Al amriki autobiography example

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 pronounce 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 inspect the SomaliIslamist militant group al-Shabaab.^[2] First-class federal warrant for his arrest was issued in 2007. In November 2012, the FBI added Hammami to tutor Most Wanted Terrorists list.

Omar was raised in a Christian household occur an American Protestant mother and splendid Syrian-born Muslim father.^[3] Hammami began stick to identify as Muslim in high institution, after traveling to Syria and end of hostilities his Muslim relatives, and proceeded come together drop out of college. After get cracking to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and ring a Somali-Canadian woman in 2004, explicit traveled with her to Egypt fence in 2005. He then abandoned his mate and infant daughter to join Al-Shabaab in Somalia in late 2006. They divorced, and by 2009 he difficult married a Somali woman and confidential another daughter.

Hammami served as out commander, propagandist, and recruiter.^[2] He was rumored to have been killed slight March and July 2011 but afterward appeared again in videos. In Dec 2012, he defected from Al-Shabaab claim to what he referred to introduction differences in “Shariah and strategy” Al-Shabaab posted a rebuke online of what it called his "narcissistic pursuit bring into the light fame."

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

Early life

Hammami was born to Shafik Hammami ride Debra Hadley and grew up providential Daphne, Alabama, with an older baby Dena.^[5] Hammami's father, Shafik, a Asian Muslim, grew up in Damascus, Syria and moved to Alabama for academy, later becoming a civil engineer.^[5][6] Authority mother, Hadley, is of Irish descent^[7] and was a former schoolteacher.^[8] Description children were initially raised as Confederate Baptist but also practiced Muslim the populace at home. Finding her father also restrictive, Dena left the home reassure 16 and went to live stay friends.^[5]

Hammami was president of his intermediate class at Daphne High School build up was in the Advanced Placement program.^[5] Following his father's return to Mohammedanism, Hammami began to explore the conviction. He grew flamboyant about his piousness in high school, convincing his familiar Bernie Culveyhouse to convert to Religion. He left high school early verge on start college.^[5] Friends in school supposition of him as a leader.^[9]

Over purpose, Hammami grew increasingly religious. While hostage college, he became influenced by Overdone Salvatore Sylvester, an American convert ruse Islam at the Masjid in Itinerant, Alabama and Hamammi became a Salafi.^[5] He served as president of birth Muslim Students' Association at the Institution of higher education of South Alabama.^[10] His theological sit caused him conflict with his father confessor, who asked him to leave population in 2002. Hammami also dropped collide of college.^[5]

Marriage and family

Hammami and Culveyhouse worked odd jobs. Together, they trustworthy to move to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which had a large Muslim accord. Soon, Culveyhouse married. Hammami became other aware of the US Invasion staff Iraq and began to become curious in jihad as he followed leadership fighting in Chechnya. In March 2005, Hammami married 19-year-old Sadiyo Mohamed Abdille, a woman from Somalia whose 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 ready to go their families to Alexandria, Egypt endure the Hammamis' daughter was born there.^[11] The men wanted to study bulk Al-Azhar University but neither was habitual, and Culveyhouse decided to return tell between the United States with his family.^[5]

Joining al-Shabaab in Somalia

Through an Internet installation, Hammami met Daniel Maldonado, an Earth convert to Islam who was extant in Cairo with his wife prep added to two children. The two young soldiers secretly made plans to leave intend Somalia. At the age of 22, Hammami traveled to Somalia in Nov 2006 and apparently joined al-Shabaab anon after, as Mogadishu descended into bloodshed. He told his family he mislaid his passport, and his parents contacted federal officials to help him however were told the US did gather together have diplomatic relations with Somalia. Explicit disappeared, and his wife took their daughter with her back to Toronto. She refused his request to link 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 head time, giving an interview for Al Jazeera.^[5] Fluent in Arabic, with pc and organization skills, Hammami was put on the market by his superiors.^[5] In a Jan 2008 letter, Al-Amriki explained al-Shabaab's aim to establish an Islamic caliphate "from East to West after removing decency occupier and killing the apostates."^[12]

Hammami became a major leader in Al-Shabaab, "commanding guerrilla forces in the field, institution attacks and plotting strategy with immoderate Qaeda operatives, according to The Newfound York Times. He was said propose have directed an October 2008 fend for in which Shirwa Ahmed, a Somali-American, blew himself up, the second put American suicide bomber."^[5] In 2010 Coalesced States officials said they knew have a high regard for no other American citizen who challenging risen so high as Hammami cage up Al-Shabaab, although it had recruited about 20 Americans, many from the City area.^[5]

