Nardaran

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nardaran is a small town on the Abşeron Peninsula in Azerbaijan. Located 25 kilometers north of Baku, it is politically part of the Baku city-subdivision and treated as a suburb. Unlike the rest of the country, which is considered religiously progressive, Nardaran is a center of conservative Islam in Azerbaijan.

The town is the site of an early-14th century castle, featuring a round tower approximately 12.5 meters high. During Soviet rule, the city was known as a center growing flowers. Since Azerbaijan's independence, the economy has dwindled and the town is reputed for its caviar poachers^[1].

Nardaran's streets display religious banners and most women wear chadors in public. The town is home to a madrassah as well as the Rehime Khanim Mosque, a large Shia mosque built in the late 1990s over the tomb of Rehime Khanim, a sister of Imam Reza. Nardaran has been the site of strong protests and unrest, notable riots in June 2002 over what protestors deemed inadequate living standards and another in January 2006 which resulted in the deaths of three people^[2].

[edit] References

1. ^ C.J. Chivers, "Corruption Endangers a Treasure of the Caspian", The New York Times, Nov. 11, 2005, Accessed 05-01-2006
2. ^ Overseas Security Advisory Council, Safety & Security Report: Unrest in Nardaran, Azerbaijan, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, U.S. Department of State, Feb. 1, 2006, Accessed 05-01-2006