Somali Civil War
Hizbul Islam
Leaders	Omar Iman (Feb 7-May 26, 2009) Hassan Aweys (May 26, 2009-Dec 20, 2010)
Clans/Tribes:	Mainly Marehan and Darod[1]
Years active:	January 2009–December 2010[2]
Headquarters:	Kismayo (January 2009-October 2009) Afgooye (October 2009-December 2010)
Operating Areas:	Southern and Central Somalia
Ideology:	Militant Islam, Sunni Islamism, Somali nationalism
Strength:	Unknown
Preceded by:	Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia; Jabhatul Islamiya; Mu'askar Ras Kamboni; Muaskar Anole
Succeeded by:	al-Shabaab
Allies:	al-Shabaab, Foreign Mujahedeen
Opponents:	Transitional Federal Government AMISOM al-Shabaab

Hizbul Islam ("Islamic Party"), also known as Hizbul Islaami, Hisbi Islam, or Hezb-ul Islam was a Somali Islamists insurgent group. It was formed after four Islamist groups merged to fight the new Somali government of President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. The four groups were: Hassan Aweys' ARS-A, Jabhatul Islamiya ("Islamic Front"), Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki's Mu'askar Ras Kamboni (Ras Kamboni Brigade) and Muaskar Anole, the Harti clan's militia. These groups previously took part in the Islamist Insurgency against Ethiopia and the TFG. On December 20, 2010 they merged with Al-Shabaab, retaining the name 'Al-Shabaab'.^[3] Ali Yassin Mohamed was also among the group's founders.^[4] On 7 February 2009, they announced they would continue fighting the new government led by President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed and the African Union forces in Mogadishu. Omar Iman, who was the group's charman at the time, said "The so-called government led by Sharif Sheik Ahmed is not different from the one of Abdulahi Yusuf" and that they would continue the holy war (Jihad).^[5]

On 28 February, it appeared that Hizbul Islam would sign a ceasefire with the Transitional Federal Government.^[6] However, by 1 March it was clear that no ceasefire would be given, despite President Sharif Ahmed having agreed to proposals for a truce and having offered to accept the implementation of Sharia Law.^[7]

Sheikh Omar Iman Abubakar, a high-ranking official of the Eritrean based faction of the Alliance for the Reliberation of Somalia, was initially appointed as the group's chairman.^[8] He, however, later resigned for Sheikh Aweys to take his position.^[9] On December 20, 2010, Hizbul Islam was disbanded as Sheikh Aweys surrendered to al-Shabaab and agreed to merge the two groups.^[2]

The group had been compared to the Taliban of Afghanistan and Pakistan.^[10]

First internal power struggle (24 March – 26 May 2009)[link]

On 24 March, there was reported to be a power struggle in the Hizbul Islam faction as a group claiming to represent Hizbul Islam held a press conference in Mogadishu that Omar Iman was no longer the Chairman of the group and that he had been replaced by Sheikh Mohamed Hassan Ahmed, another Islamic cleric. The press conference was attended by several important members of Hizbul Islam, most notably the notorious ex-warlord Yusuf Mohammed Siad Inda'ade (Indho Ade). Sheik Da'ud Mohamed Abtidon, who claimed to be the new spokesman for the group accused Omar Iman of refusing to accept the Islamic scholars' calls for a ceasefire, in return for AMISOM withdraw. Indho Ade was quoted as saying "The group [Hizbul Islam] has agreed to remove Sheikh Omar Iman since he made a mistake and violated the group's laws." Sheikh Mohamed Hassan Ahmed declared cease-fire and entered negotiations for implemention of Sharia Law and AMISOM withdraw in return for joining with the government.^[11]

However, Hassan Dahir Aweys, the group's most powerful figure, rejected the claims made by Indo Ade that Sheikh Omar Iman had been removed as chairman. He was quoted as saying "No one can take authority away from Sheikh Omar Iman, because the group [Hizbul Islam] appointed him as chairman." Aweys said that Indo Ade and the others from the press conference should form their own group instead of doing what he described as "trying to destroy Hizbul Islam.^[12] Prior to this Sheikh Omar Iman had denied that Indho Ade was the group's defence secretary.^[13]

This has led to Hizbul Islami dividing in two, with one group led by Indho Ade and the other led by Hassan Aweys (with Omar Iman as chairman).^[14][14]

21 April 2009, Anole and the Ras Kamboni brigades fought each other in a village called Abdalla Birole, which lies 40 km west of Kismayo. This happened after Anole fighters invaded a village called Bulo Haji, while Ras Kamboni Brigade fighters arrived in Abdalla Birole and they clashed. The situation in the two villages was said to be tense, 4 people were killed and 7 injured during the fighting.^[15]

4 May 2009, al-Shabaab and members of the main faction of Hizbul Islam, led by Hassan Aweys and Omar Iman, attacked a base used by Indho Ade's group of Hizbul Islam. Indho Ade's lieutenants claimed that al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam trying to expand territory into areas under the control of Indho Ade's milita.^[16]

12 May 2009, Indho Ade handed over his arms to Sheikh Aweys, ending the groups division.^[17] However, soon after, he defected to the government.

