Ansar alsharia in tunisia ast counter extremism project. Libyas ansar alsharia has come under the spotlight in recent weeks following the launch of attacks against the group in benghazi. Posts about ansar alsharia written by joseph trevithick. Ansar alsharia blamed for tunisia killings news al jazeera. The group sought to transform libya into an islamic state governed in accordance with sharia islamic law. Ansar alsharia in libya dissolves itself aymenn jawad al. Meeting tunisias ansar alsharia the washington institute. One underappreciated aspect of this is the way ansar alsharia in tunisias ast messaging primed members of the group and others in society that were exposed to, attended, or followed online ast activities and events. 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. The rise and decline of ansar alsharia in libya by. 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 blamed for tunisia killings prime minister says hardline salafist movement was behind murder of politicians chokri belaid. Tunisia declares the salafist ansar alsharia movement a terrorist group, blaming it for the assassinations of two secular politicians. In january 2014, the state department designated ansar alsharias branches in benghazi, darna and neighboring tunisia foreign terrorist organizations, making asl.
Although all this sounds nice, the economic climate in tunisia is not thriving. Ansar al sharia, one of libyas foremost extremist groups, is disbanding after suffering heavy losses in its main base of benghazi. May 29, 2017 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. It only emerged when the tunisian government began to crack down on its. Abu iyad al tunisi, who has longstanding ties to al qaeda. Since 2014, ansar al sharia in libya went into significant decline. The tunisian branch of ansar al sharia announced it was holding an annual conference in the old central islamic city of kairouan in tunisia on sunday. Ansar alshariah in tunisia ast was a salafijihadist militant organization. Ansar alsharia in benghazi, ansar alsharia in darnah. Fbi fbis top ten news stories for the week ending july. Top ten news stories for the week ending july 19, 20. Ansar alsharia in libya asl was a violent salafist group that was active in libya from 2012 to 2017. Ansar al sharia partisans of islamic law sharia is a salafist jihadist militia based in benghazi.
During this event, associate fellow daveed gartenstein ross presented the findings of his research paper and was joined by dr. Ramzi promises only five minutes, though the conversation lasts 15. Ansar al sharia included two separate organizations. Benghazi, libya ansar alsharia in libya ansar alshariah brigade. Aug 27, 20 ali larayedh, the tunisian pm, gave on monday a press conference during which he outcasted the ansar al sharia organization. The tunisian branch of ansar alsharia announced it was holding an annual conference in the old central islamic city of kairouan in tunisia on sunday. Ansar alsharia is the most radical islamist group to emerge in what was. Ansar alsharia partisans of islamic law sharia is a salafist jihadist militia based in benghazi. Ansar al sharia tunisia releases video of freed benghazi. In a policy analysis for the washington institute for near east policy, a d. Why the alqaeda linked group blamed for 2012 benghazi.
Ansar alshariah tunisia cisac, stanford university. The group has initiated several violent protests, including the september 2012 attack on the u. Ansar alsharia in tunisia aast was founded in 2011 by saifallah ben hassine, also known as abu iyad altunisi, after he was released from prison during the tunisian revolution. Ansar alsharia is the largest armed jihadist group in libya with thousands of fighters, including foreign fighters from tunisia, algeria, and other african countries. On thursday 20 february, icct convened the seminar ansar alsharias war with tunisia. Ansar al sharia tunisia is headed by seifullah ben hassine a. Ramzi explains that ansar alsharias activities within sousse are completely funded from within the country by donations from individuals with jobs. Ansar alsharia supporters of sharia was once libyas most familiar jihadi organization in the postgaddafi environment, widely suspected of involvement in the attack on the u.
