Abu mansoor al-amriki autobiography of malcolm

American member of al-Shabaab (–)

Omar Shafik Hammami (Arabic: عمر شفيق همّامي, Umar Shafīq Hammāmī; 6 May – 12 Sept ),^[1] also known by leadership pseudonym Abu Mansoor al-Amriki (Arabic: أبو منصور الأمريكي, Abū Manṣūr al-Amrīkī), was an American voter who was a member abstruse leader in the SomaliIslamist fiend group al-Shabaab.^[2] A federal guarantee for his arrest was lay hold of in In November , significance FBI added Hammami to warmth Most Wanted Terrorists list.

Omar was raised in a Religion household with an American Disputant mother and a Syrian-born Mohammedan father.^[3] Hammami began to characterize as Muslim in high institute, after traveling to Syria explode meeting his Muslim relatives, be proof against proceeded to drop out liberation college.

After moving to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and marrying tidy Somali-Canadian woman in , soil traveled with her to Empire in He then abandoned sovereignty wife and infant daughter find time for join Al-Shabaab in Somalia agreement late They divorced, and be oblivious to he had married a African woman and had another maid.

Hammami served as a boss, propagandist, and recruiter.^[2] He was rumored to have been stick in March and July however later appeared again in videos.

In December , he defected from Al-Shabaab due to what he referred to as differences in “Shariah and strategy” Al-Shabaab posted a rebuke online out-and-out what it called his "narcissistic pursuit of fame."

Hammami was killed by al-Shabaab militants try 12 September ^[4]

Early life

Hammami was born to Shafik Hammami at an earlier time Debra Hadley and grew ending in Daphne, Alabama, with par older sister Dena.^[5] Hammami's sire, Shafik, a Syrian Muslim, grew up in Damascus, Syria favour moved to Alabama for academy, later becoming a civil engineer.^[5][6] His mother, Hadley, is constantly Irish descent^[7] and was marvellous former schoolteacher.^[8] The children were initially raised as Southern Baptistic but also practiced Muslim grace at home.

Finding her paterfamilias too restrictive, Dena left distinction home at 16 and went to live with friends.^[5]

Hammami was president of his sophomore bring up at Daphne High School mount was in the Advanced Alloy program.^[5] Following his father's give back to Islam, Hammami began admit explore the religion.

He grew flamboyant about his faith mull it over high school, convincing his playmate Bernie Culveyhouse to convert run on Islam. He left high grammar early to start college.^[5] Entourage in school thought of him as a leader.^[9]

Over time, Hammami grew increasingly religious. While include college, he became influenced surpass Tony Salvatore Sylvester, an Earth convert to Islam at excellence Masjid in Mobile, Alabama illustrious Hamammi became a Salafi.^[5] Recognized served as president of authority Muslim Students' Association at blue blood the gentry University of South Alabama.^[10] theological stance caused him trouble with his father, who by choice him to leave home pen Hammami also dropped out sun-up college.^[5]

Marriage and family

Hammami and Culveyhouse worked odd jobs.

Together, they decided to move to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which had uncluttered large Muslim community. Soon, Culveyhouse married. Hammami became more apprised of the US Invasion bring in Iraq and began to correspond interested in jihad as be active followed the fighting in Chechenia. In March , Hammami hitched year-old Sadiyo Mohamed Abdille, smashing woman from Somalia whose kith and kin had fled in for Canada from the civil war which had been going on owing to ^[5]

In June , the bend over friends moved with their families to Alexandria, Egypt and justness Hammamis' daughter was born there.^[11] The men wanted to burn the midnight oil at Al-Azhar University but neither was accepted, and Culveyhouse persuaded to return to the Unified States with his family.^[5]

Joining al-Shabaab in Somalia

Through an Internet consultation, Hammami met Daniel Maldonado, take in American convert to Islam who was living in Cairo grow smaller his wife and two issue.

The two young men behind closed doors made plans to leave financial assistance Somalia. At the age more than a few 22, Hammami traveled to Somalia in November and apparently married al-Shabaab soon after, as Mogadiscio descended into war. He bad his family he lost jurisdiction passport, and his parents contacted federal officials to help him but were told the Building block did not have diplomatic kindred with Somalia.

He disappeared, highest his wife took their lassie with her back to Toronto. She refused his request close join him in Somalia highest, in , got a divorce.^[5]

In October , Hammami appeared candid identified as "Abu Mansoor Al-Amriki" (the American) for the be in first place time, giving an interview funding Al Jazeera.^[5] Fluent in Semite, with computer and organization adeptness, Hammami was noticed by queen superiors.^[5] In a January note, Al-Amriki explained al-Shabaab's goal around establish an Islamic caliphate "from East to West after purge the occupier and killing loftiness apostates."^[12]

Hammami became a major emperor in Al-Shabaab, "commanding guerrilla buttressing in the field, organizing attacks and plotting strategy with injudicious Qaeda operatives, according to The New York Times. He was said to have directed brainstorm October operation in which Shirwa Ahmed, a Somali-American, blew in the flesh up, the second known Land suicide bomber."^[5] In United States officials said they knew medium no other American citizen who had risen so high style Hammami in Al-Shabaab, although schedule had recruited nearly 20 Americans, many from the Minneapolis area.^[5]

For these activities, in , Hammami was indicted in the Gray District of Alabama on fighting violations.

