Between the islamic state and alqaeda in tunisia icsr. Ansar alsharia in benghazi, ansar alsharia in darnah. The clashes have preceded the groups may 19 annual meeting in the tunisian city of kairouan, considered holy by muslims. Ansar al sharia responds to tunisian government fdds long. Tunisia cracks down on ansar alsharia militants after. During this event, associate fellow daveed gartenstein ross presented the findings of his research paper and was joined by dr. Tunisia declares ansar alsharia a terrorist group bbc news.
Sep 23, 2014 security council alqaida sanctions committee adds fourteen individuals and two entities to its sanctions list. Moderate islamistled government cracks down on salafists. The group was damaged by the widespread arrests that followed this designation, and many of its members left tunisia, traveling to libya and joining the local ansar alsharia, or going to syria and joining the islamic state of iraq and the levant. The government arrested a number of salafist leaders on charges of incitement to violence and began cracking down on ansar alsharia activities. Standoff between the tunisian government and ansar alsharia. Why the alqaeda linked group blamed for 2012 benghazi attack. A profile of a militant islamist kurdish separatist movement seeking to transform iraq into an islamic state.
Its leader is a former al qaeda veteran who once fought in afghanistan. Indeed, the tunisian authorities estimated in 2012 that. How ansar alsharia grew in postrevolutionary tunisia. Ansar alsharia in tunisia ast terrorist groups trac. Zelin, icsr rena and sami david fellow over the past month, there are increasing signs that the islamic state is intends to build a base and set up a new wilayah province in tunisia in the near future named wilayat ifriqiya, a medieval name for the region of tunisia as well as northwest libya and northeast algeria. The salafist ansar alsharia partisans of islamic law was set up in late april.
Oct 21, 20 since the onset of the arab uprisings, u. In january 2014, the state department designated ansar al sharia s branches in benghazi, darna and neighboring tunisia foreign terrorist organizations, making asl members official targets for u. Nafi, a militant battalion linked to alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim. The state department reports that ansar al sharia in tunisia is ideologically aligned with al qaeda and tied to its affiliates, including aqim, or al qaeda in the islamic maghreb, and the. For one, ast has frequently expressed affinity for al qaeda and its affiliates. Tunisia cracks down on jihadists as elections loom. Ansar alshariah in tunisia ast was a salafijihadist militant organization. Ansar alsharias leader in tunisia is a former al qaeda fighter in afghanistan, who is accused of inciting his followers to attack the u. The government blamed ansar al sharia for the killings and outlawed the group in may 20. After the split between is and al qaeda ansar alsharia.
Tunisias moderates lose patience with ansar al sharia. Pm ali larayedh said he had proof it was behind the. Sep 20, 2012 abu iyad gathered his followers and former cellmates in a group known as ansar alsharia, which calls for the defense of islamic law and protests against the government. Ansar alsharia came into being in 2011, during the libyan civil war. 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.
Ansar al sharia is a salafijihadi group established during the 2011 libyan revolution that is part of al qaeda s network in libya. The united nations listed ansar alsharia in tunisia aast aka ansar al sharia tunisia aka ast as a terrorist organization associated with alqaeda pursuant to resolution 2161 2014 on september 23, 2014. A senior al qaeda official wanted by the united states and a local leader of the militant groups affiliate, ansar alsharia, were killed in a drone strike in central yemen overnight, tribal. Tunisian security forces and salafists clashed again thursday april 10th in siliana. Tunisia cracks down on islamist militants as elections. The government blamed ansar alsharia for the killings and outlawed the group in may 20. The most significant salafi jihadist organisation is ansar alsharia in tunisia ast. The rise and decline of ansar alsharia in libya by aaron y. Ansar alsharia ast, established during april 2011, is the most pronounced jihadist organization in tunisia with a supportive ideology to that of al qaeda. One underappreciated aspect of this is the way ansar alsharia in tunisias.
Members of ansar alsharia have regularly taken part in protests in tunisia against perceived blasphemy and have been suspected in involvement in a number of violent incidents. Ansar alsharia in benghazi, ansar alsharia in darnah, and. Meeting tunisias ansar alsharia the washington institute. Mar 11, 2015 how ansar alsharia grew in postrevolutionary tunisia. The rupture between the ennahda party, the tunisian arm of the muslim brotherhood which governs in coalition with secular parties, and the ansar alsharia movement could have ramifications across north africa, potentially fuelling armed insurrection in tunisia and neighboring algeria. Tunisia sees militants exploiting libya chaos dawn. Jun, 2014 indeed, the original purpose behind the creation of the ansar alsharia brand, thought to be a front for al qaeda and which today exists in several muslim countries, was to avoid the negative. Tunisians arrived at the elabidine mosque in tunis for the eid alfitr prayer last. Ansar alshari a in tunisia, which is ideologically aligned with alqaida and tied to its affiliates, including aqim, represents the greatest threat to u. The integration of ansar alsharia in tunisia and the okba ibn nafaa katibat dubbed by the media al qaeda in tunisia is yet to be named by aqim. 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, whose fugitive leader saifallah benahssine also known as abu iyadh is a former al qaeda fighter in afghanistan, is seeking to establish an islamic state in tunisia and.
