ŞEKİ TÜRBELERİ
THE MUSLIM SHRINES IN SHEKI

Summary/Abstract: The sacred places have the special and undeniable place in the history of Turkic peoples’ beliefs. The religious beliefs and faiths as a part of moral culture have been saved and preserved by people throughout the centuries until our time. One of the ancient cities of Azerbaijan, Shaki, is among those historical cities which are still linked to their religious roots and reflect their material and moral cultures nowadays. During ethnographic research in the city, religious affection drew our attention among its local characteristics, which differed it from many other cities of Azerbaijan. In general, during the Soviet times, not only there was no attention to researches of places for pilgrimages in Azerbaijan, called “hearths” and “pirs” (sacred places) among population, but also actions were taken to erase such values from history and the people’s memories. For this purpose, “Commission against religion” was set in 1924. The magazine named “Allahsiz” (Godless) was published and distributed to all regions and villages of Azerbaijan. Starting from 1920s and 1930s atheist ideology was widely propagated and numerous actions were taken to reduce the influence of Islam. People were, under compulsion, drifted apart from their ancient customs and traditions, hijabs and papakhs (male headdress) were forbidden, Koran and other religious books were burnt, mosques were converted into barns, warehouses and dance floors. Sayyids, mullahs, and other representatives of religion were persecuted, praying people were punished and those maintaining resistance were exiled. However, people were secretly following their faith and are currently free to practice all the values they had once preserved.

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