Monument to Babek (Irani fighter against Islam) to be erected in Baku

abc.az ^ | 7.9.2011 | abc.az

[Cronos]

President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan has disposed to erect a monument to distinguished Azerbaijani commander Babek.

Under the decree the monument will be erected to educate young generation in a patriotic spirit. Executive Branch of Baku city has been charged to submit proposals on the monument erection to Azerbaijani President at a month’s notice. The Cabinet of Ministers has been charged to solve the issues following the decree.

Babek (Babak Khorramdin or Hasan on one of sources) was born in Ardebil (modern Iran) , as a leader of Khurramits (Zoroastrian sect) waged an armed struggle with Arab expansion and Islamization of Azerbaijan in 816-837. The fighting took place mainly at the territory of contemporary Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and Iranian Azerbaijan (South Azerbaijan). He is considered national hero of Azerbaijan and Iran. Babek’s glorification in modern Azerbaijan started in 1941.An epic film " Babek" was made about him in 70s of the XX century. A monument to him has been erected in Babek city of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan.

[Cronos]

Interesting -- Azerbaijan has a national hero who fought against the Islamization of Iran (which included Azerbaijan at that time)

[Cronos]

Babak Khorramdim lived from 795 to 838 AD

He was a freedom fighter fighting the Islamic conquerors of Iran and managed to keep them at bay for 20 odd years

[no-to-illegals]

Thank You for the ping. I wish I knew the history of the Middle East and Africa. Your pings help to teach me and I am grateful for your pings.

[GiovannaNicoletta]

Thanks for the ping, Cronos!

I have to say, I'm really surprised that this monument to a guy who fought against Islam is being put up in a nation that is almost 100% Islamic.

They're not concerned about possible violence?

[Cronos]

Thanks GN -- I pinged it to you because in both Iran and Greater Iran (Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan etc), there are still faint traces of pride in their great past.

In Iran they still celebrate Nowroz (the Parsi/Zoroastrian new year) and one of their great heroes is the Zoroastrian hero Rustom

[Cronos]

There are also other cases of Moslem countries who have heroes who fought against Islam -- in particular, the Albanians have their great hero Skanderbeg

in 1409, Skanderbeg (George Kastrioti) was the Sultan Murad II of the Ottoman's hostage. Skanderbeg was one of the Sultan's great warriors. Then in 1443 he escaped, re-converted to Catholicism and declared a Holy War against the Ottoman Empire and halted them for 25 years. along with Vlad Tepeś of Wallachia, Stephen III of Moldavia and Jan Hunyadi of Hungary.

Skanderbeg is even now a symbol of Albania

[GiovannaNicoletta]

You have a great knowledge of history!

Were you a history major in college, or just a self-taught history buff?

[Cronos]

It only seems I have a great knowledge of history — I just know a few areas: mostly Assyrian, Persian, English and Roman and now I’m boning up on Polish — but I’m a blank when it comes to say Japanese or Chinese history. It’s self-taught — just a hobby of mine.

[onedoug]

´Hope it lasts....

[odds]

Thanks for the ping cronos.

For those interested:

There are 2 Azarbaijans. One is the present day Iranian province, located in Northwestern Iran (aka Southern Azarbaijan). The other is now called Republic of Azarbaijan (used to be part of the USSR) until the fall of the Soviet Union. Prior to that there used to be only one Azarbaijan, which was located in Iran. But, the Soviets partitioned it. Thereafter the Soviets wanted to take over the other one in Iran, but were eventually kicked out.

A more thorough history regarding Babak Korramdin. His ethnic origins are not clear. But, his name "Babak Khorramdin is an Iranian "Persian" name, not Turkic or Turkish.

According to Waqed (quoted in wikipedia), the oldest biographer on Babak, Babak’s father was a Persian from Madain (formerly known as Ctesiphon, former capital of Sassanian Persian Empire, 35 km south of modern Baghdad in Iraq) who left for the Azarbaijan frontier zone and settled in the village of Balalabad in the Maymad district. According to Fasih, his mother – a native of Azarbaijan – was known as Maahru; (meaning Moon-Face/Belle in Persian)

Anyway, Azarbaijan has a very long history in Iran before Turkic tribes settled in that part of Iran. Also, I had never heard of Babak being called "Hasan" (lol) - at least not in Iran. "Hasan" is an Arabic/Islamic name, completely inappropriate for Babak & related history.

Babak’s sensational and legendary campaign to defend Iran’s national identity and interest is still pursued after nearly 1200 years in Southern Azarbaijan, Kaleibar, Iran every year in Teer Maah (month of July). True Iranians visit Babak’s fortress to hail their Iranian hero, Babak, as the symbol of Iranian resistance against Tazi Arab occupiers. They read poetry including Shahnameh (the Book of Kings - Iran’s most famous epic by Ferdowsi) and play traditional Persian music. They also light up bonfires to follow traditional rituals of ancient Iran.

See more photos of Iranian 'pilgrimage' to Babak's fortress in Iran, and a youtube clip here

An image of Babak Khorramdin - "Khorramdin" means "Joyous religion i.e. Zoroastrianism

“Ghaleye Babak” meaning “Babak fortress”, located in the mountains of Qaradag, in Iran.

[aposiopetic]

Impressive

[no-to-illegals]

bkmk ... will return later in AM

[odds]

P.S. - The flag Babak is holding in the posted image is called Derafshe Kaviani. It is a very old, pre-Islamic flag of Iran. It symbolizes freedom from ancient times.

