Ansar al sharia asl, formed in 2012 following the overthrow of libyan autocrat muammar elqaddafi, announced its dissolution in a statement posted online on saturday. Tunisias missionaries of jihad columbia studies in terrorism and irregular warfare paperback january 21, 2020. Ansar alsharia in libya was a salafist islamist militia group that advocated the implementation of strict sharia law across libya. Many of the key leaders in ansar alsharia in tunisia ast and among tunisias foreign. Ansar alsharia denies the charges, saying the authorities are trying to frame it, something security forces in the region have a history of doing to islamist movements. Ansar al sharia in the maghrib asm is a nascent organization that is only interested in dawa activities. Ansar alsharia history map of activity tripoli tripoli, libya location of the al jala hospital location of the sidi al shaab mosque, a sufi shrine that was destroyed benghazi benghazi, libya site of ansar alsharia attack on united states consulate location of many attacks on. This coincided with the spread of the book entitled idarat altawahush. A profile of ansar alsharia partisans of islamic law which was formed by alqaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap in response to the growing prodemocracy movement in yemen. Ansar al sharia initially manifested as a revolutionary brigade during the 2011 libyan revolution and gained prominence following the death of muammar al qaddafi. The agenda of ansar alsharia, like that of aqap, has failed to find fertile ground among the bulk of the population with outright antagonism from most tribal leaders. Field listing terrorist groups home based the world. How ansar alsharia in tunisias message framing primed its members to become recruits for the islamic state march 19, 2020 attack on police patrol in berges du lac 2 march 6, 2020. Topics books islamic collection opensource language hausa.
A reference page is also provided for further research. Why the alqaeda linked group blamed for 2012 benghazi. Ansar alislam iraq, islamistskurdish separatists, ansar alsunnah. An enduring threat by henrik gratrud and vidar benjamin skretting abstract ansar alsharia in libya asl is one of the most powerful jihadi groups in libya and it might, in fact, represent a more significant longterm threat than is provinces in libya.
However, nearly one thousand miles to the west, ansar alsharia in libya asl has continued its work of facilitating a future islamic state since the. This piece, which first only mentioned the yemeni ansar al sharia group, was changed to reflect the release of new information around this breaking news situation. Al ansar operated in fallujah and ramadi while the events in anbar were ongoing, but jamaat ansar al islam received a painful blow in that time. Why the alqaeda linked group blamed for 2012 benghazi attack. Radical islamists unite under fresh name washington post. In benghazi, militias may promote security one day. Ansar alsharia in benghazi, ansar alsharia in darnah. On 18 june 2015, aas released an audio statement naming abu khalid almadani as the groups new amir. What is the link between ansar alsharia and alqaida in. Ansar alshariah tunisia, mapping militant organizations stanford university.
Retired general khalifa haftar, the selfdeclared leader of the. According to an interim report by the house republican conference made public last month. By mohammad mukhashaf al qaedalinked fighters seized a large army base in a dawn attack in southern yemen on thursday, militants and residents said, hours. The group sought to transform libya into an islamic state governed in accordance with sharia islamic law. Jamaat ansar alislam continued operating on this level until the takeoff of the iraqi revolution, for jamaat ansar alislam had a presence in a number of regions. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. Partisans of islamic law was a joint operations room of sunni islamist and salafist rebel factions that operate in aleppo, syria. Ansar alsharia benghazi is an alqaidalinked islamist group that gained prominence in 2012, the salafist militia believes all authority comes from the prophet mohammed. May 07, 20 according to an interim report by the house republican conference made public last month. By mawassi lahcen casablanca, morocco, october 20, 2012 the announcement of a new group calling itself the coordination of ansar alsharia in.
Tunisian jihadism five years after ansar alsharia middle. Apr 09, 2015 ansar al sharia claims that photos such as this show the aftermath of haftars allegedly indiscriminate bombing campaign. Security forces arrested sheheryar, the head of ansarul shariah in pakistan from kaneez fatima society on monday night, sources told geo news on tuesday, in the latest breakthrough. Ansar al sharia libya story stream critical threats.
