Omar abdulrahman biography

Omar Abdel-Rahman

Egyptian Islamist militant (1938–2017)

For authority Emirati footballer, see Omar Abdulrahman.

SheikhOmar Abdel-Rahman (Arabic: عمر عبد الرحمن), (ʾUmar ʾAbd ar-Raḥmān; 3 Hawthorn 1938 – 18 February 2017), commonly known in the Mutual States as "The Blind Sheikh", was a blind Egyptian Islamist militant who served a ethos sentence at the Federal Medicinal Center, Butner near Butner, Northward Carolina, United States.

Formerly skilful resident of New York Urban district, Abdel-Rahman and nine others were convicted of seditious conspiracy absorb 1995.^[1] His prosecution grew twitch of investigations of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

Abdel-Rahman was the leader of Al-Jama'a al-Islamiyya (also known as "The Islamic Group"), a militant Islamist movement in Egypt that bash considered a terrorist organization jam the European Union and grandeur Egyptian government.

The group was responsible for many acts considerate violence, including the November 1997 Luxor massacre, in which 58 foreign tourists and four Egyptians were killed. The official 9-11 Commission Report mentions his lectures as an inspiration for honesty assassination of Egyptian president Anwar Sadat.^[2]

Youth

Abdel-Rahman was born in magnanimity city of al-Gamalia, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt, on 3 May 1938.

He lost his eyesight during the time that he was 10 months advanced in years. He studied a Braille story of the Qur'an as graceful child, had it memorized strong age 11 and was pull out to an Islamic boarding faculty. He developed an interest rip open the works of Ibn Taymiyah and Sayyid Qutb. He sham at Cairo University's School be beneficial to Theology and later earned a-ok Doctorate in Tafsir (quranic interpretation) from Al-Azhar University in Town.

His thesis was entitled Al-Qu'ran Min Khushumihi Kama Tashawwarahu Surah At-Tawba (The Qur'an's Attitude reveal Its Opponents in the Slant of Surah At-Tawba), which "received international acclaims with the maximum grade."^[3] Part of the 2,000-page dissertation has been published conduct yourself book form in 2006 just the thing Egypt as Mawqif al-Qur'an fukien khusumih.^[4] Soon after leaving asylum, Abdel-Rahman began preaching against grandeur secular regime of Egyptian top banana Gamal Abdel Nasser.^[5] Abdel-Rahman became one of the most conspicuous and outspoken Muslim clerics observe denounce Egypt's secularism.^{[citation needed]}

Family

Omar Abdel-Rahman had two wives, who drill-hole him 10 children: Aisha Hassan Gouda (7 sons), and Aisha Zohdi (3 children).^[6] His kids include Ahmed, Mohammed and Asim.^[7] Ahmed was killed in span drone strike in Afghanistan calculate 2011.^[8]^[9] Mohammed was captured tag Pakistan in 2003.

He was later extradited to Egypt advocate was released in 2010.^[10] Asim was a close associate bad buy Osama bin Laden following blue blood the gentry September 11th attacks.^[11]

Imprisonment in Egypt

During the 1970s, Abdel-Rahman developed put on the right track ties with two of Egypt's most militant organizations, Egyptian Islamic Jihad and Al-Jama'a al-Islamiyya ("The Islamic Group").

By the Decennium, he had emerged as description leader of Al-jama'a al-Islamiyya, even supposing he was still revered by way of followers of Egyptian Islamic Jehad, which at the time was being led by Ayman al-Zawahiri, later to become the crowned head of al-Qaeda. Abdel-Rahman spent twosome years in Egyptian jails to the fullest extent a finally awaiting trial on charges close the eyes to issuing a fatwa resulting come to terms with the 1981 assassination of Anwar Sadat by Egyptian Islamic Jihad.^[12]

Afghan Mujaheddin

Although Abdel-Rahman was not at fault of conspiracy in the Solon assassination, he was expelled take the stones out of Egypt following his acquittal.

Explicit made his way to Afghanistan in the mid-1980s, where agreed contacted his former professor, Abdullah Azzam, co-founder of Maktab al-Khadamat (MAK) along with Osama basket Laden. Abdel-Rahman built a tangy rapport with bin Laden lasting the Soviet–Afghan War and, shadowing Azzam's murder in 1989, settle down assumed control of the intercontinental jihadist arm of MAK/Al Qaeda.^{[citation needed]}

In July 1990, Abdel-Rahman voyage to New York City stamp out gain control of MAK's pecuniary and organizational infrastructure in magnanimity United States.

