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Al-Ahram Weekly 27 Jan. - 2 Feb. 2000 Issue No. 466 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 27 Jan. - 2 Feb. 2000 Issue No. 466
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Profile Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters A militants' coup?
By Khaled DawoudThe London-based Arabic daily Al-Hayat reported on Sunday that a "coup" had taken place within the militant Jihad group after the toppling of its enigmatic leader, Ayman Al-Zawahri. Al-Zawahri is on the US list of most wanted terrorists for his close links to Saudi-born Islamist militant leader Osama bin Laden.
But a security source and a London-based Islamist told Al-Ahram Weekly that they were not sure that any change had taken place in the ranks of the underground group.
Al-Hayat quoted "sources close to Jihad" as saying that a number of key figures in the militant organisation were unhappy with Al-Zawahri's alliance with bin Laden, whom the United States named as the main suspect in the bombing of its embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in August 1998.
These sources argued that the Zawahri-bin Laden alliance resulted in a US-led worldwide crackdown against members of the group.
Al-Zawahri and bin Laden, based in Afghanistan, signed in February 1998, together with four other militant organisations, a statement announcing the establishment of the so-called "International Islamic Front for Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders". The "Islamic Front" declared that attacking US and Israeli interests was its main target in retaliation for what it described as the United States' unjust policy towards Islam and Muslims, its continued sanctions against Iraq and its military presence in the Gulf region.
After five key Jihad members were arrested in Albania in the summer of 1998 and handed over to Egypt, the militant group issued a statement threatening retaliation against US interests. Nearly a week later, the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed, killing more than 250 people.
The five Jihad figures handed over by Albania were among 107 suspected Jihad members who faced military trials last year in a case dubbed by the local press as that of the "returnees from Albania". Nine death sentences were handed down in absentia against expatriate Jihad leaders, including Al-Zawahri and his brother, Mohamed. During the trial, the defendants declared support for Al-Zawahri and bin Laden as well as for attacks against US interests. They also claimed that the group, after bombing the Egyptian Embassy in Pakistan in the summer of 1995, had decided to give up anti-government attacks and to focus its "struggle" against the United States.
However, a London-based Islamist, who spoke to the Weekly on condition of anonymity, said he was not certain that any change had taken place within the ranks of the Jihad group. "Brother Al-Zawahri is a respected Islamic figure whose role in Jihad cannot be denied," the Islamist told the Weekly in a telephone interview. "Of course, there are some parties who have an interest in claiming that the Islamists are getting weaker and suffering from splits as a result of the conditions they are facing. But those who make such claims do not know that we are fighting for the sake of God and have strong loyalty to our principles," he added.
A security source also told the Weekly that reports on militant Islamist groups must be approached cautiously. The source added that this principle applied in particular to the case of Al-Zawahri and Jihad. "The Jihad group is mainly a para-military organisation which uses a maximum degree of secrecy. It is unlikely that they will publish the names of their leaders and their responsibilities as we read in recent reports," the security source said. Al-Zawahri has been known for leaking false reports about the place of his residence and movements, the source added.
On Monday, Al-Hayat toned down the report of a "coup" and said that Al-Zawahri "gave up" the group's leadership voluntarily to one of his close assistants to avoid a possible confrontation with other key figures. The newspaper added that the name of the new leader was not revealed, but he was believed to be Tharwat Salah Shehata, one of the nine Jihad leaders sentenced to death in absentia in the "returnees from Albania" trial.
