Abdul Haq al-Turkistani

Abdul Haq al-Turkistani is a Uyghur Islamic militant who leads the Turkistan Islamic Party. The United States Treasury reported he took over leadership of the organization in 2003, following the death of its previous leader, and took a seat on al-Qaeda's shura (central committee) in 2005.[1]

For other uses, see Abdul Haq.
Abdul Haq al-Turkistani
Emir of the Turkistan Islamic Party
Assumed office
2014
Preceded byAbdullah Mansour
In office
2003–2010
Preceded byHasan Mahsum
Succeeded byAbdul Shakoor al-Turkistani
Personal details
Born (1971-10-10) 10 October 1971
Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang, China
Military service
Allegiance East Turkestan Islamic Movement
al-Qaeda
Battles/warsXinjiang conflict
War in North-West Pakistan

Biography

In October 2008, Chinese security officials asserted that his real name is Memetiming Memeti (Uyghur: مۇھەممەتئىمىن مەمەت Memtimin Memet). They published half a dozen aliases. They reported he left China in March 1998, and became a trainer at a camp in a "South Asian country".[2][3]

The United Nations Security Council's 1267 Committee placed him on a list of individuals suspected of having ties to Osama bin Laden. He was a member of al-Qaeda's leadership council.[4] Uyghur detainees at Guantanamo bay "confessed" that they were trained by Abdul Haq and Hassan Mahsum in Afghanistan. Haq threatened terrorist attacks on the 2008 Beijing Olympics.[5] Al-Qaeda's command viewed Abdul Haq as authoritative and sent him to meet with Taliban factions along with al-Qaeda commanders.[6][7]

Abdul Haq faced allegations from the US Treasury Department that he was behind a bombing that preceded the Beijing Olympics.[1]

On 1 March 2010, Abdul Haq was reported to have been killed by a missile launched from an unmanned drone on 15 February 2010.[3][8][9][10] It took place in North Waziristan's area of Mir Ali in Zor Babar Aidak town.[11][12] However, in June 2014, it was reported that Abdul Haq was instead severely wounded, but recovered and resumed leadership in 2014.[13]

References
  1. "Treasury Targets Leader of Group Tied to Al Qaida". United States Treasury. 2009-04-20. Archived from the original on 2009-10-08.
  2. Christopher Bodeen (2008-10-21). "China releases terror blacklist in Olympic plot". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 2011-06-22. Retrieved 2010-03-22.
  3. ""疆独"头目被美军炸死 身份信息曝光". Archived from the original on 2010-03-06. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
  4. Roggio, Bill (23 January 2010). "US airstrike killed 15 Turkistan Islamic Party fighters in Afghanistan". The Long War Journal.
  5. Joscelyn, Thomas (April 21, 2009). "The Uighurs, in their own words". The Long War Journal.
  6. Roggio, Bill (11 June 2015). "Turkistan Islamic Party emir thought killed in 2010 reemerged to lead group in 2014". The Long War Journal.
  7. "TIP Leader Congratulates Attack in Hotan in Video | Jihadist News". News.siteintelgroup.com. 2015-06-10. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
  8. "Xinjiang fighter 'killed by drone'". Al Jazeera. 2010-03-02. Retrieved 2010-03-22. The leader of a Chinese separatist movement, believed to have links with al-Qaeda, has been killed in a US missile strike, Pakistani and Taliban officials have said.
  9. "Al Qaeda-linked Chinese terrorist leader reported killed in US strike in Pakistan". March 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  10. "TIP leader killed in Pakistan drone strike". Neil Doyle. 2010-03-01. Archived from the original on 2016-01-24. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
  11. Roggio, Bill (September 17, 2010). "ETIP leader thought killed in February Predator strike". Long War Journal. Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
  12. "ETIP leader killed in February Predator strike: A Uighur terrorist, thought to be Abdul Haq al Turkistani, f..." Long War Journal. 17 Sep 2010 – via Twitter.
  13. Roggio, Bill (June 11, 2015). "Turkistan Islamic Party emir thought killed in 2010 reemerged to lead group in 2014". Long War Journal. Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
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