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. Until january 2015, it was led by its amir, muhammad alzahawi. Ansar al sharia in libya asl was a violent salafist group that was active in libya from 2012 to 2017. Supporters of islamic law was a salafist islamist militia group that advocated the implementation of strict sharia law across libya. Ansar al sharia in tunisia is an organization that believes in al qaedas worldview, but primarily at this juncture only focuses on local recruitment and missionary activities. Ansar alsharia came into being in 2011, during the libyan civil war. Major libyan jihadist group declares allegiance to isis. It has been listed as a terrorist group by the tunisian government as well by the united nations, the uae, the united kingdom and the united states. The obama administration should be doing all it can to hunt down those responsible for this. Members of ansar al sharia have regularly taken part in protests in tunisia against perceived blasphemy and have been suspected in involvement in a number of violent incidents. The collapse of the group is a victory for the libya national. Ansar alsharia ast, established during april 2011, is the most pronounced jihadist organization in tunisia with a supportive ideology to that of alqaeda.
Ansar al sharia tunisia launches new website fdds long war. Former cia director david petraeus is expected to tell house and senate committees friday that ansar al sharia was suspected in the u. Aug 27, 20 tunisia declares the salafist ansar al sharia movement a terrorist group, blaming it for the assassinations of two secular politicians. It is listed as a terrorist organization by the governments of both the united states and the libyan parliament. Tunisia the ansar alsharia group is a terrorist organisation, tunisian prime minister ali larayedh says. 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 says. Tunisian security forces and salafists clashed again thursday april 10th in siliana. May 28, 2014 since its establishment in postrevolution tunisia, ansar al sharia in tunisia ast, the leading salafijihadi organization in the country, has relied heavily on facebook to promote its agenda. Libyas ansar alsharia armed group announced its own dissolution on saturday, saying it has been weakened by fighting in benghazi. Four policemen were gunned down in karachis site area on friday in what appeared to be an incident of target killing, officials told dawn. One underappreciated aspect of this is the way ansar alsharia in. 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. Ansar alsharias secondincommand kamel zarrouk, in his 40s, has now arrived in syria to join the islamic state of iraq and the levant isil.
Ansar al sharia ast, established during april 2011, is the most pronounced jihadist organization in tunisia with a supportive ideology to that of al qaeda. How ansar alsharia in tunisias message framing primed its. After sometimes turning a blind eye to the activities of ansar alsharia and other groups during much of its 18month reign. Jul 01, 2015 ansar al sharia is one of the chief jihadist factions fighting across the border from tunisia in the libyan civil war, and is alleged to be behind the attack on the us consulate in libya in 20. Sep 21, 2012 the name ansar al sharia shot into the news last week in the aftermath of the attack on the u. On 27 april, 2011, a blog titled the alqayrawan media foundation qmf was created, and two days later a corresponding facebook page was established. Ansar alsharia in libya asl counter extremism project. The group had been clashing in the eastern city with forces. I think that ennahdha believed that if they crack down hard on salafist groups that.
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 announced in a 27 may 2017 statement posted online that it was formally dissolving itself. The government said the group had shown disdain for state institutions and was a. Ansar al sharia libya story stream critical threats. Retired general khalifa haftar, the selfdeclared leader of the.
The benghazi link to tunisias assassinations al jazeera america. Ansar alsharia in benghazi, ansar alsharia in darnah, and. The name ansar alsharia shot into the news last week in the aftermath of the attack on the u. 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. Mar 11, 2015 soon thereafter, on 15 may, a facebook page named ansar al sharia in tunisia popped up, at the same time as an announcement was made regarding a scheduled conference on 21 may. Then, on 15 may, another facebook page under the name ansar alsharia in tunisia was launched, coinciding with the announcement that a conference would be convened in tunis on 21 may. How ansar alsharia grew in postrevolutionary tunisia. Ansar alsharia blamed for tunisia killings news al. Meeting tunisias ansar alsharia i walk through a tunisian market around midday, at the entrance to the fortress of sousse, a town about. In 20, the group was estimated to have roughly 10,000 members. Morocco and tunisia to crack down on syriabound jihadists the. Ansar al sharia tunisia, which orchestrated the sept.
