Abu Abdullah al-Rashid al-Baghdadi
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Abu Abdullah al-Rashid al-Baghdadi (also known as Abu Hamza al-Baghdadi and Abu Omar al-Baghdadi)[1][2] is a person purported to be the leader (or emir) of the former Mujahideen Shura Council (also known as the "Council of Freedom Fighters,"[3] the "Consultative Council of Mujahedeen,"[2] and the "Council of Holy Warriors"),[4] an umbrella organization composed of eight groups that oppose the United States' military presence in Iraq, and purported to be the head of Islamic State of Iraq.
The Interior Ministry of Iraq claimed that al-Baghdadi was captured in Baghdad on March 9, 2007,[5] but it was later said that the person in question was not al-Baghdadi.[6] On May 3, 2007, the Iraqi Interior Ministry said that al-Baghdadi was killed by American and Iraqi forces north of Baghdad.[7] However, in July 2007, the U.S. military reported that al-Baghdadi never actually existed.[8] The detainee identified as Khaled al-Mashhadani, a self-proclaimed intermediary to Osama bin Laden, claimed that al-Baghdadi was a fictional character created to give an Iraqi face to a foreign-run terror group, and that statements attributed to al-Baghdadi were actually read by an Iraqi actor.[9]
In March 2008 the spokesman for an insurgent organization that is hostile to the Coalition, Hamas-Iraq, claimed that al-Baghdadi is a fabrication made by Al Qaeda to put a false Iraqi face to their organization. [10]
On May 7, 2008 the Arabic-language satellite channel Al-Arabiya, citing information obtained from an Iraqi police official, identified al-Baghdadi as Hamid Dawoud al-Zawi. [11]
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[edit] Alleged biography
Baghdadi met al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan. Yasser al-Sirri, head of the Islamic Observatory in London, said that to be named emir, al-Baghdadi "should have proven combat skills and be versed in Sharia." Sirri also said Baghdadi was previously head of the Al-Haya al-Sharia (Islamic jurisprudence committee) of the Shura Council.[2] The New York Times reported that many terrorism experts believe the Shura Council is "a fiction" or "a front organization that appeared to give local control to Iraqis." The paper also suggests that Baghdadi may have been a puppet of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, chosen to give an illusion of Iraqi control over "resistance" to the Americans and the democratically elected government in Iraq.[3]
[edit] Alleged role in insurgency
Baghdadi reportedly oversaw fatwas and hostages and is the ultimate authority over an Islamic militant court.[2] He has written articles such as Why do we fight and whom do we fight? and The constitution of the infidels. Major General William Caldwell, spokesman for the American military in Iraq, has suggested that Baghdadi might be in competition for power against Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the alleged new leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq.[4] Al-Muhajir, Zarqawi's successor, stated that al-Baghdadi was "the ruler of believers" with al-Qaida in Iraq fighters under his command.
[edit] Claim of capture
Al-Baghdadi was reported captured by United States and Iraqi forces in a raid in Abu Ghraib, on the western outskirts of Baghdad, on March 9, 2007.[5] Officials denied that the person captured was Al-Baghdadi on March 10, but said that the person was "a senior al-Qaida leader".[6]
[edit] Claim of death
Iraq's Ministry of Interior has said that the leader of the insurgent group, the Mujahideen Shura Council, Abu Abdullah al-Rashid al-Baghdadi, has been killed by the United States military and Iraqi Forces and that his remains have been identified. The Iraqi Interior Ministry claimed he was killed during the night of May 2, 2007[7][12] [13]. Caldwell denied these reports[14], saying the US does not have the bodies of al-Baghdadi or Abu Ayyub al-Masri who was also reported killed on that occasion by the IIM, nor did he know of anybody who did. It appears that the person killed was actually Muharib Abdul-Latif al-Jabouri, a senior member of Tenzheem Qa'adah al-Jihad and the "public relations minister" of al-Baghdadi's shadow cabinet.[citation needed]
[edit] Claim of non-existence
In July 2007, U.S. Major General Kevin Bergner reported that al-Baghdadi never existed. According to Reuters, "Bergner said the information came from an operative called Khaled al-Mashhadani who was caught on July 4 and who he said was an intermediary to Osama bin Laden." Reuters further quoted Bergner as saying, "'In [al-Mashadani's] words, the Islamic State of Iraq is a front organization that masks the foreign influence and leadership within al Qaeda in Iraq in an attempt to put an Iraqi face on the leadership of al Qaeda in Iraq.'"[8]
In March 26, 2008 the spokesman for the Iraqi Sunni jihad organization Hamas-Iraq, Ahmad Salah Al-Din claimed that al-Baghdadi was an Al Qaeda fabrication. He stated that Al-Qaeda's real commander [in Iraq] was Abu Ayyub Al-Masri, and that [Abu 'Omar] Al-Baghdadi was an Iraqi figure to whom many [words and deeds] are attributed solely to create the impression that [Al-Qaeda is a genuinely] Iraqi organization. This confirmation comes from a source hostile to American interests. [15]
[edit] Speeches
Al-Baghdadi has released several audiotapes since his anointment as "emir of the believers"
- "The Solid Edifice" - April 14, 2008[1]
- February 13, 2008[2]
- "Humble Towards the Believers, Stern Towards the Disbelievers" - December 22, 2007[3]
- "And if You Cease, it Will be Better for You" - July 8, 2007[8]
- "Years of Achievements in the Country of the Unifiers" - April 16, 2007[9]
- "I am Aware of My God" - March 13, 2007[10]
- "A Conquest from Allah and an Imminent Victory" - February 3, 2007[11]
- "Truth has Come and Falsehood has Vanished" - December 22, 2006[12]
Translation and analysis of the majority of the audiotapes is available at Talisman Gate.[13]
[edit] References
- ^ Insurgent leader arrested in Iraq, Wimmera News. March 10, 2007.
- ^ a b c d Al-Qaeda names mystery man to succeed Zarqawi. Agence France Presse. 13 June 2006.
- ^ a b Burns, John F. and Dexter Filkins. A Jihadist Web Site Says Zarqawi's Group in Iraq Has a New Leader in Place. New York Times. 13 June 2006.
- ^ a b Filkins, Dexter and John F. Burns. U.S. Portrayal Helps Flesh Out Zarqawi's Heir. New York Times. 16 June 2006.
- ^ a b Iraqi ministry: Militant leader arrested in Baghdad, CNN. March 9, 2007
- ^ a b "Captured Iraqi not al-Baghdadi", Al Jazeera, March 10, 2007.
- ^ a b "Iraq says insurgent leader dead", CNN, May 3, 2007.
- ^ a b Yates, Dean. "Senior Qaeda figure in Iraq a myth: U.S. military", Reuters, 2007-07-18, p. 1. Retrieved on 2007-07-28.
- ^ http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4980195.html
- ^ MEMRI: Latest News
- ^ Report: Al-Qaida in Iraq leader identified with photograph - International Herald Tribune
- ^ Iraqis: Abu Omar Al-Baghdadi Killed
- ^ Reuters: Senior al Qaeda leader killed in Iraq - ministry
- ^ Gen. Caldwell: Al-Qaida Senior Member Killed in Iraq
- ^ MEMRI: Latest News
