‘It was Geydar’s wish. He will be buried in the foothill of the Tian Shan’
Close friend of the chairman of the Russian Islamic Committee told the details about the teacher’s death
Famous social activist, politician and chairman of the Islamic Committee Geydar Dzhemal died aged 70 on 5 December. The funeral was going to take place in Alma-Ata. A correspondent of Realnoe Vremya reached out Ruslan Aysin – Dzhemal's close friend and colleague living in Kazakhstan. Our interlocutor told about the last request of the celebrated politician, about the intellectual elite from the Yuzhin Circle and pressure of the Soviet power.
To start with, Ruslan, could you tell us what happened to Mr Dzhemal? Why did he die?
He was ill during a long time. It was connected with oncology. He came to Alma Ata to receive treatment and died.
Will the funeral take place there too?
He died in Alma Ata. But he decided to be buried here beforehand. He was ill during a long time. He actively hid the disease. He did not tell about it, he did not show it. But the terrestrial term came to an end. Only the closest people knew about it. People with such disease don't live long. This is why they tried to find solutions and receive treatment.
Was he really your teacher?
Yes, I was his pupil. I was his deputy on many issues, including in the Islamic Committee. I was with him during a long time. I covered a long road of my spiritual and intellectual formation with him. He was a deep person. He was big in all senses. He was a quality seal and password for many people of different political and ideological viewpoints, Muslims, Christians. He had a powerful charisma, he attracted people. He was principled and honest.
Is it true that he was pressed during the Soviet era?
Yes, he supported the opposition during the Soviet era. He participated in the so-called intellectual underground called the Yuzhin Circle. A real intellectual elite came from it in the 60-70s. Then in the 1980s, he started his political and public activity and publishing. He dealt with different issues like international agenda, internal agenda, was a TV presenter on Channel 1, he had many projects. This person had many talents.
When will the funeral take place?
On 6 December at 11 o'clock.
Will there be any lying in state?
There will be a Muslim ritual – Ṣalāt al-Janāzah. There will be local people, some people will come by plane. It is planned to hold a commemoration meeting in Moscow. All friends, acquaintances who won't say goodbye to him will be able to participate at the meeting. He died on 5 December, this is why the organisation (Editor's Note: of mourning in Moscow) has not been considered yet.
Did anyone from Russia wish to come to Kazakhstan to say goodbye to him?
Relatives, close friends. People are still coming, so it is difficult to say at the moment…
For example, will Maksim Shevchenko who respected Dzhemal very much come?
Unfortunately, he won't be able to come. He has problems, personal reasons, though he wanted to come very much. People call and express their condolences. For example, Ravil Gainutdin and other people who know him. The problem is just technical: in Kazakhstan, we have other phone numbers. Not all people can contact us. People who can call and write.
Why did he want to be buried in Alma-Ata?
It was his wish. He spent many years in the mountains in Tajikistan in the 1980s. He liked the mountains much and wanted to be buried close to them. He did not want to connect himself with the places, in his opinion, that did not correspond to his understanding. He will be buried in the foothills of the Tian Shan.
Reference
Geydar Dzhahidovich Dzhemal (Azerbaijani: Heydər Cahid oğlu Camal, sometimes transliterated as Heydar Jamal; 10 June 1947 – 5 December 2016) was a Russian Islamic revolutionist, philosopher, poet, political and social activist.