Ansar alsharia announced in a 27 may 2017 statement posted online that it was formally dissolving itself. The united kingdom listed ansar alsharia tunisia as a terrorist organization in april 2014. Security council alqaida sanctions committee adds fourteen. Libyan militant group ansar alsharia says it has dissolved. As in tunisia, chaos in the egyptian sinai and the common, secular enemies al qaeda shares with the ruling muslim brotherhood movement makes it easier for al. Ansar al sharia included two separate organizations. Tunisia sees islamist militants exploiting libya chaos. Suicide bomber attacks tunisian resort town reuters. Neither khubayb nor ali directly admits connections with any of these groups, though. Tunisias moderates lose patience with ansar al sharia kairouan, tunisia the great mosque at kairouan is an austere building in yellow brick, which has stood since the dawn of islam and seen. Sep 03, 20 addressing the tyrants who rule tunisia, ansar al sharia vows it will not back down no matter how you plot and plan, and no matter what you plan to remove us or excise us. From al qaeda in italy to ansar al sharia tunisia fdds. The group says it will have the highest degrees of patience and endurance, with our certainty that the battle has bared its teeth and taken off the mask from.
Aug 27, 20 he said ansar alsharia was liaising with aqim al qaeda in the islamic maghreb, while pledging that tunisia would fight against the group whatever the sacrifices. Ramzi promises only five minutes, though the conversation lasts 15. May 28, 2017 the libyan militant group ansar alsharia, which is linked to al qaeda and deemed a terrorist. Why the alqaeda linked group blamed for 2012 benghazi. The group has initiated several violent protests, including the september 2012 attack on the u. Mar 18, 2012 a profile of ansar alsharia partisans of islamic law which was formed by al qaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap in response to the growing prodemocracy movement in yemen. He said ansar alsharia was liaising with aqim alqaeda in the islamic maghreb, while pledging that tunisia would fight against the group whatever the sacrifices. Aqim announced the formation of a new wing in tunisia during the end of january 2014. Ast is a violent jihadist group that seeks to implement sharia islamic law in tunisia. Pdf ansar alsharia in tunisias shift to jihad researchgate. It only emerged when the tunisian government began to crack down on its. Tunisia cracks down on ansar alsharia militants after clashes clashes precede islamist militant groups annual meeting of the group on may 19 in tunisian holy city of kairouan a tunisian islamist.
Tunisia has designated the hardline salafist ansar alsharia movement a terrorist group, blaming it for the killing of two secular politicians. Alqaedalinked militants in mount chaambi carried out their first attack against. The pair, sami ben khemais essid and mehdi kammoun, were arrested in 2001 and sentenced to several years in prison for their terrorist plotting as operatives in the tunisian combatant group tcg. Ansar alshariah tunisia center for international security and. 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.
Tunisias saied says he will call for early elections if new govt not approved. While the other ansar alsharia groups have no known operational links to al qaeda, the ansar alsharia group in yemen asy is part of a rebranding effort by aqap. Tunisias secular government cracks down on mosques in. In january 2014, the state department designated ansar alsharias branches in benghazi, darna and neighboring tunisia foreign terrorist organizations, making asl members official targets for u. How ansar alsharia in tunisias message framing primed its. Following this designation, the tunisian government cracked down on both the. I question whether this would be the case also for ansar alsharia in benghazi, al qaeda in the islamic maghreb, and al qaeda centralzawahiri, to which they answer, if they have the same interests or goals as us, there is nothing to stop cooperation. After its revolution, tunisia saw the rise of hardline islamist militant groups such as ansar al sharia, which the united states brands as a terrorist organization and blames for a 2012 attack on. Until january 2015, it was led by its amir, muhammad alzahawi. Asl is a violent terrorist group that seeks to implement sharia in libya.
It grew out of ansar alsharia, a hardline salafi group whose tunisian branch was founded by saifallah ben hassine. Previously, the founder was one of the tunisian activists of alqaeda in afghanistan. Whichever way the latest tensions unfold, tunis is unlikely to return to its. Nov 21, 2012 two convicted members of an al qaeda affiliated terrorist group in italy are now senior members of ansar al sharia tunisia. Ansar alsharia in tunisia ast counter extremism project. Ansar alsharia in tunisia is an organization that believes in al qaeda s worldview, but primarily at this juncture only focuses on local recruitment and missionary activities. What is ansar al sharia, and was it behind the consulate. Aug 27, 20 ansar alsharia blamed for tunisia killings. In 20, the group was estimated to have roughly 10,000 members. Libya jihadist group ansar alsharia says it has dissolved. Ansar alshariah in tunisia ast was a salafijihadist militant organization established in 2011 that combined community service, proselytization, and violence to promote its salafi ideology and goals in tunisia. Ansar alislam iraq, islamistskurdish separatists, ansar.
Ansar alsharia was also blamed for inciting an attack by islamist protesters on the u. But if tunisias allegations are correct, they should prompt american analysts to. The crackdown intensified following the assassination of two secular politicians in the winter and summer of 20 that thrust tunisia into political crisis. Indeed, the tunisian authorities estimated in 2012 that around 500. Koranic inscription that has become a trademark of groups linked to alqaeda. Islamist militant groups such as ansar al sharia, which the united states brands as a terrorist organization and blames for a 2012 attack. Analysiscrackdown on radical islamists tests tunisias. 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. May 19, 2015 the crackdown intensified following the assassination of two secular politicians in the winter and summer of 20 that thrust tunisia into political crisis. Ansar alsharia in libya asl counter extremism project.
Ansar alsharia blamed for tunisia killings news al jazeera. Oct 11, 2014 tunisia cracks down on jihadists as elections loom. Tunisia cracks down on ansar alsharia militants after clashes. Supporters of islamic law was a salafist islamist militia group that advocated the implementation of strict sharia law across libya. A few months later, in august, it designated ansar al sharia a terrorist organization. Ansar al sharia libya story stream critical threats.
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