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2 An Uzbek struggle in name
only By J Z Adams
The Islamic Movement
of Uzbekistan (IMU) in November released on its
website, alfurqon.com, a list of its "martyrs" of
2011. The most striking aspect of the list, with
its biographies and profile photographs written in
the Cyrillic alphabet of the Uzbek language, is
that only four of the 87 martyrs were from
Uzbekistan.
The list shows how the IMU has
evolved from being a group focused on overthrowing
the "apostate" regime of Islam Karimov in
Uzbekistan in the late 1990s and early 2000s into
the global jihadi movement that it is now. Neither
the biographies nor the preface to the list focus
on Uzbekistan, and while 64 martyrs come from
Afghanistan, 10 were from Tajikistan, six from
Kyrgyzstan, with
one each from Tatarstan
(Russia), Germany and Pakistan.
Since the
IMU left its bases in northern Afghanistan and
took refuge with the Taliban in South Waziristan,
Pakistan, after the US invasion of Afghanistan in
October 2011, the composition of IMU fighters has
become so "indigenized" in Afghanistan-Pakistan
that the IMU is "Uzbek" in name only.
The
IMU's priorities are now one and the same with the
Taliban. As shown by the biographies, the IMU is
focused on expelling the US from Afghanistan and
fighting the Pakistani and Afghan armies.
Only after the US and its allies are
defeated in Afghanistan can the IMU return to its
bases in northern Afghanistan and fulfill the
goals of its leader from 2002 to 2009, Tohir
Yuldashev, who envisioned the IMU overthrowing the
Karimov regime in Uzbekistan and other Central
Asian governments in order to establish an Islamic
State in all of "Turkistan".
There are
signs of the IMU returning to northern Afghanistan
and establishing "shadow governments" with the
support of the Taliban. In addition, Karimov has
warned that the departure of US troops from
Afghanistan will bring "an increased threat of the
expansion of terrorist and extremist activities,
increased tension and confrontation" and "the
creation of a permanent source of instability" in
Uzbekistan.
The following are some
excerpts from the list of martyrs about the IMU's
focus on fighting international forces; its
continued respect for Yuldashev despite the
group's current Afghanistan-oriented strategy; the
use of madrassas (seminaries) for
recruitment; the challenges of pulling jihadis
from their families; the role of revenge against
the US in motivating IMU fighters; and the IMU's
pride for multi-ethnicism within its ranks.
The preface of the list of martyrs reads:
Focus on international forces Like
in previous years, this year Afghan members of the
community made the greatest sacrifice in order to
honor Allah's religion. 64 Afghan mujahideen
consisting of hafeez [reciters] and
talibs [students)] of the Koran engaged in
devastating attacks against US and NATO [North
Atlantic Treaty Organization] soldiers, the Afghan
National Army, and the hypocritical band of
Arbakai [Afghan local police].
Jihad operations took place in the
following provinces: Kunduz, Takhar, Baghlan,
Samangan, Badakhshan, Faryab, Sar e Pol, Kabul,
Zabul, Ghazni, Panjshir, Kapisa. This year in
Afghanistan, one helicopter was shot down and
several tanks exploded together with enemies
inside. We consider it one of our greatest
achievements that 45 Americans were killed as a
result of fidai [sacrifice - suicide]
operations in Panjshir; 35 apostate hypocrites
were killed as a result of fidai operations
in Kunduz, and 137 NATO troops were killed in the
night battle in Baghlan.
Veneration for
Yuldashev
Abbos Mansur (Osh, Kyrgyzstan):
Being ethnically Kyrgyz, this friend of ours
migrated to our center in Tajikistan in 1999, and
having acquired military training…he served as a
bodyguard to martyr Muhammad Tohir Foruq. He did
not abandon Tohir even in the martyrous jihad.
After that he continued his service as a secretary
for the Amir. For nine years he was next to our
mentor martyr Muhammad Tohir Foruq and became his
favorite trainee and friend…When his son was born,
he named him Muhammad Tohir.
Umar (Tajikistan, Yazqilom):
Umar was one of the students at our
madrassa. He spent his childhood and
younger years in jihad. He was raised under the
ideas of Muhammad Tohir "Foruq". Last year he was
sent to Afghanistan where he sacrificed his young
soul to Allah.
Madrassas as main avenue
for recruitment
Qori Mirojiddin "Muoz" (Baghlan,
Afghanistan): He was studying the Koran in the
madrassas in Khoja District of Takhor Province.
When the battle against the hypocrites and the
apostates flourished in his region, he considered
it a shame not to help his Muslim brothers. He
immediately joined the mujahideen. When the
hypocritical Afghan army troops became stronger,
and the region was taken over by a pro-American
government, together with mujahideen Mirojiddin
moved to Baghlan province. His sacrifice was
destined to be in the Burka district of Baghlan
province. May Allah bless this martyr friend of
ours.
