Islamic Jihad Union - Annotated Bibliography Example

 Abstract The terms like fundamentalism, terrorism, and extremism have become solely associated with Muslims and Islam. It is because every time Muslim criminals have been caught for causing a global threat through the acts of terrorism. Muslims called their acts of killing and destroying properties as Jihad, while rest of the world considered those acts as terrorist attacks, which are highly destructive in nature. Islamic Jihad Union (IJU) is a terrorist group of Sunni Muslims. This group belongs to an important part of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan; they appeared for the very first time, when suspected for two attacks in Uzbekistan. However later on, members of this group had been suspected and arrested from different parts of the world for killing innocent people and causing threat in the region. These terrorists in the name of Islam perform all killings and violent actions as an obligatory task termed as Jihad. Nevertheless, concept of jihad is disputed and there are various schools of thoughts, some of which supports concept of Jihad considering it an Islamic obligation, while others believe it as a set of violent activities, intentionally designed by Muslims to ruin Non-Muslim population of the world. There has been controversial debate about core motives of such terrorists group, who either want to kill Non-Muslims, or they wanted to targeted other specific locations or group of people in different corners of the world. In this paper, we shall examine various articles to explore the disputed aims and targets of IJU discussed by different intellectuals to provide relevant information about terrorist`s targets and aims. Secondary Sources Journal Articles: Wigen, E. (2009). Islamic Jihad Union: Al-Qaida’s Key to the Turkic World? . Norwegian Defence Research Establishment , 6-37. This research report demonstrates that the Turkish people have a little role in the global jihad. When Taliban fall off, the members of IJU separated from Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. Ultimately the aims of the new separated group sets on the peculiarity of global jihad as well as on socio-revolutionary Islamism. However, this group was initially considered to destroy their enemies in Uzbekistan and Germany (Wigen 2009). But most of their attacks have been observed in the western developed states such as, the US and UK. It has observed that this group has undergone various changes in the mid of 2001. Moreover, the French researchers Mariam Abu Zahab also confirmed that this organization has changed its name to IMU with three strongly defined aims and objectives. Their foremost aim is that to completely destroy Uzbekistan, secondly they want to broaden their network by merging it with Al-Qaida and Taliban in order, to get financial support from them and last, but not the least to destabilize rival powers of Islam present in the central Asia (Wigen 2009). However, this article highlighted that initially the aim of the organization was not to destroy Uzbekistan, but they wanted to enforce Islamic Sharia law, but when they found enemy forces in the region, they alter their aim to devastate the state. According to the Jihadi group, they are doing such acts to please their Almighty Allah, and to finish all enemies of Islam, who are brutally treating Muslims brother and sisters all over the state. Steinberg, G. (2007). A Turkish al-Qaeda: The Islamic Jihad Union and the Internationalization of Uzbek Jihadism . Center for Contemporary Conflict , 1-10. This article examined that before 2008; Turks were rarely involved in the Jihad organization. However, when in March 2008 this organization was officially appeared on Turkish website, as one Turkish terrorist was suspected for the suicide attack on American troops. Later on, it was discovered that Muslims in Germany are invite to join Jihad group in order, to fight against West. Not only German Muslims, but young Muslim males many states are attracted towards Jihad and they are trained in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Additionally, it has observed that their network gets stronger through recruitment of Turks, Kurds and Pakistani (Steinberg 2007). Abu Yahya Muhammad Fatih has explained main motive of the organization and highlighted the major aim of the organization is that to protest against the Non-Muslim western powers and also take measures against the political strategies of the US and Uzbek. Additionally, they wanted to persuade Germany to provide its base in Termez. Most interestingly, the IJU intend to establish a corporate recognition under the Turkish name as “Islami Cihad Ittehadi” (Steinberg 2007). Further information about IJU clarifies that they shape their aims, plans and activities in Pakistan. However, this article also explained that IJU separated from its original organization in Uzbekistan and transformed it into IMU with the aim of overthrowing the rule of President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov. Books: Jordan, R., and Philpot, D. (2010). Is America safe?: Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Emergency Preparedness. Plymouth: Government Institutes. This book explains various pros and cons of terrorists group and violent acts throughout the world, which have created a global threat among people and such groups, are specifically targeting the US. The authors of the book, Jordan and Philpott have highlighted that the IJU was generated as an international terrorist group in 2005. It is part of IMU, which has stood against the government of Uzbekistan, but their aim does not solely relate with the downfall of the Uzbek senate, but they also want to threaten the world with their unbeatable power. They are extremists and they wanted to mold the world with respect to their notions and beliefs (Jordan and Philpot 2010). It