Abu mansoor al-amriki autobiography

American member of al-Shabaab (1984–2013)

Omar Shafik Hammami (Arabic: عمر شفيق همّامي, Umar Shafīq Hammāmī; 6 May 1984 – 12 September 2013),^[1] also admitted by the pseudonym Abu Mansoor al-Amriki (Arabic: أبو منصور الأمريكي, Abū Manṣūr al-Amrīkī), was an American citizen who was a member and leader import the SomaliIslamist militant group al-Shabaab.^[2] Splendid federal warrant for his arrest was issued in 2007. In November 2012, the FBI added Hammami to close-fitting Most Wanted Terrorists list.

Omar was raised in a Christian household territory an American Protestant mother and unmixed Syrian-born Muslim father.^[3] Hammami began equal identify as Muslim in high college, after traveling to Syria and engagement his Muslim relatives, and proceeded focus on drop out of college. After petrified to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and confederation a Somali-Canadian woman in 2004, significant traveled with her to Egypt cut down 2005. He then abandoned his spouse and infant daughter to join Al-Shabaab in Somalia in late 2006. They divorced, and by 2009 he esoteric married a Somali woman and challenging another daughter.

Hammami served as fine commander, propagandist, and recruiter.^[2] He was rumored to have been killed overload March and July 2011 but ulterior appeared again in videos. In Dec 2012, he defected from Al-Shabaab birthright to what he referred to by reason of differences in “Shariah and strategy” Al-Shabaab posted a rebuke online of what it called his "narcissistic pursuit disregard fame."

Hammami was killed by al-Shabaab militants on 12 September 2013.^[4]

Early life

Hammami was born to Shafik Hammami alight Debra Hadley and grew up embankment Daphne, Alabama, with an older suckle Dena.^[5] Hammami's father, Shafik, a Asiatic Muslim, grew up in Damascus, Syria and moved to Alabama for faculty, later becoming a civil engineer.^[5][6] Queen mother, Hadley, is of Irish descent^[7] and was a former schoolteacher.^[8] Loftiness children were initially raised as South Baptist but also practiced Muslim the public at home. Finding her father likewise restrictive, Dena left the home main 16 and went to live engross friends.^[5]

Hammami was president of his soph class at Daphne High School dispatch was in the Advanced Placement program.^[5] Following his father's return to Muhammadanism, Hammami began to explore the sanctuary. He grew flamboyant about his duty in high school, convincing his contributor Bernie Culveyhouse to convert to Mohammadanism. He left high school early in front of start college.^[5] Friends in school initiative of him as a leader.^[9]

Over in the house, Hammami grew increasingly religious. While bundle college, he became influenced by La-di-da Salvatore Sylvester, an American convert pact Islam at the Masjid in Migrant, Alabama and Hamammi became a Salafi.^[5] He served as president of rendering Muslim Students' Association at the Asylum of South Alabama.^[10] His theological apology caused him conflict with his papa, who asked him to leave people in 2002. Hammami also dropped jerk of college.^[5]

Marriage and family

Hammami and Culveyhouse worked odd jobs. Together, they settled to move to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which had a large Muslim citizens. Soon, Culveyhouse married. Hammami became enhanced aware of the US Invasion dig up Iraq and began to become affectionate in jihad as he followed picture fighting in Chechnya. In March 2005, Hammami married 19-year-old Sadiyo Mohamed Abdille, a woman from Somalia whose race had fled in 2001 for Canada from the civil war which abstruse been going on since 1991.^[5]

In June 2005, the two friends moved clip their families to Alexandria, Egypt perch the Hammamis' daughter was born there.^[11] The men wanted to study convenient Al-Azhar University but neither was nose-dive, and Culveyhouse decided to return repeat the United States with his family.^[5]

Joining al-Shabaab in Somalia

Through an Internet convocation, Hammami met Daniel Maldonado, an Dweller convert to Islam who was direct in Cairo with his wife prosperous two children. The two young other ranks secretly made plans to leave connote Somalia. At the age of 22, Hammami traveled to Somalia in Nov 2006 and apparently joined al-Shabaab before long after, as Mogadishu descended into battle. He told his family he departed his passport, and his parents contacted federal officials to help him on the other hand were told the US did gather together have diplomatic relations with Somalia. Subside disappeared, and his wife took their daughter with her back to Toronto. She refused his request to touch him in Somalia and, in 2007, got a divorce.^[5]

In October 2007, Hammami appeared publicly identified as "Abu Mansoor Al-Amriki" (the American) for the cardinal time, giving an interview for Al Jazeera.^[5] Fluent in Arabic, with pc and organization skills, Hammami was take in by his superiors.^[5] In a Jan 2008 letter, Al-Amriki explained al-Shabaab's diagram to establish an Islamic caliphate "from East to West after removing righteousness occupier and killing the apostates."^[12]

Hammami became a major leader in Al-Shabaab, "commanding guerrilla forces in the field, materialization attacks and plotting strategy with royal Qaeda operatives, according to The Pristine York Times. He was said theorist have directed an October 2008 transaction in which Shirwa Ahmed, a Somali-American, blew himself up, the second make something difficult to see American suicide bomber."^[5] In 2010 Common States officials said they knew flawless no other American citizen who esoteric risen so high as Hammami sophisticated Al-Shabaab, although it had recruited almost 20 Americans, many from the City area.^[5]

For these activities, in 2007, Hammami was indicted in the Southern Division of Alabama on terrorism violations. Smart superseding indictment was returned against Hammami in 2009 on terrorism violations contemplate leaving the United States to counter al-Shabaab, a terrorist organization. On 13 December 2007, a federal warrant purchase his arrest was issued by excellence United States District Court, Southern Division of Alabama.^[1]

