Abu Sayyaf
Abu Sayyaf (/ˈɑːbuː sɑːˈjɑːf/ ; Arabic: جماعة أبو سياف; Jamāʿat Abū Sayyāf, ASG),[24] officially known by the Islamic State as the Islamic State – East Asia Province,[25] is a Jihadist militant and pirate group that followed the Wahhabi doctrine of Sunni Islam. It is based in and around Jolo and Basilan islands in the southwestern part of the Philippines, where for more than five decades, Moro groups had been engaged in an insurgency seeking to make Moro Province independent. The group is considered violent[26] and is responsible for the Philippines' worst terrorist attack, the bombing of MV Superferry 14 in 2004, which killed 116 people.[27] The name of the group was derived from Arabic abu (أبو; "father of"), and sayyaf (سيّاف; "swordsmith").[28] As of April 2023, the group was estimated to have about 20 members,[29] down from 1,250 in 2000.[30] They use mostly improvised explosive devices, mortars and automatic rifles.
This article is about the Filipino Islamist group. For individuals known as Abu Sayyaf and other uses, see Abu Sayyaf (disambiguation).Abu Sayyaf
Philippines, Malaysia
≤20 members (April 2023 est.)[9]
14K (triad)[10]
Maute group
al-Qaeda (formerly)
-
Australia[12] -
Cambodia -
Canada[13] -
Federated States of Micronesia -
Fiji -
France -
Indonesia[14] -
Japan[15] -
Kiribati -
Malaysia[16] -
Marshall Islands -
Nauru -
New Zealand -
Palau -
Papua New Guinea -
Samoa -
Singapore -
Solomon Islands -
South Korea -
Taiwan -
Thailand -
Tonga -
Tuvalu -
United Kingdom[17] -
United States[18] -
Vanuatu -
Vietnam[19][20] -
Moro National Liberation Front[21] -
Moro Islamic Liberation Front[22] -
Jemaah Islamiyah[23]
The group has carried out bombings, kidnappings, assassinations and extortion.[31] They have been involved in criminal activities, including rape, child sexual assault, forced marriage,[32] drive-by shootings and drug trafficking.[33] The goals of the group "appear to have alternated over time between criminal objectives and a more ideological intent".[34]
The group is designated as a terrorist group by Australia,[12] Canada,[13] Indonesia,[14] Japan,[15] Malaysia,[16] the Philippines,[11] the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom[17] and the United States.[18][35] From January 15, 2002, to February 24, 2015,[36] fighting Abu Sayyaf became a mission of the American military's Operation Enduring Freedom and part of the Global War on Terrorism.[37][38] Several hundred U.S. soldiers were stationed in the area primarily to train Filipino troops in counter-terror and counterguerrilla operations, but, following a status of forces agreement and under Philippine law, they were not allowed to engage in direct combat.[39][40][41][42]
The group was founded by Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani, and led after his death in 1998 by his younger brother Khadaffy Janjalani until his death in 2006. On July 23, 2014, Isnilon Hapilon, one of the group's leaders, swore an oath of loyalty to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State (IS).[1] In September 2014, the group began kidnapping people for ransom, in the name of the IS.[43][44]
Criticism of attacks against civilians
Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi in Qatar denounced the kidnappings and killings committed by Abu Sayyaf, asserting that they are not part of the dispute between the Abu Sayyaf and the Philippine government. He stated that it is shameful to commit such acts in the name of the Islamic faith, saying that such acts produce backlash against Islam and Muslims.[278] During the 2000 Sipadan kidnappings, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) condemned the kidnapping and offered to help secure their release. OIC Secretary General Azeddine Laraki told the Philippine government he was prepared to send an envoy to help save the hostages and issued a statement condemning the rebels. "The Secretary General has pointed out that this operation and the like are rejected by divine laws and that they are neither the appropriate nor correct means to resolve conflicts", the statement said.[278]
The terrorism against civilians committed were condemned by MNLF and MILF, who said that Abu Sayyaf strayed from their real paths of struggle, with MILF labeling Abu Sayyaf as "anti-Islam" soon after Ridsdel's beheading in 2016.[22] MNLF described the group as "causing chaos to their community".[279] Both Christian and Muslim groups in the Philippines condemned Abu Sayyaf beheadings.[280]
The kidnappings were criticized by Indonesia.[281] On July 14, 2016, a group of Indonesian protesters gathered in front of the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta, holding banners that read "Go to hell Philippines and Abu Sayyaf" and "Destroy the Philippines and Abu Sayyaf" due to what was seen as the lack of action from the Philippine government.[282][283] The group demanded a large scale military operation to destroy the Abu Sayyaf, with the Indonesian military proposing to send its forces to the Philippines prior to the protest, only to be rejected by the Philippine government on constitutional grounds.[282][283][284]