Retired general khalifa haftar, the selfdeclared leader of the. Part of what makes any assessment of ansar al sharia libya so difficult, including the possibility of further defections to the islamic state, is that its leadership structure is opaque. Years later the theological mentor of the tunisian ansar alsharia. As shariah aimed to purge iraq of foreign influence. Below is the full text of the ansar alsharia statement translated, with explanatory notes in square brackets where necessary. Ansar alsharia in libya asl was a violent salafist group that was active in libya from 2012 to 2017. Once again tunisian jihadism returned to its historical norm of one. Ansarul shariah pakistan chief arrested by security forces. Ansar alsharia benghazi is an alqaidalinked islamist group that gained prominence in 2012, the salafist militia believes all authority comes from the prophet mohammed. He said mohamed alzahawi, the leader of ansar alsharia in benghazi, was responsible for the operation. Asm noted in its first and only statement thus far that it is not connected with the groups in yemen, tunisia, libya, or egypt. Since 2014, ansar al sharia in libya went into significant decline. 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. 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.
The united nations security council today added ansar al sharia in libya to its al qaeda sanctions list. Ansar al sharia is a salafijihadi group established during the 2011 libyan revolution that is part of al qaedas network in libya. Ansar alsharias facebook page also links to the almaqreze centre for historical studies in london, headed up by hani alsibai, a leader of egyptian islamic jihad. Ansar alsharia initially manifested as a revolutionary brigade during the 2011 libyan revolution and gained prominence following the death of muammar alqaddafi. 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 initially manifested as a revolutionary brigade during the 2011 libyan revolution and gained prominence following the death of muammar al qaddafi. Ansar al sharia included two separate organizations. Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet. Through my research on the history of tunisian jihadism for my ph. Eight months ago, the tunisian government officially designated ansar alsharia in tunisia ast as a terrorist organization. The first book on the history of the tunisian jihadi movement, your sons are at your.
While they share names and ideology, they lack a unified command structure. Ansar alsharia in the maghrib asm is a nascent organization that is only interested in dawa activities. 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 al sharia libya ansar al sharia derna, libya.
In the view of the international crisis group, aqap is an internally diverse organisation with varying layers of support among the local population and many aas members and allies are not committed. Join facebook to connect with ansar al islam and others you may know. 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. He was a religious leader in ast and based in mahdia, a coastal city southeast of sousse. Oct 24, 2012 a third email, also marked sbu and sent at 6. The group focused on creating an islamic state and implementing sharia lawa strict religious code based on. An original founder of the banned salafi organisation reveals its true origins, the extent of its links with alnahda, and what lies behind the curtain. Ansar al sharia in libya asl was a violent salafist group that was active in libya from 2012 to 2017. Coming two weeks after yemeni president abd rabbuh mansur hadis pledge to purge terrorists from every district, village, and place,1 the perpetrators continued. Ansar alsharia in libya asl counter extremism project. White house told of militant claim two hours after libya. Zelin 3 comments on mastermind of last weeks attack, ayman alsamiri, killed in hay alintilaka. Convening of the ansar alsharia forum in tunis on may 21, 2011god willing caught my eye.
Ansar alsharia partisans of islamic law sharia is a salafist jihadist militia based in benghazi. Isis rule spread quickly throughout iraq and syria. Your sons are at your service columbia university press. Since then, tunis has cracked down on the groups activities, going after both its dawa campaign i. Jan 12, 2014 posts about ansar alsharia written by joseph trevithick.
Ansar al sharia syria reportedly defunct in 2015, officially selfdisbanded 2017. The first book on the history of the tunisian jihadi movement, your sons are at your service is a meticulously researched account that challenges simplified views of jihadisms appeal and success. The group focused on creating an islamic state and implementing sharia lawa strict religious code based on traditional. According to sources, sheheryar aka abdullah hashmi, worked as an it information technology expert and was employed. Many of the key leaders in ansar alsharia in tunisia ast and among tunisias foreign. A profile of a militant islamist kurdish separatist movement seeking to transform iraq into an islamic state. Ansar al islam iraq, islamistskurdish separatists, ansar al sunnah. He added that ansar alsharia and alqaida were taking instructions from alqaida leader ayman alzawahiri directly.
In the exclusive video footage, alqaeda militant abu hamza is shown lecturing to yemeni troops captured by ansar alsharia. 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. Ansar alsharia came into being in 2011, during the libyan civil war. Apr 09, 2015 ansar al sharias propaganda features that black flag seen below much more frequently than the banner often associated with the islamic state. Zelin 2 comments on ansar alsharia in hay alintilaka ansar alsharia in hay alintilaka july 3, 2019 july 4, 2019 aaron y. Field listing terrorist groups home based the world. The rise and decline of ansar alsharia in libya by aaron y. Ansar al sharia came into being in 2011, during the libyan civil war. A clearinghouse for jihadi primary source material, original analysis, and translation service. The seeds for this book were planted on may 18, 2011, when i was conducting my daily routine of checking new online forum posts from jihadis. Ansar alsharia youth found the is promise of an immediate caliphate more appealing, explains sayah and compares it to alqaedas more longterm strategy and adds, i can imagine that. Aqim, ansar alsharia, al nusrah front, isis, islamic front, alleppo, alawites, sunni, aqap, assad, alshabaab, salafist as want to read. Until january 2015, it was led by its amir, muhammad al zahawi.