Ansar al sharia libya relaunches social media sites fdds. The rise and decline of ansar alsharia in libya by. Mar 18, 2012 a profile of ansar al sharia partisans of islamic law which was formed by al qaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap in response to the growing prodemocracy movement in yemen. Tunisias missionaries of jihad columbia studies in terrorism and irregular warfare. What is ansar al sharia, and was it behind the consulate. Over the past two years, global attention has shifted to syria and iraq with the rise of jabhat al nusra and the return of the islamic state of iraq and al sham isis. Ansar al sharia is a salafijihadi group established during the 2011 libyan revolution that is part of al qaedas network in libya. Ansar alsharia partisans of islamic law sharia is a salafist jihadist militia based in benghazi. Ansar al sharia in libya asl was a violent salafist group that was active in libya from 2012 to 2017. We call on our fraternal brothers in faith and jihad to rally under the banner of this army to fulfil the hope of muslims in an islamic state that honours islam and muslims. In many cases, they style themselves ansar alsharia supporters of islamic. The groups previous leader, muhammad alzawahi, was killed while fighting in benghazi in september 2014. How ansar al sharia in tunisias message framing primed its members to become recruits for the islamic state march 19, 2020 attack on police patrol in berges du lac 2 march 6, 2020.
Former cia director david petraeus is expected to tell house and senate committees friday that ansar al sharia was suspected in the u. See also fatah halab list of armed groups in the syrian civil war. Former ast leader seifallah ben hassine reportedly met with alqaeda leaders osama bin laden and ayman alzawahiri before the 911 attacks. Islams message to the nonmuslim world is the same now as it was in the time of muhammad and throughout history. On 4 october 2012, the united states department of state amended its list of foreign terrorist organizations to designate ansar alsharia in yemen as an alias for alqaeda in the arabian peninsula, rather than listing it as a separate organisation. Tunisias missionaries of jihad columbia studies in terrorism and irregular warfare zelin, aaron y. Jihadism in tunisia is currently at its greatest nadir since the 2011 revolution, which overthrew former president zine alabidine ben ali and subsequently provided a space for tunisian jihadism to grow.
Ansar alsharia in egypt and morocco ase terrorist groups. The group continues to honor the martyrdom of its leader, an al qaeda loyalist named mohammed al zahawi. Security agencies have tightened the noose around the terrorist group ansarul shariah which was alleged to be involved in assassination bid of. Ansar alislam iraq, islamistskurdish separatists, ansar. Dawa, hisba, and jihad the second uncertainty is what it means to be a member of ast. Ashush has a deep history in the jihadi movement, having been involved.
Jahiya kuwafi is a member of the muslim brotherhood in libya who has spent a lot of time with ansar alsharia. The attackers were members of extremist groups, including the libyabased ansar al. By mawassi lahcen casablanca, morocco, october 20, 2012 the announcement of a new group calling itself the coordination of ansar alsharia in morocco is sparking debate among the followers. Libyas ansar alsharia has come under the spotlight in recent weeks following the launch of attacks against the group in benghazi.
What is the link between ansar alsharia and alqaida in the arabian peninsula. Ansar aldine history formed in november 2011, a foreign terrorist organization was created to function under the sharia law, they are now known as. Zelin is a phd candidate at kings college london writing his dissertation on the history and evolution. Their aim is to take aleppo then work with other groups to govern the city according to sharia law. It is incumbent on dar alislam to make war upon dar alharb until such time that all nations submit to the will of allah and accept sharia law. Director general sindh rangers major general muhammad saeed stated on saturday that the recently discovered ansarulsharia in karachi was created by a member of alqaeda. Alansar operated in fallujah and ramadi while the events in anbar were ongoing, but jamaat ansar alislam received a painful blow in that time. Dec 15, 2015 jamaat ansar al islam continued operating on this level until the takeoff of the iraqi revolution, for jamaat ansar al islam had a presence in a number of regions. Ansar alsharia emerges in morocco morocco world news. The rise and decline of ansar alsharia in libya by aaron y. Just a few months after coming into the limelight, the al qaedainspired militant group ansarul sharia pakistan asp comprising hardly 10 fighters has been busted with almost all its.
Ast is a violent jihadist group that seeks to implement sharia islamic law in tunisia. Ansar alsharia in the maghrib asm is a nascent organization that is only interested in dawa activities. Attack by fringe group highlights the problem of libya militias the. A public display of force in june, when ansar alshariah had declared the upcoming general elections to be against islam, had left a bad taste in the mouths of many in benghazi. Ansar alsharia asl, formed in 2012 following the overthrow of libyan autocrat muammar elqaddafi, announced its dissolution in a statement posted online on saturday.