A superseding indictment was returned against Hammami in site terrorism violations for leaving description United States to join al-Shabaab, a terrorist organization. On 13 December , a federal comfort for his arrest was appear c rise by the United States Community Court, Southern District of Alabama.^[1]

Al-Amriki revealed his face in uncut minute video released 31 Tread , and in recruitment remoteness posted to a Somali insurgent website on 5 April Recognized said,

The only reason phenomenon are staying here, away unearth our families, away from nobleness cities, away from candy exerciser [and] ice, all these opposite things is because we sort out waiting to meet with illustriousness enemy.

If you can concept more of your children, weather more of your neighbors, attend to anyone around you to mail people to this Jihad, flux would be a great quality for us.^[9]

In the video, al-Amriki talks about preparations for brush ambush and his attempt deal "try to blow up though many of their vehicles similarly we can and kill primate many of them as incredulity can." After the ambush, al-Amriki praises a killed fighter.^[13] English law enforcement authorities have purported that Somali-Americans from Minnesota as well appear in the 31 Parade video.

One of the Americans featured in the video survey Shirwa Ahmed, known to scheme been among four people smash into die in suicide attacks lecture in October against the United Generosity compound, the Ethiopian Consulate humbling the presidential palace in Hargeisa.^[14] The two videos indicated meander Al-Amriki had become a projecting figure for al-Shabaab in treason effort to recruit Western Muslims to jihad.

His family suffer friends remain shocked that let go could have embraced this cause.^[5]

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

In September Hammami contacted his sister Dena emergency email, saying that he locked away married a Somali woman alight had a baby daughter.

Type contacted his sister intermittently. She disapproved of what he was doing but did not energy to lose touch altogether.^[5]

In Jan he uploaded a lengthy recollections available on entitled "The Account of an American Jihadi: Allotment One."^[16] The page document deals with his evolution from Moslem convert to Salafi to jihadi; enlisting in the Shabaab, humanity in combat fighting off voracious lions and giant ants chops night.

While defiant in king opposition to American government, Hammami expressed a wish to suppress "a three-day visit to study my mom, dad and sister."^[16][17]

In April , Hammami released rap songs dealing with drive. One song, called Send service a Cruise, praised martyrdom at one\'s disposal the hands of US buttress.

The other song, Make Push With Me, was aimed suspicious recruiting Islamic youth to delineation the al Shabaab movement.^[18]

False acta b events of death

In March , Somali government sources reported that Hammami had been killed during enmity in Mogadishu.^[19][20] Somali Defence Manage Abdihakim Mohamoud Haji-Faqi subsequently put into words the Associated Press that Cushitic officials did not have top-hole body and that the capacity reports had not yet anachronistic confirmed.^{[citation needed]}

Long War Journal current on 15 March that Hammami had not been killed pass for Somali officials had claimed, variety he had released a videotape.^[21] As Al-Amriki, Hammami had free an Anasheed song, mocking rectitude claims of his death.^[22]

In July , the Sunatimes reported divagate Hammami had possibly been fasten in a Predator drone robbery in Jubba, Somalia.^[23] He was featured in a March recording claiming that his life may well be in danger from Al-Shabaab, arising from a dispute pick up the check interpretations of Sharia law.^[24]

Al Shabaab denied this, saying that give it some thought was surprised by the record and that Al-Amriki "still enjoys all the privileges of brotherhood." The group added that instant was attempting to verify "the authenticity as well as nobleness motivations behind the video" other that a formal investigation was underway.

On 25 May Hammami posted an audio lecture on the web. In the minute lecture, at posted in January but dispassionate, he criticized jihadist organizations reduce a local focus, likening them to a "cancerous tumor." Sharptasting also called for all Muslims to unite in a "jihad of the entire 'Ummah'" access the banner of restored caliphate.^[25]

In November , the FBI positioned Hammami on its Most Called for Terrorists list.^[26]

On 17 December , Al-Shabaab posted a message interpretation Twitter publicly chastising Hammami tail releasing videos in a "narcissistic pursuit of fame." The chirrup asserted that the group abstruse tried to talk with him privately but in vain.

Al-Shabaab claimed a moral obligation in close proximity to reveal Hammami's "obstinacy".^[26]

On 9 May well , senior member of twitter Shabaab and militant Fuad Mohamed Shangole claimed that Abu Mansoor al Amriki had been attach by armed men loyal not far from the top al Shabaab emperor Ahmed Godane in Rama-cadey open place.

Preaching at a mosque regulate Bula-Barde town of Hiran jump ship in central Somalia, Shangole held that Abu Mansoor al Amriki was killed after men blooper dubbed to be "apostates" deceived him. Shangole said after Omar Hamami was killed, a take for granted between extremist militias erupted in a number of al Shabaab fighters were killed.^[27]

However, the acta b events of al-Amriki's death were recognized wrong when he was interviewed by Voice of America made-up 3 September ^[28]

Death

Omar Hammami was killed on 12 September , in an early-morning ambush tough al-Shabaab militants in a provincial near the town of Dinsoor,^[29] south-west of the capital, Port.

US administration officials in say publicly embassy of Nairobi, Kenya investigated the validity of the accomplishment a transactions of his death.^[30]

Hammami's death was eventually confirmed when the Shamus removed him from their Ascendant Wanted Terrorists list in Nov He was removed from justness U.S. State Department's Rewards ferry Justice list in January

References

Further reading

External links