Iakov Peters, GPU Eastern Director Peters to Iaroslavskii on Soviet Policy toward Islam. September 22, 1923

Original Source: RTsKhIDNI, f. 89, op. 4, d. 117, ll. 5-6.

Top Secret
When replying refer to number and Division
Division Eastern

To the Chairman of the Commission on the Separation of Church and State, Comrade Iaroslavskii

On the work of the VOGPU with Muslim clergy and immediate plans in this area

Until this May, our local organs confined themselves to a passive cultivation of the Muslim clergy, i.e. to establishing and elucidating the state of the clergy and its level of activity, using for this purpose insignificant special agent resources. The impetus for active cultivation was given by our circular No. 6, which identified fundamental schisms among the Muslim clergy and forced local areas to begin coordinated preparatory work whose results can already be felt. The first phase of active cultivation concerns the All-Russian Congress of Muslim Clergy, held in Ufa from 10-20 June, for which we provided local organs with relevant, very specific directives, in addition to certain direct VOGPU measures.

The Congress's basic achievements were:

1. Increasing sympathetic attitudes towards Soviet power among the Muslim clergy.

2. Leaving the leadership of the Muslim clergy in the hands of the previous (completely loyal) group of the Central Spiritual Administration.

3. Adopting favorable resolutions on these issues: a) attitudes to Soviet power and its enemies; b) attitudes towards Soviet schools; c) the role of women.

On the question of religious education of minors, it was not possible to obtain a ban on this, but the final resolution on this question gives the opportunity to reach agreement not with the Congress but with the Central Spiritual Administration, which is much more favorable.

During the pre-Congress work, in some areas, we were able at local congresses and meetings to steer resolutions favorable towards Soviet power and these prepared the ground to a certain extent for the aforementioned resolutions at the All-Russian Congress. For example, 1) a resolution at the Chistopol congress of Muslim clergy; 2) a resolution at a meeting of Muslim clergy and representatives of communities in Kazan (all of this was before the All-Russian Congress).

The second phase in the work with Muslim clergy by our organs is in progress in the immediate period after the All-Russian Congress. Those areas that have begun work are making use of the experience and results of the Congress. The Azerbaijani Cheka organized very successfully the publication of a special declaration by the highest representatives of Azerbaijan's Muslim clergy, calling for support for Soviet power, together with propaganda for the principle of Soviet power and praise for Soviet policy in Transcaucasia.

In Simbirsk too, local Muslim clergy published a declaration in favor of Soviet power and, in addition, organized a collection for the air force which produced 120 rubles in gold (in Simbirsk, where there are few Muslims).

In Tomsk a district meeting of Muslim clergy and laypeople sent a telegram of greeting to the Soviet government.

In several places a number of resolutions from the All-Russian Congress were published in newspapers with the aim of influencing the local Muslim population and, at the same time, to make the work easier (Crimea, North Caucasus).

Our immediate specific agenda is as follows:

The Central Spiritual Administration is undertaking publication of its own periodical Islam (a monthly). Thus the VOGPU has the important and difficult task of exerting its maximum influence over this organ and making use of it for vital influence over the international and national Muslim clergy. Thanks to this organ we will in particular be able to circulate all favorable materials more systematically and in greater measure than before.

At the moment we observe that the clerical organs are seeking to establish contact with the new caliph, traveling to Turkey to greet him. The Crimean Spiritual Administration has already chosen two representatives for the visit. Similar information, not yet completely confirmed, has emerged in relation to Tashkent and Ufa. Our task is to follow closely (and if possible to direct) these potential contacts which could be of great interest to us. In particular, we have already taken such measures in relation to the Crimean delegation.

We should expect in the near future a number of local congresses of Muslim clergy. For example, there is soon to be a congress of Crimean clergy. Our task will be to guide them to a successful conclusion, for which we are issuing appropriate assignments to local areas. As for the expected Crimean congress, judging by initial information we can say that the preparatory work undertaken by the Crimean Political Directorate is satisfactory and it seems the congress will be successful.

Our current tasks, outlined above, determine the third, current phase of the work.

The fundamental question of the basic direction of our active work with Muslim clergy is still being resolved. Two opposite tendencies coexist among the Muslim clergy, that is factionalism and unity, of which neither has yet shown itself clearly, so the selection, or more correctly the resolution of the question is being held up. We are undertaking further measures to clarify finally and study this question.

We have always borne in mind in our active work with the Muslim clergy that positive results from this work (declarations, sympathetic resolutions etc.) can also be used abroad. But in a varied and deep manner the question of using the Muslim clergy for foreign influence has arisen for us only comparatively recently as a result of correspondence with the Narkominotdel. These special orders from the Narkominotdel present us with the task of greatly increasing and widening our effort.

In conclusion we should say that at present special work with the Muslim clergy is in the process of great development and expansion.

Head of the Eastern Division of the GPU
Peters

Source: Felix Corley, ed., Religion in the Soviet Union: an Archival Reader (New York: New York University Press, 1996), Doc. 19.