Ammor(Afghanistan, Saripul):
Ammor comes from the Arab population living in
Afghanistan. Although he was born in Saripul, he
received his education in a madrassa located in
Kunduz. This is where he became interested in
jihad. He took part in jihad activities and
received military training at an IMU base. After
completing his training he was sent to Saripul
where soon after he was killed in a fight against
infidels. His death had a huge impact on his
relatives and friends and many of them decided to
join the jihad. During the next fights they
succeeded in destroying an American "Chinook"
helicopter.
Qori Bashir "Mus'ab"(Afghanistan, Baghlan): Qori Bashir was born
in 1987 in Burka. During his childhood years he
went through an orphan's school lifestyle. In
2004, at the age 17 he was accepted to "dorul
huffoz" (a madrassa meaning "Abode of
Recitation"). He started learning Sharia. Despite
his weak physical state and proneness to illness
he joined the jihad movement. Few months
afterwards he sacrificed himself to Allah.
Shoh Masud "Talha" (Afghanistan,
Baghlan): Shoh Masud also comes from Burka. He was
a regular student at a madrassa. With his love and
dedication to jihad he joined the Movement.
However due to his young age he was not accepted
for a while. At the end he achieved his goal. He
joined the Movement, participated in jihad, and
became a martyr.
Mullo Fayzulloh "Muttaqiy"(Afghanistan, Baghan): Mullo Fayzullo from
Burka was famous for his name "Muttaqiy" and spent
most of his life in madrassas. It was a short time
before he was about to finish the required studies
and start wearing a white turban, but it did not
happen .... He sacrificed himself in the name of
the war against Islam's enemies.
Qori Abdul Hamid(Uzbekistan,
Mingbulak): Abdul Hamid also was raised in our
madrassa. At 17 he became a Koran hofiz
[reciter]. Before that he learned to use weapons
and took part in jihad because in our Movement
young men start when they are 15-16 years old ...
Breaking the ties of family
Shamsur Rahmon "Yusuf"(Afghanistan, Tahor): Shamsur Rahmon was born
in Tahor. He joined the Movement in the winter. As
usually happens, his parents tried to convince him
to go back home, however they did not succeed.
Soon after he gave his soul to Allah.
Qori Yunus (Abdul Basir)
(Afghanistan, Baghlan): Qori Yunus comes form
Burka …Together with his dedicated fellows he
participated in a historical fight in Panjshir.
They destroyed the peaceful and quiet place where
the invaders were residing and turned it into
ruins and a cemetery. It is also worth mentioning
that two months prior to the fight in Panjshir,
Qori Yunus was engaged to a girl. But due to
Allah's will this was not a priority anymore. Let
the number of brave martyrs like Abdul Basir
multiply! Amen!
Najmon "Muhojir sohib"
(Afghanistan, Baghlan): Najmon comes from Kunduz
province's Khanabad area. His father was a
well-educated person and during the invasion by
the Soviets he served as a doctor. He also was a
mentor to Najmon. He had a family and children ...
However, he had a strong desire to serve Islam and
Muslims. This led to his decision to join the
Movement. He regularly supplied the movement with
weapons. His hotel (guesthouse) was always full of
jihad fellows. At 30 he sacrificed himself to the
Allah, Inshallah.
Muhammad Aliy (Afghanistan,
Baghlan): Muhammad Aliy was from Baghlan. Despite
the fact that he was recently married he dedicated
himself to the Movement and sacrificed himself as
a martyr.
Abdul Alim Aka (Kyrgyzstan,
O'sh): Abdul Alim Aka had been with our Movement
for 6 years. He was originally from Kyrgyzstan. He
participated in jihad in Pakistan. He was recently
married. Soon after he was killed his child was
born. He did not get to see his child. He never
said no and was always ready to fight wherever he
was sent to. His destiny was in the north of
Afghanistan. He fought bravely together with his
comrades and "welcomed" foreign "guests." As a
result, 22 foreign soldiers were killed.
Nurulloh Fidoiy(Kyrgyzstan,
O'sh): Nurulloh was waiting for his destiny for
two years…. He left a wife who refused to join the
Movement and took his own three sons to join the
jihad. You can call him a real father. Because
most fathers do not care about their children,
these other fathers commit to jihad and leave
their children behind. He sent two of his children
to a madrassa while he served other comrades as a
breadmaker. Yes, not many people are destined to
the task like that. And not many people can handle
this task.
Husayn (Tajikistan,
Kurgantepa): Husayn was a student at a madrassa.
He joined jihad and fought in Pakistan. He was
imprisoned for two years and after he was released
he was assigned to Muhammad Tohir Foruq ‘s troops.
Later on, Husayn's father tried to take him back
to his "motherland". That is when Tohir let Husayn
decide whether to stay in jihad or to return home
to his parents.
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