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[[Category:Sunni Islamists]]
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[[Category:Belgians of Moroccan descent]]
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Revision as of 22:51, 27 April 2010

Malika El Aroud (aka Oum Obeyda), born in 1959/1960 in Tangier, is a Moroccan[1] woman who lives in Brussels, Belgium. She is the widow of Dahmane Abd al-Sattar, one of the men who killed anti-Taliban resistance leader Ahmad Shah Massoud two days before the September 11, 2001 attacks.[2] In 2003 she was cleared by a Belgian court of charges of complicity in Massoud's murder.

In February 2005 she was detained along with her Tunisian husband Moez Garsalloui in an anti-terror raid. She was accused of operating a Jihadi website which incited others to criminal acts and racial violence.

In June 2007 she was found guilty by a Swiss court of supporting radical Islamist organizations via internet sites.[3]

According to journalists Elaine Sciolino and Souad Mekhennet, "writing in French under the name `Oum Obeyda,` [El Aroud] has transformed herself into one of the most prominent Internet jihadists in Europe," by bullying "Muslim men to go and fight" and rallying "women to join the cause." In an interview she told the journalists: “I have a weapon. It’s to write. It’s to speak out. That’s my jihad. You can do many things with words. Writing is also a bomb.”[4]

She is quoted as telling Western audiences: “Vietnam is nothing compared to what awaits you on our lands ... Ask your mothers, your wives to order your coffins.” And telling her followers: “Victory is appearing on the horizon my brothers and sisters. Let’s intensify our prayers.”[4]

On December 11, 2008, she was arrested by the Belgian police with a group of people suspected of terrorist links.[5]

In February 2009, CNN presented an interview with El Aroud, as well as various people familiar with her activities or involved with her court proceedings, as part of CNN's regular program, "World's Untold Stories".[6]

El Aroud had contact with Bryant Neal Vinas, an American who joined al-Qaeda, in 2008.[7] Vinas was captured in November 2008, and convicted of participating in and supporting al-Qaeda plots in Afghanistan and the U.S.[8][9][10][7] Vinas is expected to be a key witness in the trial of El Aroud.[11]

References

  1. ^ La Belge Malika El Aroud, l'une des plus influentes djihadistes sur Internet, 28 May 2008
  2. ^ Belgian woman wages war for Al Qaeda on the Web 28 May 2008
  3. ^ Islamist website owners found guilty 28 May 2008
  4. ^ a b Internet Warrior Rallies Women to Support Al Qaeda By ELAINE SCIOLINO and SOUAD MEKHENNET, May 28, 2008
  5. ^ Terror Arrests Ahead of E.U. Summit
  6. ^ World's Untold Stories
  7. ^ a b Rotella, Sebastian (July 24, 2009). "A young American's journey into Al Qaeda; Bryant Neal Vinas of Long Island, N.Y., tells investigators how he trained and fought alongside terrorists". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 February 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Rotella, Sebastian and Josh Meyer U.S.-born militant who fought for Al Qaeda is in custody. Los Angeles Times. July 22, 2009.
  9. ^ Rashbaum, William K. and Souad Mekhennet. L.I. Man Pleaded Guilty in Attack on U.S. Base in Afghanistan. New York Times July 22, 2009
  10. ^ "Transcript of Guilty Plea; U.S. v John Doe; Sealed Pages" (PDF). US District Court, Eastern District of NY. January 28, 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
  11. ^ Suddath, Claire (July 24, 2009). "Bryant Neal Vinas: An American in Al Qaeda". TIME. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
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