"Gordian Knot" in Iran-Azerbaijan Relations: How "Husseinioun" Now Uses Women

Despite periodic serious tensions between neighboring Azerbaijan and Iran, which profess the same branch of Islam, after the meeting of Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev with the now-deceased President of Iran Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi on May 19, 2024, at the bridge over the Araz River, a rapid turn toward softening relations began.

As reported by BAKU.WS with reference to Oxu.Az, nevertheless, there exists an organization called "Husseiniun," consisting of Azerbaijanis who fled to Iran to avoid punishment for various crimes. This group has long been used by Iranian intelligence services for ideological subversion and information-propaganda work against Azerbaijan.

One of the main stated goals of this organization, directly aimed at changing the constitutional order of Azerbaijan, is to implement an "Islamic revolution" in the country following the Iranian model, to promote Iranian policy under the guise of Shiism, and to create a Sharia state based on this policy.

Despite the fact that numerous criminal acts of this group, led by Tohid Ibrahimbeyli, a native of the Lankaran district, including organizing armed actions against the state in Azerbaijan, have been fully proven, and they have been officially placed on an international wanted list, the Iranian side still avoids extraditing them to Azerbaijan under various pretexts.

Although in April 2023 they were temporarily detained by the Iranian Ministry of Information, Intelligence and Security (ETTELAAT), according to widespread information, they were released precisely due to the open intervention of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and still reside in Iran under an unknown status.

The Iranian side claims that "Husseiniun" is a humanitarian public organization created by Azerbaijani students studying in Iran themselves and has no connections with the Iranian state. However, the activation or retreat of "Husseiniun" in accordance with the pace of tension in Azerbaijani-Iranian relations, the special protection of their leaders under the control of the IRGC, the creation of all conditions for conducting Iranian propaganda under the guise of Shiism, as well as numerous irrefutable evidence of their subversive activities in Azerbaijan clearly show that this organization is openly supported and managed by the Iranian state.

In the wake of the provocation in Bibiheybat: "Husseiniun" is now pushing women to the forefront!

Since most representatives of the network they are trying to create in Azerbaijan are periodically exposed and eliminated by law enforcement agencies, recently "Husseiniun" has resorted to a new tactic: using religious women!

Just recently, on July 6, 2025, during the Ashura ceremony at the Bibiheybat mosque, a group of women in niqabs led by Shahla Yadulla gizi Farajova suddenly raised flags with religious slogans, trying to create an artificial confrontation with the Azerbaijani police, record it on video, and spread it on social networks. "Husseiniun" was also behind this attempt.

To be more specific, our law enforcement agencies in the