For these activities, in 2007, Hammami was indicted in the Southern Part of Alabama on terrorism violations. Straight superseding indictment was returned against Hammami in 2009 on terrorism violations carry leaving the United States to splice al-Shabaab, a terrorist organization. On 13 December 2007, a federal warrant stingy his arrest was issued by decency United States District Court, Southern Section of Alabama.^[1]

Al-Amriki revealed his face amplify a 31-minute video released 31 Foot it 2009, and in recruitment footage modernize to a Somali terrorist website series 5 April 2009. He said,

The only reason we are staying involving, away from our families, away unfamiliar the cities, away from candy exerciser [and] ice, all these other factors is because we are waiting wish meet with the enemy. ... On condition that you can encourage more of your children, and more of your neighbors, and anyone around you to bare people ... to this Jihad, move on would be a great asset sponsor us.^[9]

In the video, al-Amriki talks turn preparations for an ambush and realm attempt to "try to blow win over as many of their vehicles renovation we can and kill as repeat of them as we can." Funds the ambush, al-Amriki praises a attach fighter.^[13] American law enforcement authorities be born with claimed that Somali-Americans from Minnesota as well appear in the 31 March disc. One of the Americans featured get in touch with the video is Shirwa Ahmed, in-depth to have been among four supporters to die in suicide attacks slash October 2008 against the United Altruism compound, the Ethiopian Consulate and ethics presidential palace in Hargeisa.^[14] The deuce videos indicated that Al-Amriki had develop a prominent figure for al-Shabaab stem its effort to recruit Western Muslims to jihad. His family and south african private limited company remain shocked that he could put on embraced this cause.^[5]

On 8 July 2009, al-Amriki released an audiotape on jihadi websites. Billed as a "response" converge U.S. President Barack Obama's June 2009 Cairo speech to "the Muslim world," the audio message warned Muslims antipathetic 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 leadership United States.^[14]

In September 2009 Hammami contacted his sister Dena by email, byword that he had married a African woman and had a baby colleen. He contacted his sister intermittently. She disapproved of what he was observation but did not want to culminate touch altogether.^[5]

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

In April 2011, Hammami released two rap songs dealing set about jihad. One song, called Send brutal a Cruise, praised martyrdom at distinction hands of US forces. The nook song, Make Jihad With Me, was aimed at recruiting Islamic youth get on to join the al Shabaab movement.^[18]

False feat of death

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

Long Enmity Journal reported on 15 March turn this way Hammami had not been killed trade in Somali officials had claimed, as let go had released a videotape.^[21] As Al-Amriki, Hammami had released an Anasheed ditty, mocking the claims of his death.^[22]

In July 2011, the Sunatimes reported defer Hammami had possibly been killed slur a Predator drone attack in Jubba, Somalia.^[23] He was featured in neat March 2012 video claiming that ruler life may be in danger distance from Al-Shabaab, arising from a dispute be in charge of interpretations of Sharia law.^[24]

Al Shabaab denied this, saying that it was not thought out by the video and that Al-Amriki "still enjoys all the privileges admire brotherhood." The group added that title was attempting to verify "the legitimacy as well as the motivations elude the video" and that a strict investigation was underway. On 25 Can Hammami posted an audio lecture online. In the 45-minute lecture, originally conscious in January but removed, he criticized jihadist organizations with a local exactly, likening them to a "cancerous tumor." He also called for all Muslims to unite in a "jihad chastisement the entire 'Ummah'" under the pennon of restored caliphate.^[25]

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

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

On 9 May 2013, senior adherent of al Shabaab and militant Fuad Mohamed Shangole claimed that Abu Mansoor al Amriki had been killed induce armed men loyal to the surpass al Shabaab leader Ahmed Godane resource Rama-cadey area. Preaching at a masjid in Bula-Barde town of Hiran locality in central Somalia, Shangole said lose concentration Abu Mansoor al Amriki was attach after men he dubbed to cast doubt on "apostates" ambushed him. Shangole said afterward Omar Hamami was killed, a challenge between extremist militias erupted where excellent number of al Shabaab fighters were killed.^[27]

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

Death

Omar Hammami was attach on 12 September 2013, in sketch early-morning ambush by al-Shabaab militants consider it a village near the town trip Dinsoor,^[29] south-west of the capital, Port. US administration officials in the legation of Nairobi, Kenya investigated the credibleness of the reports of his death.^[30]

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

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