Islamic Party issued a statement protesting against the situation inside the party

The statement given to north bureau of APA reads: "Strong standstill has been observed in the activity of the Azerbaijan Islamic Party recently. The political line, management and the activity of the party is marred by non-transparency. Supreme Assembly of the party hasn't met for four months. The trouble is that, the party hasn't discussed the results of the November 6, 2005 parliamentary elections yet. Financial condition of the party is in disorder too. Financial problems of leaderships of provincial committees are not solved and the democracy inside the party is suppressed. Some party leaders seem to have misappropriated the party. All the abovementioned facts cause damage to the image of the party and causes disrespect towards Islamic values among people, as well. Taking the situation into consideration, we demand summoning special and closed sitting of the Supreme Assembly of the party and party leader Haji Agha Nuri and head of control-inspection commission deliver a report on the general and financial situation inside the party. If the statement is not followed, those signed these documents will issue stronger statement to the public."

Head of AIP department in Khachmaz region Azadkhan Babayev who was candidate to the 6 November elections told the north bureau of APA that, the political activity of the party leadership is mysterious; the allocations allocated to the regional departments are not given to them.

Babayev also added that, most of the provincial departments are dissatisfied with the current situation: "I have expressed my concerns to Haji Hajiagha for many times in the sittings of the party, and everyone knows that. I’ll not step back. If the Supreme Assembly doesn’t meet I’ll hold press conference and make more detailed statement."

Leader of AIP Haji Hajiaga told APA that, he is unaware of the above mentioned statement and said it will be investigated. First deputy leader of AIP Haji Rovshan Ahmadli said to APA that, it is very strange that, the statement was addressed to the press directly not just to the party. "There seems to be another aim. According to the party rules, every party member has a right to initiate summoning the meeting of the Supreme Assembly or the party congress. However, it should be done only in the framework of the party rules. There seems to be some unexplained nuances behind the statement."

One of the AIP activists who didn't want his name to be mentioned confirmed the existence of confrontation inside the party in his statement to APA while commenting the situation: "This was to happen sooner or later. There is strong dissatisfaction about party leader Haji Hajiagha Nuri and his supporters. Haji Hajiagha’s activity as a party leader is unclear. If the Supreme Assembly meets and the situation inside the party is discussed a lot of issues will be clear and the separation of the party will be inevitable."