Islamic Resistance Movement of Azerbaijan

Short description: Shia Islamist group in Azerbaijan

Islamic Resistance Movement of Azerbaijan

Azərbaycan İslam Müqavimət Hərəkatı
Founder| Tawhid Ibrahim Begli
Leader| Tawhid Ibrahim Begli
Dates of operation| 2015–present
Allegiance|

* Iran
* IRGC

Headquarters| Qom and Mashhad[1][2][3]
Active regions| Template:Country data Ba'athist Syria (Until 2024)
Ideology| Shia Islamism
Khomeinism
Anti-Zionism
Anti-Western sentiment
Political position| Syncretic
Status| Active
Part of| Axis of Resistance
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
Allies| State allies
Iran[4]
Template:Country data Ba'athist Syria Ba'athist Syria (until 2024)
Russia (sometimes)[note 1]
Non-State allies
File:PMF infobox.png PMU
Template:Country data Hezbollah
Opponents| State opponents
Russia (sometimes)[5][6][note 2]
Turkey
Israel
Saudi Arabia
Template:Country data Syrian Opposition Syria
Non-State opponents
GAMOH
AMDT
JAMAH

* Islamic State
* Iraq and the Levant Province
* Caucasus Province
* Azerbaijan Province

Battles and wars| Syrian civil war
Colours| Yellow and Green

The Islamic Resistance Movement of Azerbaijan,[lower-alpha 1] also known as Husseiniyoun,[lower-alpha 2] is a Shia Islamist Azerbaijani militant organization that is based in Iran.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Role in Syria
* 2.1 Role in 2024 Syria clashes
* 3 Stances on the Azerbaijani government
* 4 Ties with Iran
* 5 Crackdown and arrests of members
* 6 Flag
* 7 Notes
* 8 References

## History

Tawhid Ibrahim Begli is known as the founder of this movement. He is a staunch critic of the regime of Ilham Aliyev and stated that the aim of the movement is "to create a discourse, to create a deterrent power among the Shia Muslims of Azerbaijan and to strengthen and empower them based on the model of resistance".[7][8][9]

In late 2015 and early 2016, Tawhid Ibrahim Begli instructed 14 students from Azerbaijan who were studying religion in Qom and Mashhad to establish a "Husseiniyoun Brigade" consisting of students. Ibrahim Begli first gathered the 14 students at the workplace of Iskander Husseinov in Qom, and after a day of waiting, transferred them to a military unit near the capital of Syria, Damascus.[10][11][12] All of the newly-recruited fighters had received brief basic military training before their deployment to Syria.[13]

The movement was named by Qasem Soleimani.[14]

## Role in Syria

The IRMA has only had a minimal presence and made a minimal impact in Syria due to its small size, especially when compared to bigger and stronger militias such as Lebanese Hezbollah, the Popular Mobilization Forces, Fatemiyoun, and Zainabiyoun.[13]

When it comes to armed strength, the group had gained battlefield experience from its fighting in Syria. Members of the group had also received military training from Hezbollah on capabilities such as guerrilla warfare and unconventional warfare tactics. Further, as the Syrian conflict began die down and the forces of Assad Regime became less dependent on Iranian-backed militias for support, a number of the IRMA's veterans, who had fought in the Syrian civil war, began to returning to their homes in Iran, where they continued training, and also to Azerbaijan.[13]

Some members of the movement had volunteered at their own choice to participate in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War and the 2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh in favour of Azerbaijan.[15]

### Role in 2024 Syria clashes

Reports indicated little to no resistance or support from Husseiniyoun in any engagements in Syria leading up to and during the 2024 Syrian opposition offensives and the Fall of the Assad regime.[16]

## Stances on the Azerbaijani government

According to some media outlets in the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ibrahim Begli immediately stated in Damascus that their intention was not only to fight ISIS, but also to prepare for an uprising in Azerbaijan.[10][11][12]

However, the movement has stated that its sole purpose is to confront extremists and has no plans to expand its activities in Azerbaijan. According to Tawhid Ibrahim Begli, he did not support Azerbaijan and did not directly order the deployment fighters to Nagorno-Karabakh because of Israel’s support for Azerbaijan.[15] Some members of the group volunteered themselves to fight for Azerbaijan in the conflict, despite no specific orders on them to do so.[15]

## Ties with Iran

Tawhid Ibrahim Begli's father, Alam Ibrahimli, and his mother, Soodabeh Ibrahimli, originally from Lankaran, later settled in Mashhad.[17]

