In 2006, the Ethiopian army took the Islamic Courts Union out of power in Somalia. That was a group trying to exert strict Sharia law in Somalia (and into neighboring countries). An remnant called Al Shabaab (The Youth) survived and now has control of parts of Somalia, imposing a Taliban-like society. They have declared war on the UN, relief workers, other African governments and anybody not sufficiently Islamic to their standard, and are not above using Al-Qaeda-like tactics. The US State Department designates Al Shabaab as a terrorist organization and therefore illegal to support. A seemingly distant situation from America's Finest City, but there is a connection.
This week, the redundantly named Mohamed Mohamed Mohamud appeared in court to face
charges of collecting and sending $9,000 to Al Shabaab. Imam of a local Masjid (near El Cajon Blvd a little east of the 15), Mohamud is a leading figure in the local Somali community. Two other local Somali immigrants were also charged. They pleaded not guilty, and what happens with the case remains to be seen. But Al Shabaab does offer an interesting example of the conflagration that religious fervor can inspire.
Thanks are in order for the background provided here on the political situation in Somalia. At this point, (Nov. 19th) four Somalis living in California are thought to have been involved in supporting the armed fighting in Somali, including a 24-year-old San Diego woman named Nima Ali Yusuf, who, according to SignOnSanDiego, was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 12 "on charges of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to provide material support to al-Shabaab and lying to a government agency investigating a terrorist matter."
ReplyDeleteReaders familiar with the life and writings of Ayaan Hirsi Alí, who was born in Somalia, may know that her father was active in anti-government campaigns there, first against a Soviet-supported dictator, and later, in favor of the establishment of an Islamic state and the imposition of Sharia law.
For her part, Ayaan fled from an arranged marriage to Europe, graduated from college in Holland, and became an interpreter and defender of Muslim women suffering from abuses due to their religion. She even became a member of the Dutch Parliament, but was forced to flee the country due to death threats from Islamists. She now lives in the U.S.
Those interested in understanding the Somali and Muslim mindset, or the differences between the enlightened societies of Europe and North America as they are contrasted to Muslim societies, should read her memoir, "Infidel," or her more recent release, "Nomad."