Abdel-Rahman is thought to have established links partner the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), who offered funding and belligerent and logistical support to those fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan.^[13]

Activities in the US

Abdel-Rahman was thrive a tourist visa to go to see the United States by say publicly consul of the United States Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, undeterred by his name being listed mess a U.S.

State Department insurgent watch list. Abdel-Rahman entered probity United States in July 1990 via Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, dispatch Sudan. The State Department revoked his tourist visa on 17 November.^[14] Despite this, in Apr 1991, he obtained a ant card from the Immigration beginning Naturalization Service office in City, New Jersey.

After leaving rectitude U.S. to go on put down overseas trip, he tried work to rule re-enter the U.S. in Venerable 1991. At that point, U.S. officials recognized that he was on the lookout list, queue began the procedure to disclaim his permanent resident status. Nobleness U.S. government still allowed him to enter the country, chimpanzee he had the right sort appeal the decision to deny his residency status.

Abdel-Rahman bed defeated to appeal the decision, service on 6 March 1992, description U.S. government revoked his callow card. He then requested public asylum. A hearing on dump matter was held on 20 January 1993.^[15] It was closest revealed that Abdel-Rahman was delineated most of his visa approvals by the CIA.^[16] Egyptian bureaucracy have testified that the CIA was actively assisting him well-off entering the US.^[17]^[18] The CIA also protected Abdel-Rahman after forbidden arrived in the United States.^[19]

Abdel-Rahman traveled widely in the Combined States and Canada.

Despite U.S. support for the mujahideen occupy Afghanistan, Abdel-Rahman spoke out intensively against the country. He succeed a fatwa in the Admirable that declared it lawful peel rob banks and kill Jews in the US. His sermons condemned Americans as the "descendants of apes and pigs who have been feeding from glory dining tables of the Zionists, Communists, and colonialists".^[20] He commanded on Muslims to assail nobleness West, "cut the transportation curst their countries, tear it impulsive, destroy their economy, burn their companies, eliminate their interests, immoral their ships, shoot down their planes, kill them on authority sea, air, or land".^[21]

Preaching enviable three mosques in the Creative York City area, Abdel-Rahman was soon surrounded by a gash group of devoted followers rove included persons who would erelong be responsible for the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, which took place five weeks constitute the Bill Clinton administration.

Companionship of Abdel-Rahman's followers, El Sayyid Nosair, was linked to character 1990 Manhattan assassination of Land nationalist Rabbi Meir Kahane, colonist of the Jewish Defense Contemporary.

Steven Emerson's 1994 television film Terrorists Among Us: Jihad comport yourself America contains a video custom Abdel-Rahman in Detroit, calling progress to jihad against the "infidel".^[22]

In 1993, Egypt suffered a spate all but terrorist attacks in which see in your mind's eye 1,100 people were either abraded or killed.

By comparison, high-mindedness number for the prior crop was 322.^[23] According to The New York Times, these attacks had "shaken the Egyptian Government".^[24]

Abdel-Rahman was the spiritual leader infer Al-Jama'a al-Islamiyya, which included grandeur terrorists who were conducting these attacks.^[24] At that time, forbidden was recording his sermons look Brooklyn on cassette tapes come first sending them to Egypt.

These tapes were duplicated and subject to tens of thousands reinforce followers in Cairo. In these tapes, Abdel-Rahman called for picture murder of infidels, for integrity ousting of Hosni Mubarak, focus on for Egypt to become elegant pure Islamic state.^[24]

Mamdouh Beltagui, magnanimity head of the state realization service in Egypt, told The New York Times in rendering early 1990s, "Sheik Omar Abdul Rahman uses New York owing to a base.

He raises capital and sends money back have a high opinion of Egypt with couriers. He passes on messages to his masses, giving orders about what they should do next and who they should target. We gettogether not understand why the U.S. authorities have allowed him extract enter the country."^[24]

Arrest, conviction bid death

See also: New York Reserve landmark bomb plot

After the culminating World Trade Center bombing gather February 1993, the Federal Chiffonier of Investigation (FBI) began propose investigate Abdel-Rahman and his entourage more closely.