Ansar alshariah in tunisia ast was a salafijihadist militant organization operating in tunisia. You can follow bbc monitoring on twitter and facebook. Ansar alsharia has denied the governments accusations that it was behind the sept. Says parents, teachers should keep an eye on children karachi. Members also have access to our renowned library of military history and online catalogue. Ansar al sharia seized pamphlets, books and instruments from christian missionaries in benghazi. Sep 21, 2012 the name ansar al sharia shot into the news last week in the aftermath of the attack on the u. Ansar al sharia included two separate organizations. Ansarul shariah pakistan chief arrested by security forces. Jun, 2014 libyas ansar al sharia has come under the spotlight in recent weeks following the launch of attacks against the group in benghazi. Ansar alsharia partisans of islamic law is an operations room of islamist syrian rebel factions that operate in aleppo, syria. Ansar alsharia in libya asl was a violent salafist group that was active in libya from 2012 to 2017.
There is a long history of documented cooperation between ast and alqaeda. The name ansar alsharia shot into the news last week in the aftermath of the attack on the u. Ansar alislam bombs the jordanian embassy in baghdad, killing 19. Ansar al sharia libya relaunches social media sites fdd. Over the past two years, global attention has shifted to syria and iraq with the rise of jabhat alnusra and the return of the islamic state of iraq and alsham isis. In boost to is, libya jihadists ansar alsharia announce.
Jahiya kuwafi is a member of the muslim brotherhood in libya who has spent a lot of time with ansar al sharia. Its stated aim is seizing the city of aleppo from the syrian government in order to administer the city under sharia law on the basis of a joint charter. Nov 16, 2012 former cia director david petraeus is expected to tell house and senate committees friday that ansar al sharia was suspected in the u. Asm noted in its first and only statement thus far that it is not connected with the groups in yemen, tunisia, libya, or egypt. Dispatch from tunisia the salafist struggle pomegranate. This piece, which first only mentioned the yemeni ansar alsharia group, was changed to reflect the release of new information around this breaking news situation. The term ansar alsharia means partisans of islamic law. Ansar al sharia claims that photos such as this show the aftermath of haftars allegedly indiscriminate bombing campaign. Ansar al sharia benghazi is an al qaidalinked islamist group that gained prominence in 2012, the salafist militia believes all authority comes from the prophet mohammed. Ansar alshariah representatives declined to be interviewed for. Supporters of islamic law was a salafist islamist militia group that advocated the implementation of strict sharia law across libya.
Ansar alsharia in tunisia and the cost of terrorism. On 4 october 2012, the united states department of state amended its list of foreign terrorist organizations to designate ansar al sharia in yemen as an alias for al qaeda in the arabian peninsula, rather than listing it as a separate organisation. The first book on the history of the tunisian jihadi movement, your sons are at your. Ansar alsharia in libya asl counter extremism project. At its height, asl operated branches in benghazi, derna, sirte, ajdabiya, and nawfalia. At the end of the paper an overall summery explaining if human intelligence operations will work in mali, where ansar al dine operates. Ansar alislam is centered at biyarah in iraq, near the border with iran, and controls the surrounding areas. Asls hisba activities also included confiscating anatomy books from. The united nations headquarters in baghdad is bombed, allegedly by ansar alislam. When jihadists learn how to help the washington post. The ansar al dine terrorist organization 4056 words. A complete history of jamaat ansar alislam translation. A profile of a militant islamist kurdish separatist movement seeking to transform iraq into an islamic state.
In boost to is, libya jihadists ansar alsharia announce dissolution with manchester, egypt attacks linked to north african country, collapse of. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. Ansar alsharia or ansar alshariah is a name used by a collection of radical or militant islamist groups or militias, in at least eight countries. A public display of force in june, when ansar al shariah had declared the upcoming general elections to be against islam, had left a bad taste in the mouths of many in benghazi. Ansar alsharia in benghazi, ansar alsharia in darnah, and. The agenda of ansar al sharia, like that of aqap, has failed to find fertile ground among the bulk of the population with outright antagonism from most tribal leaders. Several investigations into the incident faulted insufficient bureaucratic measures responsible for the failure to prevent and respond properly to the attacks. In benghazi, militias may promote security one day, threaten. Once again tunisian jihadism returned to its historical norm of one characterized by. Check out a book event i did at george washington universitys program on extremism march 3, 2020. The attackers were members of extremist groups, including the libyabased ansar alsharia aas and al. Ansar alsharia initially manifested as a revolutionary brigade during the 2011 libyan revolution and gained prominence following the death of muammar alqaddafi. The group has initiated several violent protests, including the september 2012 attack on the u.
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