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− | [[Image:Teralzawahiri.jpg |thumbnail|right|200px|]] | + | #REDIRECT [[Ayman al-Zawahiri]] |
− | '''Ayman al-Zawahiri''' is a prominent leader of the [[terrorist]] group [[al-Qaeda]]. Listed as the second most wanted terrorist in the world, al-Zawahiri has been involved in some of the most horrific terrorist attacks in history, including, the attacks on the [[World Trade Centers]], [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]], [[USS Cole]], and other terrorist operations in [[Africa]]<ref> http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/jir/jir011003_1_n.shtml </ref>.
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− | He is seen today as the number two man behind Al-Qaeda's leader [[Osama bin Laden]]. Born into an upper class [[Egypt]]ian in home, al-Zawahiri's involvement in the [[Islamic]] [[Jihad]] movement began at the early age of sixteen, when he became heavily involved in Islamic groups in Egypt, including a plot by the [[Islamic Brotherhood]] to overthrow the government of [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]]. His radical views came largely from the writings and life of [[Sayyid Qutb]], a Muslam who led the Muslam Brotherhood before he was killed under Nassar's regime. His Uncle Mahfouz Azzam,who was a former student of Qutb and later worked as Qutb's personal lawyer, told Zawahriri of Qutb's beliefs and story of his fight for Jihad.<ref>The Looming Tower, al-Qaeda and the road to 9/11 (book), by Lawrence Wright, pg 36</ref>
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− | After graduating from Cairo Medical School al-Zawahiri began his own practice in his hometown of Maadi. While filling in for a another doctor at the Muslim Brotherhood clinic, he was asked to travel to [[Pakistan]] to tend to the Afghan refugees, which were the result of the Soviets occupation of the country, he readily agreed to the proposition. Al-Zawahiri dreamed of creating a total Islamic state that would be a vanguard for other countries to follow, he saw Afghanistan's terrain as a more suitable location for this jihad<ref> The Looming Tower, L. Wright, pg. 45.</ref>. During his work in Pakistan, he made several visits across the border into Afghanistan.
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− | In 1980, al-Zawahiri returned to Cairo where he began work as a recruiter for jihad. After Egypt's President [[Anwar Sadat]] was assassinated by a radical group in 1981, al-Zawahiri and other members of the Muslim Brotherhood were arrested. <ref> http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/people/shows/zawahiri/profile.html</ref>. While in prison, he and his fellow jihad friends faced frequent [[torture]] under Egypt's inquisition, Intelligence Unit 75. Through interrogation and torture, al-Zawahiri gave information which led to the arrest of other members of the Muslim Brotherhood. In one instance, he was forced to call a suspected terrorist, who Zawari know closly, to tell him to meet him at a location, Egypt's security officials arrested the suspect at the location and placed him in the same prison cell as al-Zawahiri<ref>The Looming Tower, al-Qaeda and the road to 9/11 (book), by Lawrence Wright, pg 53</ref>. Essam al-Qamari, the suspected terrorist and friend of al-Zawahiri, was sentenced to ten years in prison and later shot dead in an attempted escape.
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− | After three years, al-Zawahiri was released from prison and traveled to [[Saudi Arabia]] and later to [[Jeddah]], where he claims he first met [[Osama Ben Laden]].<ref>The Looming Tower, L. Wight, pg.62</ref>
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− | In 1998, the two [[Jihad]] leaders announced the joining of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad and al-Qaeda to form the ''World Islamic Front for the Jihand Against Jews and Crusaders''<ref> http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/jir/jir011003_1_n.shtml</ref>. In 1998, the [[United States]] embassies in [[Kenya]] and [[Tanzaria]] were destroyed by suicide bombers; the United States later indicted both Ben Laden and al-Zawahiri for the attacks which killed 224 people. In retaliation, the United States lunched cruise missiles, however, both terrorist leaders escaped.
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− | Occasionally appearing on tapes claiming responsibility for attacks on the United States, al-Zawahiri has become the main spokesperson for the terrorist network. al-Zawahiri was sentenced to death by an Egyptian court in 1999 for his role in organizing variety terrorist attacks, and the United States [[State Department]] has offered a $25 million award for information leading to his apprehension after the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centers and Pentagon<ref> http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/islam/blfaq_islam_zawahiri.htm</ref>. Although information on his location is not well known, al-Zawahiri, who is fluent in [[English]], is suspected of being located in [[Afghanistan]] after traveling around [[Europe]] looking for refuge<ref> <ref>http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/zawahiri.htm</ref>.
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− | ==External Links==
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− | [http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/terrorists/teralzawahiri.htm FBI Most Wanted Profile]
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− | ==References==
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− | <small><references/></small>
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− | {{DEFAULTSORT:al-Zawahiri, Ayman }}
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− | [[Category:Terrorists]]
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− | [[Category: al-Qaeda]]
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