It was customary in ancient Persia that every king would add a piece of jewlery to the Derafsh. When Arab Moslems invaded Iran, the Derafsh was seized in a bloody battle fought around Nahavand (a city with the same name in today’s Hamadan province in the mid-western Iran) and taken, among many other war spoils. The Arabs burned the flag and used the valuable items.

[cookcounty]

Wow. Azerbaijan is a Muslim country.

Quite amazing.

[cookcounty]

"...in 1409, Skanderbeg (George Kastrioti) was the........"

Is that the new family that Rush keeps talking about?

[odds]

In Iran they still celebrate Nowroz (the Parsi/Zoroastrian new year)

Don't mean to overwhelm you with pings, only a bit of clarification/explanation:

Norooz is, and has always been, a National celebration in Iran, for all Iranians, regardless of ethnicity or faith. Throughout history, Iranians have continued to celebrate Norooz under Arab, Turk and Monghol occupation.

Those of the Iranian (Iranic) stock in Tajikistan, Republic of Azarbaijan, Afghanistan as well as those in Central, and South Asia, Northwestern China, the Caucasus, the Crimea, and the Balkans also celebrate NoRooz. They each have their own minor variations of related rituals, traditions, food, etc..

No-Rooz (literally meaning "New Day" in Persian language) is only a religious celebration for Zoroastrians. More so because Zoroaster's b/day is on March 26, which coincides w/ 13 day long Norooz celebrations. Though Zoroastrians also have a separate "religious" calendar. Actually, the Parsi's (Zoroastrian community in India) use yet another Zoroastrian calendar (warrants having a separate thread on this topic alone).

Iranian (Persian) national calendar (and months) is solar based, not lunar like the Islamic one. The Persian New Year (Norooz) has astronomical significance; it is not faith based. When the Sun crosses directly over the Earth’s equator, this moment is known as the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, hence the start of the Iranian New Year (Norooz).

and one of their great heroes is the Zoroastrian hero Rustom

MOST national heroes in Iran, even now, are considered as pre-Islamic.

Those who beat themselves black & blue mourning the death of their "hero" Hossein (the 3rd Shia Imam) are Not the majority in Iran. But, because they get most of the publicity by western & arab media outside Iran, we in the West think that's the majority of the Iranian population. It is very much a misleading portrayal of the majority of Iran & Iranians in Iran. More so since the Khomeinist regime took over & has tried to further Arabize & Islamize Iran.

Also, since Khomeinist regime came to power, on several occasions, over the past 32 yrs, the mullahs' regime has tried to ban Norooz & other non-Islamic (pre-Islamic) national celebrations in Iran. But, they've been unsuccessful due peoples' resistance & visible objections.

[Cronos]

Islamic country but one that has not forgotten its glorious pre-Islamic past. That is the key for turning them around

[Cronos]

Talking about reminding Moslems of their pre-Islamic past, I think it is important because Islam basically says that everything before Izlam is unworthy of remembering -- hence the destruction of not only monuments but also memories of pre-Izlamic Arabia, and we saw it in the Taliban's destructions of the giant Buddhas of Bamiyan. Those were built when AFghanistan was a centre of Buddhism which came from India under the Maurya Empire

Afghans history is of Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Manichaenism, Christianity (Church of the East) before Izlam. And the Talibs wanted to obliterate that.

The Pakistanis now like to pretend that they are not of Indian extraction but try to say they are actually Arabs (which Arabs laugh at) -- and deny their past

In Egypt, there was a chance at the end of the 19th century when Pharoanism (pride in ancient Egypt) flourished, but then it was superseded by the Moslem brotherhood and pan-Izlam. Ditto for the Amazhighen (Berbers) in North Africa

If we can get these countries to think of their times before Izlam, we have a way of breaking the grip of jhadiism

[odds]

>>>”Afghans history is of Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Manichaenism, Christianity (Church of the East) before Izlam.”<<<

You’re right. Though, I have not heard of any Afghans converting to Buddhism, Manichaenism, or Hindusim in recent years. But, heard of & personally know several of them converting to Zoroastrianism, and Christianity. Of course, they can’t make it publicly known because of apostasy laws of Islam in Afghanistan & regardless of the Taliban.

Also, ethnic “Pashtun” Afghans aside, the other ethnic groups in Afghan (such as Hazaras, Tajiks & Nuristanis), similar to Tajikistan (country despite Soviet Russian occupation), have a very close ethnic, linguistic & cultural affinity with Iran.

Dari as the other official language in Afghnistan (lingua franca), widely spoken by non-Pashtuns, is very similar to Persian (farsi) spoken in Iran. I speak, read and write Persian fluently, therefore understand most Dari (dialects) spoken in Afghanistan.

Funnily, Dari dialect spoken *only* by Zoroastrians in Iran & in India is quite different to Dari spoken in Afghanistan. My mother speak Zoroastrian Dari fluently. But even Pashto spoken by Pashtuns in Afghanistan and Pakistan belong to Indo-Iranian grp of languages.

I can see Afghanistan & Tajikistan having the *potential* to revert to Zoroastrianism, or generally move away from Islam. But, don’t see that happening in Pakistan or Egypt. They are too far gone.

Actually, Pakistanis wanted to separate from India, which they did in late 1940s IIRC, because they wanted to establish an Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Culturally, the average Pakistani is way too Islamized/Arabized & has not retained much of its pre-Islamic past at all.

[Cronos]

I meant their historical religions. Manichaenism is a dead religion and Buddhism doesn’t have any preachers there, ditto for Hinduism I think.