26 May, Omar Iman Abubakr stepped down as chairman and handed over his position to Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, who was already the most powerful figure in the group.^[9]

War with al-Shabaab, new internal division and end of the organisation (1 October 2009-20 December 2010)[link]

On 1 October 2009, armed conflict between Hizbul Islam and al-Shabaab began in a dispute between the a faction of the Ras Kamboni Brigades and al-Shabaab over who was in charge of Kisimayo. ARS-A and JABISO, which were aligned with al-Shabaab in Hiran and Mogadishu refused to support the Ras Kamboni Brigades, meanwhile Anole remained neutral. It also led to a split within the Ras Kamboni Brigades, with a faction led by Ahmed "Madoobe" starting the war against al-Shabaab and a faction led by Hassan "Turki" siding with al-Shabaab.^[18] The battle of Kisimayo was decisively won by al-Shabaab which expelled Madbobe's Ras Kamboni Brigade forces from the city.^[19] In the battles that followed, in November 2009, Madobe's forces were overpowered by al-Shabaab and local allies and forced to withdraw from the Lower Jubba region and most of Southern Somalia.^[18][19] In February 2010, al-Turki's branch declared a merge with al-Shabaab.^[18]

In early 2010 the two groups clashed in Hiran region, in central Somalia. The battle was won by al-Shabaab which took control of the region.^[20] In late 2010 Hizbul Islam were expelled from Bay region as well, after al-Shabaab seized control of Bur Hakab.^[21] Soon after Hizbul Islam was forced to surrender Luq town to al-Shabaab after which it was announced that Hizbul Islam would merge with al-Shabaab. From mid-December al-Shabaab fighters started taking over Hizbul Islam positions.^[22] On December 20, Hizbul Islam officially surrendered to al-Shabaab and the merge was confirmed by Hizbul Islam chairman Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys and official spokesman Sheikh Mohammad Osman Arus.[23]

Leadership[link]

• Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys - Leader of the Asmara based wing of the ARS and chairman of the group.^[9]
• Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islaan "Madoobe" - Leader of Ras Kamboni faction that stayed in Hizbul Islam.^[18]
• Sheikh Mohamed Ibrahim Hayle - Leader of Jabhatul Islamiya (JABISO).^[23]
• Mukhtar Abu Ali Aisha - The Leader of Mu'askar Anole^[24]

Former leaders[link]

• Sheikh Omar Iman Abubakar - Chairman of Hizbul Islam until 26 May 2009 when he stepped down, handing over his position to Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys.^[8][9]
• Sheikh Yusuf Mohammed Siad Inda'ade - A powerful warlord leading figure in the Asmara based branch of the ARS until 17 May 2009, when he defected to the government.
• Sheikh Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki - Leader of the Ras Kamboni Brigade which defected to Al-Shabaab.^[18][25]

See also[link]

• Advance of the Islamic Courts Union
• al-Itihaad al-Islamiya
• al-Shabaab (Somalia)
• Islamic Courts Union
• War in Somalia (2006–2009)
• War in Somalia (2009–)

References[link]

[23]

One Man may refer to:

• One Man (album), a 1998 album by Mark King
• One Man (film), a 1977 Canadian film
• One Man (horse), an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse
• One Man, a 2002 album by American R&B singer Tank

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Syed Salahudeen (born 18 February 1946) or Syed Mohammed Yusuf Shah, is the head of the Hizbul Mujahideen, a key Pakistan-based and Pakistan-supported terrorist group operating in Kashmir, and head of an "alliance" of Kashmiri militant organizations, the Muttahida Jihad Council, that supports the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir's accession to Pakistan. Salahudeen regularly asserts that "the practical mechanism to solve Kashmir dispute is by accepting the right to self-determination".^[1]

Early life[link]

Born as the last seventh child of middle class parents at Soibugh, Budgam, a village in the Kashmir Valley. His father worked in the Postal Department in the government. Mohammed Yusaf Shah initially became interested in studying medicine, but later on decided to become a civil servant. While studying Political Science at University of Kashmir, he started to become influenced by the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, and become a member of its branch in the Kashmir Valley.

At University, he got involved in persuading Muslim women to veil themselves and also took part in processions in support of Pakistan. After university, he decided not to join the civil service, as he regarded this as traitorous to the cause of Kashmir, but instead he became an Islamic preacher at a Madrasa.

He is married, with 5 sons. His oldest son, Shakeel Yousuf, works as a medical assistant at Srinagar's Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, second son Javed Yousuf works in the Education Department as computer operator, while Shahid Yousuf is a Research Fellow at the Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology. Shah's fourth son, Wahid Yusuf, studies in Sri Maharaja Hari Singh Government Medical College. Mueed Yusuf, the youngest of Shah's sons, is presently pursuing MTech.

Political life[link]

In 1987, Mohammed Yusaf Shah decided to contest J&K assembly election on the ticket of the Muslim United Front, a coalition of extreme separatist political parties in Srinagar's Amirakadal Constituency. He came second after Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah of the moderate National Conference won the seat, amidst allegations of "rigging and bogus polling". Mohammed Yusaf Shah was arrested and put in jail, allegedly for "agitation against rigging by National Conference with the help of the Central Government".