In 2013, Tawhid Ibrahim Begli met with Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, during a meeting called "Ulema of the Ummah and the Islamic Awakening" as the chairman of the "Assembly of Fighting Clerics of the Republic of Azerbaijan". During the meeting, he spoke about the situation of Muslim prisoners in the Republic of Azerbaijan.[18][19]

In 2017, Tawhid Ibrahim Begli attended the "Memorial of the Martyrs of Nardaran" in Zanjan and spoke about the incident of an attack by the special police forces of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2015 on the Shiites of Nardaran, which killed four residents.[18][19]

The movement visited the tomb of Qasem Soleimani in Kerman in 2020.[20]

In a message, the Islamic Resistance Movement of Azerbaijan congratulated Ebrahim Raisi on his victory in the 2021 Iranian presidential election.[21]

Hussainiyoun’s leader is currently reported to be residing in Iran.[22]

## Crackdown and arrests of members

The members of this group who were fighting in Syria were mostly imprisoned or faced severe treatment by the government of Azerbaijan after returning.[23]

Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies released information that Tawhid Ibrahim Begli, leader of the organization, who regularly made threats against Azerbaijan, called for the assassination of Elmar Valiyev, the then mayor of Ganja, in January 2017 through the extremist website "nur-az.com". A year later, Yunis Safarov attempted to assassinate Elmar Valiyev.[24]

Tawhid Ibrahim Begli has been accused of continuous and radical efforts against the government of Azerbaijan and was previously detained by the police during a protest rally in front of the Israeli embassy in Baku and was detained for 7 days by a court decision.[25]

In 2020, the residence of Faleq Valiyev, a member of the movement, was identified in Russia, and he was arrested as part of an international search and was extradited to Azerbaijan on August 27. He was charged with "being a member of a criminal group (organization)", "training outside the Republic of Azerbaijan for terrorist purposes" and "participating in the activities of armed groups outside the laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan". He was sentenced to eight years in prison by the Ganja Crimes Court.[5][6]

"Elmir Zahedov", a high-ranking member of the organization who was present in Syria, was imprisoned in Shaki prison in 2021.[26]

## Flag

Like the IRGC, its branches and proxies, Hezbollah, Harakat Al-Sabireen, Liwa Zainebiyoun, Liwa Fatemiyoun, and many other Shia militias allied to Iran, the flag of this group features a hand holding a rifle.

## Notes

1. ↑ Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan İslam Müqavimət Hərəkatı
2. ↑ Azerbaijani: Hüseynçilər, حسین‌چی‌لر

1. ↑ Hostile in Russia until 2025, friendly in Syria until 2024
2. ↑ Friendly in Syria until 2024, hostile in Russia until 2025