seems as if they want to depopulate the world, because their activities have depicted that, they simply do not aim to enforce Sharia law in the states, but they want to cause terror among people of central Asia and Europe. Their strengths are undefined and their members have spread throughout the entire Central Asia. As a great number of attacks have been observed in different parts of the world including, western authorities, thus no one can clearly describe their definite goals of enforcing Sharia law in the particular Muslim regions (Jordan and Philpot 2010). It is mainly because it does not seem accurate that they are following only one religious law of Islam and forgetting about the ethical norms and valuable lives of people, who are being victimized by their terrorists` activities. The IJU has been suspected for some major attacks in the US, which is a super power. Thus, it could be understood that these groups are highly strong and wanted to reshape world according to their own extremists` perceptions. Yohannes, G., and Menelik, I. (2010). Europe: The Future Battleground of Islamic Terrorism. Norderstedt: GRIN Verlag. Yohannes and Menelik have found in their research that Sunni extremists have been suspected and arrested for creating massive destructions at variant locations and their highly dangerous explosive bombs have taken lives of many individuals. Great number of violent acts of IJU have created global threat and has endangered people`s lives. Their aim of causing Islamic threat in different states is clearly evident from their continuous attacks in both western and eastern regions. Moreover, their hatred for western powers and unethical practices in the Muslims countries in the name of Islam have encouraged to them kill as many people as possible (Yohannes and Menelik 2010). They mainly focus to kill all those, who are either practicing incorrect Islamic approaches or other western authorities, which are turning Muslims against Islam. However, they have not clearly mentioned their motive of spreading and enforcing correct practices of Islam, apparently, they show that if they are fighting against the government of Uzbekistan. The authors further described that their actions, depict that they wanted to conquer the world and regulate it in an extremist manner (Yohannes and Menelik 2010). Their aim of conquering the world is also evident from their bond with Al-Qaida and other strong terrorist groups of the world. Primary Sources Interview Al-Almani, M. A. (2003, May 23). Islamic Jihad Union (IJU):Interview With the Mujahid Abdul Ghaffar Al-Almani. (NEFA, Interviewer) An Interview with Mujahid Abdul Gaffar Al-Almani helps us to view the aims and objectives of the organization from the perceptions of the IJU members. When he was asked about the basic objectives of their organization, he explained that their all actions and intentions aim to please their Lord Almighty Allah. They strongly believe that today people including, Muslims themselves are far away from the teachings of Islam and obligations of Allah. They do not aim to kill or hurt anyone, but they simply intend to bring people to righteous path towards Allah (Al-Almani 2003). Moreover, he explained that Allah is the creator of everything, Muslims are strongly obliged to view everything from his vision, they are blessed to be born as Muslims then why are they running from the righteous teachings of Islam and guidance of Allah? IJU wanted to realize people that there is only one God and being Muslims they are responsible to worship him and to refrain those acts, which he has prohibited in his Holy Book (Al-Almani 2003). IJU has a divine motive, but unfortunately aims and members of IJU are considered as evils and a curse for this world for violating world peace. Mohammed, U. (2010, May 13). Interview with “Umm Mohammed”, Female Mujahid with the Islamic Jihad Union in Afghanistan . (F. Point, Interviewer) Another interview with the female member of the organization highlighted the participation of women in the terrorist activities for assisting those, who are fighting against attractive evil forces of this fatal world. Umm Mohammad female Mujahid of IJU expresses that Mujahids are fighting for the noble cause of restructuring and reshaping the system of world. They wanted to enforce Islamic teachings in the entire world. They believe that those, who do not follow and worship the real and the only creator of the world, have no right to live in (Mohammed 2010). They should die because if they stay alive, they keep on getting involved in sinful activities and will face terrible reward in the world here after. Thus, IJU aims to save people from extremely heartbreaking reward on the Day of Judgment. Members of IJU are blessed to have opportunity to show righteous path to people and help them return to their real creator of life (Mohammed 2010). The main aim of the IJU is to guide people for the divine purposes and if they would not follow the teachings of Allah, they will lose right to live on this earth. BIBLIOGRAPHY Al-Almani, M. A. (2003, May 23). Islamic Jihad Union (IJU):Interview With the Mujahid Abdul Ghaffar Al-Almani. (NEFA, Interviewer) Jordan, R., and Philpot, D. (2010). Is America safe?: Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Emergency Preparedness. Plymouth: Government Institutes. Mohammed, U. (2010, May 13). Interview with “Umm Mohammed”, Female Mujahid with the Islamic Jihad Union in Afghanistan . (F. Point, Interviewer) Steinberg, G. (2007). A Turkish al-Qaeda: The Islamic Jihad Union and the Internationalization of Uzbek Jihadism . Center for Contemporary Conflict , 1-10. Wigen, E. (2009). Islamic Jihad Union: Al-Qaida’s Key to the Turkic World? . Norwegian Defence Research Establishment , 6-37. Yohannes, G., and Menelik, I. (2010). Europe: The Future Battleground of Islamic Terrorism. Norderstedt: GRIN Verlag. Read More