September 14, 2012: Abu Iyadh al-Tunisi, the leader of Ansar al-Shariah (AST), organized riots and looting targeting the U.S. Embassy and a nearby American school in Tunis following an attack on the embassy in Benghazi (4 killed, 29 wounded). [1][2]
Last Attack
July 16, 2014: Militants used rifles and grenades to attack Tunisian soldiers at military checkpoints near the Tunisian border with Algeria (14 killed, unknown wounded). [3]
Updated
August 24, 2016
Narrative Summary
Ansar
al-Shariah in Tunisia (AST) is a Salafi-Jihadist militant organization
established in 2011 that combines community service, proselytization, and
violence to promote its Salafi ideology and goals in Tunisia. The group aims to establish Shariah law in
Tunisia and promotes the idea of global jihad. AST should not be confused with
the Ansar al-Shariah organizations operating in Libya, Yemen and Egypt as none
are formally affiliated. However, AST
and Ansar al-Shariah in Libya (ASL) do reportedly share operational, financial,
and logistical links. [4][5][6][7][8]
Plans
to create AST began in 2006 in a Tunisian prison, when future leader Abu Iyadh
al-Tunisi conceptualized the organization with twenty other Islamist prisoners.
After the Tunisian revolution in 2011, the prisoners were freed and began to
build the group that would become AST; the group officially became active in
April 2011. AST had support from Shaikh
Khattab Idriss, one of the most influential Salafi clerics in Tunisia and began
meeting with the powerful political party al-Nahda. (The two later grew apart when al-Nahda came
to power in the government and its connection to AST became a liability, as AST
began to adopt more violent tactics.) [9]
AST quickly established a public relations system, creating a Facebook page and
the “al-Qayrawan Media Foundation” that helped it grow to a reported
40,000-50,000 members by 2012. [10][11]
AST’s
flexible membership system has bolstered the group’s recruitment. Individuals can commit themselves to AST’s
mission in a variety of ways, from joining military operations to teaching
religion classes in their communities. Those who wish to fight can do so on
behalf of the organization, although most who choose violence go abroad to
practice it. For example, many members left Tunisia to participate in militant
training camps in Libya and subsequently joined the Syrian Civil War. Several
thousand have reportedly fought in Syria, and about 400 of those have returned
to Tunisia. [12]
However, for most of its tens of thousands of members, membership in the group means
promoting its ideology through lectures, charity, and publications that it
passes out in markets and puts online. According to AST leader Tunisi, the
group is organized around the idea that “Tunisia is a land of dawa (charity in
the name of Islam) not a land of jihad.” The emphasis on dawa is meant to
attract other Tunisians to AST’s Salafi brand of Sunni Islam. [13]
Despite
its public appearance of charitable activities, AST does engage in violent
activities in Tunisia. While the group has never claimed credit for its
attacks, the Tunisian government and the media have implicated the group in
multiple suicide bombings, small arms attacks and kidnappings. Most infamously,
the Tunisian government claimed Abu Iyadh al-Tunisi orchestrated the rioting
and attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Tunis on September 14, 2012, which killed 2
and wounded 29 and followed the riots at the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi. U.S. government reports confirmed that AST
was involved in the attack. [14][15]
Later, the Tunisian government also blamed AST for the assassination of two
Tunisian politicians and subsequently designated the group as a terrorist
organization in August 2013. [16]
Following
this designation, the Tunisian government cracked down on both the
organization’s dawa activities and purported terrorist operations. Tunisi went
into hiding and AST shifted from highly publicized dawa events and limited
social media publications to religious quotes, declarations of solidarity with
other Salafis around the world, and calls for patience. [17][18]
AST also released a statement after the designation, declaring that it was
loyal to Al Qaeda. [19]
In
order to avoid the Tunisian military, in 2013 Tunisi fled to Libya, where he
made a call for reconciliation and cooperation amongst jihadist groups
throughout North Africa, in particular advising that the Islamic State (IS)
agree to mediation with other groups, while also declaring support for ISIS.
[20][21]
In May 2013, AST made an announcement that Jabhat Fatah al Sham (the group
former known as Al-Nusra), AST, AQ, IS and the mujahedeen of Libya and Mali
will stand united against enemies. It is
unclear why this announcement was made, as the AQ and IS forces were fighting
each other at the time. [22]
In
2014, AST targeted the Tunisian government and military in its attacks and
developed its relationship with IS.
