Azerbaijani MPs call for ban on unsanctioned pilgrimage sites, rituals

A strange ritual is depicted in the video below: a man is stroking a woman on the head with a shoe. Behind her is a line of others who are interested in undergoing this same procedure.

The event in the video took place in the west of the country, in the Geranboy region near Ganja.

https://www.facebook.com/jamnewscaucasus/videos/435362550397919/

The ritual is being carried out in the house of a seyyed – the alleged descendant of Muhammad, Mir-Ibish, and is considered to be a healing ritual in the area.

Mir-Ibish himself died ten years ago, but, according to his descendants, the boots in which he made the pilgrimage to Mecca have healing properties.

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The process of “treatment” is paid: people not only stand in a queue, but leave money and valuables in gratitude here after being “treated.”

The video spread on social networks and reached the Azerbaijani parliament.

Two deputies of the Milli Majlis have called for the organizers of the amateur “holy” ritual to be brought to justice and adopt a law prohibiting the activities of such places, as they contradict the foundations of Islam.