Islamic cell, was the only victim of the bombs in Atyrau, having handled the explosive material carelessly.
According to the prosecutor, the "Soldiers of the Caliphate" were born in 2009, inspired by one of the best-known figures of the Caucasian Islamic radicalism, the "martyr" Sayeed Buryatskij, a Russian convert to Islam, killed by FSB agents in Ingushetia in March. Buryatskij, 28, was considered the architect of the Moscow-St Petersburg train attack in 2009, which killed 26 people. The four would-be terrorists, moreover, have apparently fought against allied troops in Afghanistan alongside the Taliban.
Analysts also highlight the far from random target of the attack: the city of Atyrau. Located in the west of the country, not far from the tinderbox of the North Caucasus, Atyrau is the "capital" of the thriving district that includes the Tengiz and Kashagan oil fields. It is also the base for the offices of major foreign companies operating in Kazakhstan: among them Eni, Chevron, ExxonMobil and Tengizchevroil. (N.A.)
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