## References

1. ↑ "İbrahimbəyli "Hüseyniyyun" dəstəsi yaradıb - Şok DETALLAR". https://metbuat.az/news/990073/ibrahimbeyli-huseyniyyun-destesi-yaradib
sok-detallar.html.
2. ↑ "İbrahimbəyli "Hüseyniyyun" dəstəsi yaradıb - Şok məlumat". July 15, 2018. https://axar.az/news/gundem/291883.html.
3. ↑ "Tohid İbrahimbəyli İranda dini təhsil alan şəxslərin iştirakı ilə "Hüseyniyyun" (Hüseynçilər) adlı silahlı dəstə yaradıb". https://apa.az/az/sosial/xeber_tohid_ibrahimbeyli_iranda_dini_tehsil_al_-520955.
4. ↑ "The Huseynyun: Iran's new IRGC-backed movement in Azerbaijan". Middle East Monitor. October 9, 2021. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211009-the-huseynyun-irans-new-irgc-backed-movement-in-azerbaijan/.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Rusiyadan ekstradisiya edilən şəxsə hökm oxundu". September 25, 2021. https://www.azerbaycan24.com/rusiyadan-ekstradisiya-edilen-sexse-hokm-oxundu/.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "В Гяндже вынесен приговор арестованному в России Фалигу Велиеву". https://media.az/politics/1067831650/v-gyandzhe-vynesen-prigovor-arestovannomu-v-rossii-faligu-velievu/.
7. ↑ "جنبش حسینیون در پی گفتمان سازی است". https://www.barkhat.news/technology/163483668832/the-hosseinian-movement-seeks-to-create-a-discourse.
8. ↑ "تشکیل حسینیون مرهون بصیرت و حمایت‌های حاج‌قاسم است". https://www.javanonline.ir/fa/news/1064887/تشکیل-حسینیون-مرهون-بصیرت-و-حمایت‌های-حاج‌قاسم-است.
9. ↑ "تشکیل "حسینیون" مرهون بصیرت و حمایت‌های سردار سلیمانی است/ حاج قاسم گفت من کمر زیر تابوت تو رفتن را ندارم!". October 12, 2021. https://www.mashreghnews.ir/news/1284522/تشکیل-حسینیون-مرهون-بصیرت-و-حمایت-های-سردار-سلیمانی-است-حاج.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "İbrahimbəyli "Hüseyniyyun" dəstəsi yaradıb - Şok DETALLAR". https://metbuat.az/news/990073/ibrahimbeyli-huseyniyyun-destesi-yaradib
sok-detallar.html.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "İbrahimbəyli "Hüseyniyyun" dəstəsi yaradıb - Şok məlumat". July 15, 2018. https://axar.az/news/gundem/291883.html.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Tohid İbrahimbəyli İranda dini təhsil alan şəxslərin iştirakı ilə "Hüseyniyyun" (Hüseynçilər) adlı silahlı dəstə yaradıb". https://apa.az/az/sosial/xeber_tohid_ibrahimbeyli_iranda_dini_tehsil_al_-520955.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Husseini’yon: A Profile of the Iranian-backed Militia Threatening Azerbaijan - Jamestown". https://jamestown.org/husseiniyon-a-profile-of-the-iranian-backed-militia-threatening-azerbaijan/.
14. ↑ bultannews.com, بولتن نیوز (October 16, 1399). "یکی از کارهای بزرگ حاج قاسم تشکیل حسینیون در آذربایجان بود". https://www.http/.
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Agentliyi, ABNA Xəbər (February 27, 2021). "44-günlük Vətən Müharibəsində Hüseynçilər necə vuruşurdu və hərbiçimiz bu haqda nə danışdı? – Video". http://abna24.com/9XDp.
16. ↑ Taban, Besmillah (2024-12-15). "The Fall of the Syrian Government and the Future of Foreign Jihadists: Supporters and Opponents of Assad" (in en-CA). https://8am.media/eng/the-fall-of-the-syrian-government-and-the-future-of-foreign-jihadists-supporters-and-opponents-of-assad/.
17. ↑ "The Huseynyun: Iran’s new IRGC-backed movement in Azerbaijan". 2021-10-09. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211009-the-huseynyun-irans-new-irgc-backed-movement-in-azerbaijan/.
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "نسخه چاپی". https://basijnews.ir/fa/print/8957532.
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "شیخ توحید ابراهیم بیلی در یادواره شهدای نارداران در زنجان: نارداران در آسیای میانه و قفقاز، نماد دشمنی با صهیونیسم، آمریکا و نماد مقاومت است.". https://qafqaz.ir/fa/شیخ-توحید-ابراهیم-بیلی-در-یادواره-شهدا/. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
20. ↑ "Hüseynçilər təşkilatı Şəhid Hacı Qasim Süleymanin məzarını ziyarət etdilər". December 24, 2020. https://www.islamtimes.org/az/gallery/906023/1/hüseynçilər-təşkilatı-şəhid-hacı-qasim-süleymanin-məzarını-ziyarət-etdilər.
21. ↑ "تبریک جنبش مقاومت اسلامی جمهوری آذربایجان به رئیسی". https://www.ilna.news/بخش-سیاسی-3/1092730-تبریک-جنبش-مقاومت-اسلامی-جمهوری-آذربایجان-به-رئیسی.
22. ↑ Taban, Besmillah (2024-12-15). "The Fall of the Syrian Government and the Future of Foreign Jihadists: Supporters and Opponents of Assad" (in en-CA). https://8am.media/eng/the-fall-of-the-syrian-government-and-the-future-of-foreign-jihadists-supporters-and-opponents-of-assad/.
23. ↑ "باکو تحت تأثیر غرب مسلمانان را محدود می‌کند/ تلاش رژیم صهیونیستی برای نزدیکی به ایران از مسیر ارمنستان". March 18, 2020. https://www.ana.press/news/470450/باکو-تحت-تأثیر-غرب-مسلمانان-را-محدود-می-کند-تلاش-رژیم-صهیونیستی.
24. ↑ "Tohid İbrahimbəyli İranda Hüseyniyyun (Hüseynçilər) adlı silahlı dəstə yaradıb". https://realpress.az/?smode=news&item=38438.
25. ↑ "Hüseynçilər təşkilatının sədri danışdı: "Yunis Səfərov həqiqətən bizim üzvümüzdür, amma..."". https://ovqat.com/manset/22632-huseyncilr-tkilatnn-sdri-dand-yunis-sfrov-hqiqtn-bizim-uzvumuzdur-amma.html.
26. ↑ همراه گرامی! Raja News

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