In 2011, aqap created ansar al sharia as a yemenbased affiliate focused on waging an insurgency rather than international attacks on the west. Ansar al sharia partisans of islamic law sharia is a salafist jihadist militia based in benghazi. In 2011, aqap created ansar al sharia as a yemenbased affiliate focused on waging an insurgency rather than. How ansar alsharia in tunisias message framing primed its. Since 2014, ansar alsharia in libya went into significant decline. Supporters of islamic law was a salafist islamist militia group that advocated the implementation of strict sharia law across libya. It is interesting that this revelation was made as the trial of a key suspect in the case gets underway in the us. The name ansar alsharia shot into the news last week in the aftermath of the attack on the u. Mar 08, 20 meeting tunisias ansar alsharia i walk through a tunisian market around midday, at the entrance to the fortress of sousse, a town about 90 minutes southeast of the capital tunis on the coast. These unertainties aout whih actions could be attributed to the organisation have existed from the time of.
The news will be welcomed in the united states, as ansar al sharia is the group believed to have attacked the u. Libyas ansar alsharia has come under the spotlight in recent weeks following the launch of attacks against the group in benghazi. Convening of the ansar al sharia forum in tunis on may 21, 2011god willing caught my eye. At its height, asl operated branches in benghazi, derna, sirte, ajdabiya, and nawfalia. 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. Ansar alsharia emerges in morocco morocco world news. Ansar al sharia libya story stream critical threats. The lack of knowledge of the islamic history and culture, says grami.
It was closely linked to the ansar alsharia of tunisia, many of whose members took refuge in libya following a crackdown by the tunisian government, which declared ansar alsharia of tunisia a terrorist organization in august 20. Ansar alsharia in egypt and morocco ase terrorist groups. 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. May 29, 2017 below is the full text of the ansar alsharia statement translated, with explanatory notes in square brackets where necessary. Why the alqaeda linked group blamed for 2012 benghazi attack. You can follow bbc monitoring on twitter and facebook. 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. Ansar alsharia in libya was a salafist islamist militia group that advocated the implementation of strict sharia law across libya. In 2011, aqap created ansar alsharia as a yemenbased affiliate focused on waging an insurgency rather than international attacks on the west. 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. The group sought to transform libya into an islamic state governed in accordance with sharia islamic law. Ansar al sharia in tunisia aast was founded in 2011 by saifallah ben hassine, also known as abu iyad al tunisi, after he was released from prison during the tunisian revolution.
The message has arrived and the masses of the people will bear it. Start by marking the resurgence of alqaeda in syria and iraq. Backed by an astonishing body of research, your sons are at your service is a sweeping, authoritative history of tunisian jihadism, with new. The us encouraged this division by releasing a primary leader of the arab wing, abu wael. Meeting tunisias ansar alsharia i walk through a tunisian market around midday, at the entrance to the fortress of sousse, a town about 90 minutes southeast of the capital tunis on the coast. Ansar alsharia in benghazi, ansar alsharia in darnah, and. Zelin marshals cuttingedge empirical findings, extensive primary source research, and ontheground fieldwork, including a variety of documents in arabic going as far back as the 1980s and interviews with ansar alsharia members and tunisian fighters returning from syria. One underappreciated aspect of this is the way ansar alsharia in tunisias ast. Ansar al sharias propaganda features that black flag seen below much more frequently than the banner often associated with the islamic state. Abu wael left ansar al sunnah and formed the sharia committee of ansar al sunnah sharia, although some evidence suggests that as shariah did not completely break from ansar al islam until july 2008. What is ansar al sharia, and was it behind the consulate.
Ansar al sharia in the maghrib asm is a nascent organization that is only interested in dawa activities. Mar 11, 2015 ansar alsharia youth found the is promise of an immediate caliphate more appealing, explains sayah and compares it to alqaedas more longterm strategy and adds, i can imagine that. Ansar al sharia libya relaunches social media sites fdds. The news will be welcomed in the united states, as ansar alsharia is the group believed to have attacked the u. The name ansar al sharia shot into the news last week in the aftermath of the attack on the u.
Former cia director david petraeus is expected to tell house and senate committees friday that ansar al sharia was suspected in the u. Therefore, understanding these prehistories is important for tracking the. Ansar alsharia in libya dissolves itself jihad intel. Ansar alsharia in libya dissolves itself aymenn jawad al. Ansar al sharia or ansar al shariah is a name used by a collection of radical or militant islamist groups or militias, in at least eight countries. Ansar alsharia the foundation of this religion is a book guides and a sword gives victory.
Ansar alsharia claims responsibility for benghazi attack. Sources said the ansar ul shariah chief went by the alias dr abdullah hashmi. Jan 05, 2018 through my research on the history of tunisian jihadism for my ph. It was closely linked to the ansar al sharia of tunisia, many of whose members took refuge in libya following a crackdown by the tunisian government, which declared ansar al sharia of tunisia a terrorist organization in august 20. One thread in particular titled important newsglad tidings. Sep 21, 2012 the name ansar al sharia shot into the news last week in the aftermath of the attack on the u. Jul 14, 2017 in the exclusive video footage, al qaeda militant abu hamza is shown lecturing to yemeni troops captured by ansar al sharia.
The terrorist leader asks why the men were captured fighting against. On january 10th, the us department of state announced that it was designating two groups in libya and a group in tunisia, all bearing the name ansar alsharia, as separate foreign terrorist organizations fto and specially designated global terrorists sdgt. Zelin marshals cuttingedge empirical findings, extensive primary source research, and ontheground fieldwork, including a variety of documents in arabic going as far back as the 1980s and interviews with ansar al sharia members and tunisian fighters returning from syria. How ansar alsharia grew in postrevolutionary tunisia. Ansar alshariah in tunisia ast was a salafijihadist militant organization operating in tunisia. Dawa, hisba, and jihad 2 is unclear which actions taken by ast members if any are dictated or sanctioned by such senior leaders as the groups emir, au iyad. Posts about ansar alsharia written by joseph trevithick. Asls hisba activities also included confiscating anatomy books from. 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 alislam iraq, islamistskurdish separatists, ansar.
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