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Anwar al-Awlaki

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Anwar al-Awlaki
Born(b. (1971-04-22) April 22, 1971 (age 53))
Occupationlecturer/former Imam
EmployerIman University
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)

Anwar al-Awlaki (also spelled Aulaqi; Arabic: أنور العولقي Anwar al-‘Awlaqī; born (1971-04-22) April 22, 1971 (age 53)) either in Las Cruces, New Mexico, or in Aden, Yemen) is a Muslim lecturer, spiritual leader, and former imam who has been accused of being a senior Al-Qaeda recruiter and motivator linked to various terrorists.

Originally trained as a civil engineer, he later became an imam. He is currently associated with Iman University in Yemen. Students of the university have allegedly been linked to assassinations, and it is headed by Abdul Majeed al-Zindani, who has been designated by the US and UN as associated with terrorism and Al-Qaeda.

Al-Awlaki's sermons were attended by three of the 9/11 hijackers, as well as by accused Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan. In addition, US intelligence intercepted at least 18 emails between Hasan and al-Awlaki from December 2008 to June 2009, including one in which Hasan wrote "I can't wait to join you" in the afterlife. Directly after the Fort Hood shooting, al-Awlaki praised Hasan's actions on his website, and then again a few days later in an interview.

Al-Awlaki is currently being sought by authorities in Yemen with regard to a new investigation into his possible Al-Qaeda ties. The authorities have not been able to locate him since approximately March 2009.

Early life

His parents are from Yemen. Al-Awlaki's father earned his master's degree in agricultural economics at New Mexico State University (1971), received a doctorate at the University of Nebraska, and worked at the University of Minnesota from 1975 to 1977. The family returned to Yemen in 1978, where al-Awlaki lived for 11 years. His father was also an Agriculture Minister and university president.

Al-Awlaki holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University (1994), which he attended on a foreign student visa and Yemeni government scholarship, and an M.A. in Education Leadership from San Diego State University, and worked on a Doctorate degree in Human Resource Development at George Washington University Graduate School of Education & Human Development from January to December 2001. His Islamic education consists of a few intermittent months with various scholars, and reading works by several prominent Islamic scholars.

Ideology

Works

The Nine Eleven Finding Answers Foundation says Al-Awlaki's ability to write and speak in straight-forward English.

  • The Dust Will Never Settle Down
  • Dreams & Interpretations
  • The Hereafter—16 CDs—Al Basheer Productions—describes the women, mansions, and pleasures of paradise.
  • Life of Muhammad:Makkan Period—16 CDs—Al Basheer Productions
  • Life of Muhammad:Medinan Period—Lecture in 2 Parts—18 CDs—Al Basheer Productions
  • Lives of the Prophets (AS)—16 CDs—Al Basheer Productions
  • Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (RA): His Life & Times—15 CDs—Al Basheer Productions
  • Umar ibn al-Khattāb (RA):His Life & Times—18 CDs—Al Basheer Productions
  • 25 Promises from Allah to the Believer—2 CDs—Noor Productions
  • Companions of the Ditch & Lessons from the Life of Musa (AS)—2 CDs—Noor Productions
  • Remembrance of Allah & the Greatest Ayah—2 CDs—Noor Productions
  • Stories from Hadith—4 CDs—Center for Islamic Information and Education ("CIIE")
  • Hellfire & The Day of Judgment—CD—CIIE
  • Quest for Truth: The Story of Salman Al-Farsi (RA)—CD—CIIE
  • Trials & Lessons for Muslim Minorities—CD—CIIE
  • Young Ayesha (RA) & Mothers of the Believers (RA)—CD—CIIE
  • Understanding the Quran—CD—CIIE
  • Lessons from the Companions (RA) Living as a Minority'—CD—CIIE
  1. Murphy, Dan (November 10, 2009). "Fort Hood shooting: Was Nidal Malik Hasan inspired by militant cleric?". Christian Science Monitor. Boston. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
  2. ^ "Imam in Fort Hood case born in New Mexico". United Press International. November 11, 2009. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
  3. ^ Cardona, Felisa (December 3, 2009). "U.S. attorney defends dropping radical cleric's case in 2002". The Denver Post. Retrieved December 7, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference inf was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. Shephard, Michelle (October 18, 2009). "The powerful online voice of jihad". Toronto Star. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
  6. ^ Sharpe, Tom (November 14, 2009). "Radical imam traces roots to New Mexico; Militant Islam cleric's father graduated from NMSU". The Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  7. Meek, James Gordon, "Fort Hood gunman Nidal Hasan 'is a hero': Imam who preached to 9/11 hijackers in Va. praises attack," New York Daily News, November 9, 2009, accessed November 12, 2009
  8. Esposito, Richard, Cole, Matthew, and Ross, Brian, "Officials: U.S. Army Told of Hasan's Contacts with al Qaeda; Army Major in Fort Hood Massacre Used 'Electronic Means' to Connect with Terrorists," ABC News, November 9, 2009, accessed November 12, 2009
  9. Meyer, Josh (November 9, 2009). "Fort Hood shooting suspect's ties to mosque investigated". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
  10. Shane, Scott; Born in U.S., a Radical Cleric Inspires Terror; New York Times, November 18, 2009, last accessed November 20, 2009.
  11. Schmidt, Susan; Imam From Va. Mosque Now Thought to Have Aided Al-Qaeda; the Washington Post, February 27, 2008, last accessed November 20, 2009.
  12. Crummy, Karen E., "Warrant withdrawn in 2002 for radical cleric who praised Fort Hood suspect", The Denver Post, December 1, 2009, accessed December 1, 2009
  13. "Colo. feds look at Fort Hood connection to cleric", Associated Press, December 2, 2009, accessed December 7, 2009
  14. Rooney, Katie, "George Washington U. ex-student tied to 9/11 hijackers in report," University Wire, September 7, 2005, accessed December 8, 2009
  15. The NEFA Foundation (February 5, 2009). "Anwar al Awlaki: Pro Al-Qaida Ideologue with Influence in the West" (PDF). Retrieved December 2, 2009.