After his release in 1989, he was allegedly threatened by the National Conference with "dire consequences". This convinced him that "armed struggle was the only solution to the Kashmiri problem". He then joined an terrorist organization Hizbul Mujahideen founded by Muhammad Ahsan Dar alias "Master" with the help of Ashraf Dar, Sheikh Waheed, Maqbool Illahi, & Abdullah Bangro. Ahsan Dar who later parted from Hizbul Mujahideen was replaced by Muhammad Yousuf Shah who then adopted nom de guerre "Sayeed Salahudeen", named after Saladin, the 12th century Muslim political and military leader, who fought in the Crusades.

External links[link]

• Interview with rediff.com, dated Aug 27 2001
• Interview with rediff.com, dated Jan 9 2007
• Terror in twilight, dated Aug 26th - Sep 8th 2006

References[link]

Most Wanted Profiles of Terror by K.P.S Gill, ISBN 81-7436-207-X

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Qasim Rashid (born July 21, 1982) is a vocal human rights activist and advocate of moderate Islam in America. He is a JD candidate at the Richmond School of Law ^[1] and currently Executive Editor of The Richmond Journal of Global Law and Business. He has co-authored and co-edited two books, Towards a Greater Jihad and By the Dawn's Early Light, and has been featured in local and national news media including NBC and NPR.

Religious and Social Activism[link]

Popularizing the American Muslim[link]

A common theme in his written works and activism is the support of an American identity and lifestyle within the Islamic value system. In October 2010, Rashid rallied a group of Muslim youth to march on Washington, raising slogans of "Love for all, hatred for none" as a part of the "Muslims for Peace" campaign. In August of the same year, the New York Times ran a feature story on Rashid, covering his outreach efforts in America's midwest.^[2]

His essay I believe in love for all, hatred for none was featured on NPR's This I Believe.^[3]

Controversy[link]

Rashid, an outspoken critic of the hypocrisy of certain clerics in the Muslim world, is a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, a sect deemed heretical by some Muslim clerics.^[4] Mr. Rashid is accused of being a Muslim apologetic and assuming the voice of mainstream Islam while not being regarded as such by some Muslim scholars.^[5]

During an interview, Rashid responded by saying "I never said I speak for others. According to me, I do represent mainstream Islam. But mainstream Islam does not accept me. I represent the Ahmadiyya interpretation of Islam to the best of my ability."^[6]

Ahmadi Muslims have suffered persecution or have been declared non-Muslim by fundamentalist Muslim groups in several countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Egypt and the United Kingdom.^[7]

References[link]

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Ebrahim Desai is a Deobandi Muslim mufti and teacher of Islamic law based in Durban, Sherwood, South Africa. He runs the fatwa website Ask Imam^[1] an online Islamic questions and answers (Q&A) database and used to head the Dar al-Ifta of Madrasah In'aamiyyah, Camperdown as the principal mufti as well as used to be the senior lecturer of Hadith (Shaykh al-Hadith) there^[2] He currently heads the Darul iftaa in Sherwood, Durban, South Africa and is the oversight for the Fatwa Department of Jamiatul Ulama KZN.

Biography[link]

After completing the memorization (hifz) of the Qur'an, Desai engaged in study of the Islamic sciences at the hundred year old seminary of Deobandi persuasion, in Dabhel, India. Here, he studied the Darse Nizami curriculum for nine years, which included the study of Qur'anic Tafsir, Usul al-Tafsir, Hadith, Usul al-Hadith, Usul al-Fiqh (Principles of Islamic jurisprudence) according to the Hanafi school of Islamic law and Arabic language.

After completing his study in Darse Nizami, Desai, pursued a takhassus (specialization) course in Ifta under Ahmad Khanpuri of Dabhel for two years. There he learned the principles of issuing fatwa. After the completing of this course, he completed another year of studies in Ifta under the late mufti of India, Mahmud al-Hasan Gangohi, the author of the multivolume Fatawa Mahmudiyya.^[3]

Activities and work[link]

In the past he has held workshops on matters related to Islamic Finance and Shari'ah-Compliance in business and trade in the United States.^[4] In March 2008 he traveled to Hong Kong, China to deliver a lecture as a guest speaker to students at the Islamic Kasim Tuet Memorial College (IKTMC).^[5]

He also serves as a religious advisor to the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA).^[6]

In his role as an authority in Islamic finance, Desai has taken a strict stance on "Shar'iah Compliance" of certain banks and institutions. His opinion shunning the transparency of Al Baraka Bank (South Africa) in Islamic finance activities has generated much discussion among the Muslim community in South Africa.^[7]

In 2005, Desai was elected to the working committee of the South African Islamic Financial Services Authority (SAIFSA).^[8]

He has said that jihad is acceptable against a country that doesn't allow the propagation of Islam to its inhabitants.^[9]

In relation to his work with issuing fatwas at his website Ask-Imam, Desai often finds himself in situations, where he sounds less like a religious leader and more like a physician's assistant or sex therapist.^[10]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Ifta