Further, AST leader Kanel Zarrouk pledged allegiance to IS and joined
the Syrian civil war. [23] In July 2014, AST’s
spokesman, Seifeddine Rais, swore loyalty to IS. It is unclear whether or not he spoke on behalf
of AST or solely himself. Following his
pledge, a number of AST leaders left to fight in Syria and dedicated themselves
to IS. Although AST has backed IS on
social media in past years, the extent of their connection to the group is
unknown. [24][25][26]
In
August 2014, Ansar al-Shariah in Tunisia began to operate additionally under
the name of Shabab al-Tawhid, reportedly to conceal its actions from the
Tunisian government and media. However,
the media still refers to the group as Ansar al-Shariah in Tunisia. [27] After July 2014, AST ceased appearing in the
media, although it is unclear whether this is because it halted operations or
if group is operating secretly. Tunisi
was killed by an airstrike in Libya in June 2015. [28]
Leadership
Sami Ben Khemais Essid (Unknown to Unknown): Essid is a senior leader in AST. He fought in Afghanistan for two years and trained as a recruiter for AQ before the U.S. identified him as the head of AQ operations in Italy, where he plotted an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Rome. He was sentenced in an Italian court and was deported to Tunisia in 2008, but was subsequently freed from prison after the Tunisian revolution in 2011. [29]
Mehdi Kammoun (Unknown to Unknown): Kammoun is another senior leader in AST who was identified as an AQ operative in Italy along with Essid. He had previously been a member of the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), which later became Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). After being convicted and sentenced for organizing an Al Qaeda cell in Italy, he served part of his sentence in Tunisia before being freed from prison after the Tunisian uprising. [30]
Seifeddine Rais (Unknown to Present): Rais is the spokesman for AST. He declared loyalty to the Islamic State (IS) on July 8, 2014. [31]
Shaikh Khattab Idriss, also spelled al-Khatib al-Idrissi (Unknown to Present): Idriss is one of the most influential Salafi clerics in Tunisia. There are conflicting reports on his position in the group and if he has one at all. At the very least, he has advertised for the group and appeared at events, and certainly serves as a spiritual inspiration for the organization. [32]
Kamel Zarrouk (Unknown to 2014): An important leader in AST, sometimes called the group’s second-in-command, Zarrouk was pursued by the Tunisian government before reportedly traveling to Syria to fight alongside IS in 2014. [33]
Seifallah Ben Hussein, more commonly known as Abu Iyadh al-Tunisi (2011 to June 2015): Tunisi trained and fought in Afghanistan in the late 1980s and became a top AQ lieutenant by 2001. After escaping Tora Bora with Osama bin Laden, he was arrested in Turkey and extradited to his home country of Tunisia, where he was imprisoned. He was released in an amnesty following the 2011 revolution in the country and immediately formed Ansar al-Shariah in Tunisia (AST). Following the Tunisian terrorist designation of AST, he went into hiding in Libya. He was reportedly killed in an airstrike in Libya in June 2015. [34]
Ideology & Goals
Ansar
al-Shariah in Tunisia (AST) is a Salafi-Jihadist militant organization that
aims to establish Shariah law in Tunisia and promote global jihad. [35]
The group has close ties to Shaikh Khattab Idris, one of the most influential
Salafi clerics in Tunisia. [36]
Name Changes
Ansar
al-Shariah in Tunisia reportedly began to operate additionally under the name
of Shabab al-Tawhid, following its Tunisian terrorist designation in August
2014 in an effort to conceal its actions.
The media still refers to the group as Ansar al-Shariah in Tunisia.
[37]
In August 2012, Tunisia declared Ansar al-Shariah a terrorist organization. [41] In January 2014, The U.S. State Department declared Ansar al-Shariah a terrorist organization, and named Abu Lyadh a terrorist. [42]
Tunisia list of designated terrorist organizations: August 2013 to Present
U.S. State Department Foreign Terrorist Organizations: January 10, 2014 to Present
UNSC ISIL (Da'esh) & Al-Qaida Sanctions List: September 23, 2014 to Present
Resources
Ansar
al-Shariah in Tunisia (AST) is funded by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
(AQIM), by smuggled goods and by private Tunisian donors. [43] Some analysts suggest that there is evidence
of Saudi and Kuwaiti funding, although the proof for such connections is vague.
[44]
External Influences
Some
analysts suggest that there is evidence of Saudi and Kuwaiti funding for Ansar
al-Shariah in Tunisia, although the proof for such connections is vague.
[45]
Geographical Locations
Ansar
al-Shariah in Tunisia is active across Tunisia.
The group has carried out attacks in Sousse, Sidi Bou Zid and Tripoli
and organized community outreach campaigns in Tunis, Sousse, Sidi Bouzid,
al-Qayrawan, and Bizerte. After the
designation of AST as a terrorist group by the Tunisian government in August
2014, Abu Iyadh al-Tunisi went into hiding but continued to direct the
organization from Benghazi and Tripoli, Libya until his death in June 2015.
[46]
Targets & Tactics
Ansar
al-Shariah in Tunisia’s (AST) employs tactics of provision of education and
charitable works in order to maintain positive relationships within Tunisian
communities. The majority of its member
typically proselytize and perform service rather than engaging in terrorism.