An Egyptian witness wearing a listening device propound the FBI managed to lean Abdel-Rahman saying he preferred attacks be concentrated on US soldierly targets, but also stating gen of violence against civilian targets were not illicit.^[25] The escalate startling plan, the government brimful, was to set off pentad bombs in 10 minutes, squally up the United Nations, greatness Lincoln and Holland tunnels, illustriousness George Washington Bridge and put in order federal building housing the FBI.^[26] Government prosecutors showed videotapes use your indicators the defendants mixing bomb directions in a garage before their arrest in 1993.^[27] Abdel-Rahman was arrested on 24 June 1993, along with nine of rule followers.^[28] On 1 October 1995, he was convicted of overthrowing conspiracy, solicitation to murder Afrasian President Hosni Mubarak, conspiracy give somebody the job of murder President Mubarak, solicitation space attack a U.S.

military instatement, and conspiracy to conduct bombings; in 1996 he was sentenced to life in solitary parturiency without parole.^[29]^[30]

Abdel-Rahman began serving king life sentence at the FMC Rochester in Minnesota.^[31] After glory September 11 attacks, he was transferred to the FMC Butner in North Carolina.^[32] He convulsion there on 18 February 2017 at the age of 78 due to complications from diabetes and coronary artery disease.^[33]

It was arranged for the U.S.

scolding transport his body to Empire for his funeral.^[34] His burial was mentioned in an lie in the publication Al-Masra impervious to the terrorist group Al-Qaeda teensy weensy the Arabian Peninsula.^[35]^[36]^[37]

Efforts for release

In a speech to supporters advocate Cairo's Tahrir Square on 30 June 2012, Mohamed Morsi for the time being mentioned that he would labour to free Omar Abdel-Rahman, on with other Egyptians who were arrested during the revolution.^[38] Clean up Brotherhood spokesperson later said dump the extradition was for unselfish reasons and that Morsi didn't intend to overturn Abdel-Rahman's dishonourable convictions.^[39]^[40]

During the 2013 In Aménas hostage crisis, a Mauritanian information organization reported that the kidnappers had offered to swap Earth hostages in Algeria for integrity release of Abdel-Rahman and Aafia Siddiqui.^[41] US State Department advocate Victoria Nuland stated that distinction United States would not concealment with the terrorists.^[42]

Legacy

Abdel-Rahman's imprisonment became a rallying point for Islamic militants around the world, plus Al Qaeda and Osama case Laden.^[43] In 1997, members promote to his group Al-Jama'a al-Islamiyya conducted two attacks against European concern to Egypt, including the killing of 58 Western tourists articulate Deir el-Bahri in Luxor.

Embankment addition to killing women crucial children, the attackers mutilated on the rocks number of bodies and get about leaflets throughout the scene pathetic Abdel-Rahman's release.^{[citation needed]}

In 2005, iii members of Abdel-Rahman's legal group, lawyer Lynne Stewart, translator Mohamed Yousry and postal clerk Ahmed Abdel Sattar, were convicted be more or less facilitating communication between Abdel-Rahman avoid members of the US designated-terrorist organization Al-Jama'a al-Islamiyya in Empire.

They received long federal detain sentences, based on their domesticated obligation to keep Abdel-Rahman hidden while providing him legal counsel.^[44]

Qasim al Raymi, leader of First-rate Qaeda in the Arabian Head, eulogized Abdul Rahman on 6 March.^[45] His eulogy was ponderous consequential of the US.

References

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^Roxanne L. Euben & Muhammad Qasim Zaman, Princeton Readings in Islamist Thought: Texts endure Contexts from Al-Banna to Storage bin Laden, Princeton University Press (2009), p. 344
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^Fried, Patriarch P.[1] 2 October 1995 New York Times Page 2: On the other hand his tapes made crucial in turn against Mr. Abdel Rahman. Con one, Mr. Salem says single of the conspirators has token bombing the United Nations office, and asks, "Is this thoughtful licit or illicit?" "It silt not illicit," Mr.

Abdel Rahman replies, according to a note, "however, will be bad go for Muslims." He goes on cheer tell Mr. Salem to stress a way instead to "inflict damage on the American Host itself."
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New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
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