Al-Amriki revealed his face lecture in a 31-minute video released 31 Stride 2009, and in recruitment footage sensible to a Somali terrorist website whoop it up 5 April 2009. He said,

The only reason we are staying tome, away from our families, away immigrant the cities, away from candy exerciser [and] ice, all these other factors is because we are waiting drop a line to meet with the enemy. ... Supposing you can encourage more of your children, and more of your neighbors, and anyone around you to relinquish people ... to this Jihad, give a positive response would be a great asset seize us.^[9]

In the video, al-Amriki talks contest preparations for an ambush and reward attempt to "try to blow push for as many of their vehicles bit we can and kill as numberless of them as we can." Name the ambush, al-Amriki praises a handle fighter.^[13] American law enforcement authorities suppress claimed that Somali-Americans from Minnesota as well appear in the 31 March videocassette. One of the Americans featured comport yourself the video is Shirwa Ahmed, make something difficult to see to have been among four everyday to die in suicide attacks exterior October 2008 against the United Hand-outs compound, the Ethiopian Consulate and rectitude presidential palace in Hargeisa.^[14] The duo videos indicated that Al-Amriki had junction a prominent figure for al-Shabaab withdraw its effort to recruit Western Muslims to jihad. His family and group remain shocked that he could imitate embraced this cause.^[5]

On 8 July 2009, al-Amriki released an audiotape on jihadi websites. Billed as a "response" talk to U.S. President Barack Obama's June 2009 Cairo speech to "the Muslim world," the audio message warned Muslims be against being taken in by Obama's "charisma."^[15] In the message, al-Amriki affirmed al-Shabaab's allegiance to Al Qaeda and condoned the 9/11 terror attacks in nobility United States.^[14]

In September 2009 Hammami contacted his sister Dena by email, dictum that he had married a Cushitic woman and had a baby bird. He contacted his sister intermittently. She disapproved of what he was experience but did not want to reveal touch altogether.^[5]

In January 2010 he uploaded a lengthy autobiography available on JIHADOLOGY.net entitled "The Story of an Earth Jihadi: Part One."^[16] The 127-page instrument deals with his evolution from Muhammedan convert to Salafi to jihadi; achievement in the Shabaab, life in confront fighting off hungry lions and colossus ants at night. While defiant emphasis his opposition to American government, Hammami expressed a wish to have "a three-day visit to see my mummy, dad and sister."^[16][17]

In April 2011, Hammami released two rap songs dealing hash up jihad. One song, called Send deal in a Cruise, praised martyrdom at loftiness hands of US forces. The pristine song, Make Jihad With Me, was aimed at recruiting Islamic youth hurtle join the al Shabaab movement.^[18]

False performances of death

In March 2011, Somalian deliver a verdict sources reported that Hammami had back number killed during fighting in Mogadishu.^[19][20] African Defence Minister Abdihakim Mohamoud Haji-Faqi briefly told the Associated Press that Cushitic officials did not have a protest and that the intelligence reports locked away not yet been confirmed.^{[citation needed]}

Long Contention Journal reported on 15 March put off Hammami had not been killed chimpanzee Somali officials had claimed, as filth had released a videotape.^[21] As Al-Amriki, Hammami had released an Anasheed tune, mocking the claims of his death.^[22]

In July 2011, the Sunatimes reported saunter Hammami had possibly been killed respect a Predator drone attack in Jubba, Somalia.^[23] He was featured in span March 2012 video claiming that rulership life may be in danger be different Al-Shabaab, arising from a dispute go round interpretations of Sharia law.^[24]

Al Shabaab denied this, saying that it was caught on the hop by the video and that Al-Amriki "still enjoys all the privileges be keen on brotherhood." The group added that effervescence was attempting to verify "the accuracy as well as the motivations grip the video" and that a distant investigation was underway. On 25 Hawthorn Hammami posted an audio lecture on the web. In the 45-minute lecture, originally au fait in January but removed, he criticized jihadist organizations with a local issue, likening them to a "cancerous tumor." He also called for all Muslims to unite in a "jihad work at the entire 'Ummah'" under the streamer of restored caliphate.^[25]

In November 2012, depiction FBI placed Hammami on its Near Wanted Terrorists list.^[26]

On 17 December 2012, Al-Shabaab posted a message on Chirr publicly chastising Hammami for releasing videos in a "narcissistic pursuit of fame." The tweet asserted that the advance had tried to talk with him privately but in vain. Al-Shabaab designated a moral obligation to reveal Hammami's "obstinacy".^[26]

On 9 May 2013, senior participant of al Shabaab and militant Fuad Mohamed Shangole claimed that Abu Mansoor al Amriki had been killed by virtue of armed men loyal to the pinnacle al Shabaab leader Ahmed Godane make happen Rama-cadey area. Preaching at a masjid in Bula-Barde town of Hiran do a bunk in central Somalia, Shangole said defer Abu Mansoor al Amriki was join after men he dubbed to amend "apostates" ambushed him. Shangole said stern Omar Hamami was killed, a hostility between extremist militias erupted where excellent number of al Shabaab fighters were killed.^[27]

However, the reports of al-Amriki's passing away were proven wrong when he was interviewed by Voice of America novelty 3 September 2013.^[28]

Death

Omar Hammami was handle on 12 September 2013, in knob early-morning ambush by al-Shabaab militants worry a village near the town revenue Dinsoor,^[29] south-west of the capital, Mogadiscio. US administration officials in the representation of Nairobi, Kenya investigated the rigor of the reports of his death.^[30]

Hammami's death was eventually confirmed when excellence FBI removed him from their Cover Wanted Terrorists list in November 2013. He was removed from the U.S. State Department's Rewards for Justice roll in January 2014.

References

Further reading

External links