[47][48] Although AST does not claim
responsibility for its attacks, the group has been implicated by the Tunisian
government and media for various suicide bombings, small arms attacks and
kidnappings. AST has targeted the
Tunisian government, government forces, religious sites and groups representing
Western influence such as tourists and foreign consulates.[49]
Political Activities
At
its outset, Ansar al-Shariah in Tunisia (AST) had close ties to the political
party al-Nahda, formed when the future members of both groups were imprisoned
together under the Ben Ali regime in 2006. The groups reportedly held meetings
after they were released from prison in 2011. However, as al-Nahda came to
power in government and as AST became more violent, the relationship became a
liability for al-Nahda, which designated AST as a terrorist organization in
August 2013. [50]
Major Attacks
Ansar
al-Shariah in Tunisia (AST) has not claimed responsibility for any attacks that
happened before 2014. However, the Tunisian government and media implicated the
group in a number of suicide bombings, small arms attacks and kidnappings.
[51]
September 14, 2012: Abu Iyadh al-Tunisi, leader of AST, organized riots and looting targeting the U.S. Embassy and a nearby American school in Tunis following the attack on the embassy in Benghazi (4 killed, 29 wounded).[52]
February 6, 2013: Leftist, secular politician Chokri Belaid was shot and killed, creating political turmoil in the government. Tunisian authorities later implicated AST in the assassination (1 killed, 0 wounded).[53]
July 25, 2013: Another left-wing politician, Mohamed Brahmi, was assassinated. The Tunisian government linked Ansar al-Shariah and the earlier assassination of Chokri Belaid to the murder and subsequently designated AST as a terrorist organization (1 killed, 0 wounded).[54]
October 23, 2013: Militants attacked the Tunisian National Guard in Sidi Ali Bin Aoun, Sidi Bou Zid, Tunisia, killing 8 soldiers (8 killed, 0 wounded).[55]
October 30, 2013: Two suicide bombers targeted a hotel beach in Sousse, Tunisia. Only one detonated his bomb, and he was the only casualty. Five Ansar al-Shariah members were arrested in connection with the bombing (1 killed, 0 wounded).[56]
March 21, 2014: AST militants kidnapped the secretary of the Tunisian ambassador, Mohamed bin Sheikh in Tripoli, Libya. Sheikh was ultimately released on June 29, 2014 (no casualties ).[57]
July 16, 2014: Militants used rifles and grenades to attack Tunisian soldiers at military checkpoints near the Tunisian border with Algeria (14 killed, unknown wounded).[58]
Relationships with Other Groups
Like
many groups in North Africa, Ansar al-Shariah in Tunisia’s (AST) leadership has
ties to Al Qaeda (AQ). Abu Iyadh
al-Tunisi, the leader of AST, reportedly had relationships with both Osama bin
Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri of AQ. Two
other AST leaders, Sami Ben Khemais Essid and Mehdi Kammoun, were convicted for
participating in and running AQ operations in Italy before returning to Tunisia
and joining AST. [59] AST publicly stated its loyalty to AQ on its
social media pages since the group’s foundation, but is not formally affiliated
with AQ. [60] AST’s
relationship with Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) was unclear until the
Tunisian government published an “Allegiance Act,” signed by AST leaders for
AQIM in August 2013. Prior to the
concrete proof of affiliation, AQIM was rumored to have been funding AST, and
AST consistently retweeted AQIM tweets in support of the group.
[61][62][63]
Unlike
most other jihadi groups, AST supports both AQ and the Islamic State (IS), who
are known to use their affiliates to fight one another. AST publicly supports the Islamic State (IS)
and has encouraged members to go to Syria to fight with the group; AST leader
Kanel Zarrouk pledged allegiance to IS and joined the Syrian civil war in 2014.
[64] In July 2014, AST’s spokesman, Seifeddine Rais,
swore loyalty to IS. It is unclear
whether or not he spoke on behalf of AST or solely himself. Following his pledge, a number of AST leaders
left to fight in Syria and dedicated themselves to IS. Although AST has backed IS on social media in
past years, the extent of their connection to the group is unknown. [65][66][67]
Although
AST shares a name with the Ansar al-Shariah organizations operating in Libya
and Yemen, the groups are unrelated and do not act as affiliates. Although,
they all do employ methods of dawa. AST
and Ansar al-Shariah in Libya (ASL) reportedly have operational, financial and
logistical links, but the extent of their relationship is unclear. ASL has
allegedly sold weapons to AST. [68][69][70][71][72][73]
Community Relationships
Ansar
al-Shariah in Tunisia (AST) emphasizes the importance of education and charity
for the community. AST has earned much
of its popular support through its dawa, or charitable work, for the
communities of Tunisia. AST provides food and medical services for the poor,
organizes Islamic lectures for the general public and runs classes for
children. [74][75]
AST
distributes its printed propaganda in markets and publishes its materials
online, establishing itself as a charitable group, rather than violent
organization. The use of social media
and propaganda is handled by the group’s media branch: the al-Qayrawan Media
Foundation, which was founded shortly after AST formed [76]
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