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. The washington institute for near east policy, 09 may 2014. 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 tunisian branch of ansar alsharia meanwhile criticized tunisian authorities for having granted the fbi access to harzi, and. Ansar alsharia is one of the chief jihadist factions fighting across the border from tunisia in the libyan civil war, and is alleged to be behind the attack on the us consulate in. What is ansar al sharia, and was it behind the consulate. Zelin, meeting tunisias ansar alsharia, foreign policy, march 8, 20. In 2000, hassine cofounded the tunisian combatant group tcg, an al qaedaaffiliated group that participated in the sept. Ansar alsharia in tunisia ast terrorist groups trac. Tunisia has banned the radical islamist group ansar alsharia from holding a meeting in the city of kairouan.
At its height, asl operated branches in benghazi, derna, sirte, ajdabiya, and nawfalia. May 12, 20 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. Asts use of facebook peaked in 201220, in which period the organization operated a main facebook page as well as numerous regional 1 pages. Ansar al sharia tunisia launches new website fdds long. Libyas ansar alsharia announces dissolution libya news. It was closely linked to the ansar alsharia of tunisia, many of whose members took refuge in libya following a crackdown by the tunisian. Press release the arabic network for human rights information anhri condemns kairouans security bodies rearrest of seifeddine rais, ansar alsharia spokesman, on tuesday july 29. Since members have been accused of involvement in attacks on the us embassies in tunisia and libya, the tunisian government banned the meeting.
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 tunisia leader says gains in iraq should be cause for jihadist reconciliation. 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. Clashes precede islamist militant groups annual meeting of the group on may 19 in tunisian holy city of kairouan. Libyas ansar al sharia armed group announced its own dissolution on saturday, saying it has been weakened by fighting in benghazi. Ansar al sharia in tunisia, which is ideologically aligned with alqaida and tied to its affiliates, including aqim, represents the greatest threat to u. Ansar alsharia initially manifested as a revolutionary brigade during the 2011 libyan revolution and gained prominence following the death of muammar alqaddafi. Tunisia cracks down on ansar alsharia militants after clashes. Tunisia bars ansar alsharia salafist meeting in kairouan. Ramzi explains that ansar al sharia s activities within sousse are completely funded from within the country by donations from individuals with jobs. Libyan extremist group ansar al sharia disbands the national. Press release the arabic network for human rights information anhri condemns kairouans security bodies rearrest of seifeddine rais, ansar al sharia spokesman, on tuesday july 29.
Mar 19, 2020 there are a number of reasons why tunisians joined the islamic state in iraq, syria, and libya. Crackdown on radical islamists tests tunisias stability. However, nearly one thousand miles to the west, ansar alsharia in libya asl has continued its work of facilitating a future islamic state since. Since its establishment in postrevolution tunisia, ansar alsharia in tunisia ast, the leading salafijihadi organization in the country, has relied heavily on facebook to promote its agenda. Ali larayedh, the tunisian pm, gave on monday a press conference during which he outcasted the ansar alsharia organization. May 18, 20 tunisia has banned the radical islamist group ansar al sharia from holding a meeting in the city of kairouan. There are a number of reasons why tunisians joined the islamic state in iraq, syria, and libya. Ast is a violent jihadist group that seeks to implement sharia islamic law in tunisia.
Interview with terrorists stepping up operations in tunisia and jeopardising the democratic transition, magharebia sat down with a leading scholar to get a better understanding of the threat. In mid2015, bin hassine was tried, found guilty, and sentenced in absentia by a tunisian criminal court to 50 years in prison for his role in terrorist activities. Ansar al sharia is a salafijihadi group established during the 2011 libyan revolution that is part of al qaedas network in libya. Since then, tunisia has taken key steps toward democracy. Soon thereafter, on 15 may, a facebook page named ansar alsharia in tunisia popped up, at the same time as an announcement was made regarding a.
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