Memtimin Memet (Uyghur: مۇھەممەتئىمىن مەمەت, born October 10, 1971), also known in his nom de guerre Abdul Haq al-Turkistani (Arabic: عبد الحق التركستاني), 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]
Abdul Haq al-Turkistani | |
|---|---|
| Emir of the Turkistan Islamic Party | |
| Assumed office 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Abdullah Mansour |
| In office 2003–2010 | |
| Preceded by | Hasan Mahsum |
| Succeeded by | Abdul Shakoor al-Turkistani |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 October 1971 Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang, China |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  East Turkestan Islamic Movement al-Qaeda |
| Battles/wars | Xinjiang conflict War in North-West Pakistan |
Biography
editIn October 2008, Chinese security officials published half a dozen of his aliases. They reported that he left China in March 1998 and became a training officer at a camp in a "South Asian country".[2][3]
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.[4] Al-Qaeda's command viewed Abdul Haq as authoritative and sent him to meet with Taliban factions along with al-Qaeda commanders.[5][6]
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][7][8][9] It took place in North Waziristan's area of Mir Ali in Zor Babar Aidak town.[10][11] However, in June 2014, it was reported that Abdul Haq was instead severely wounded, but recovered and resumed leadership in 2014.[12]
On 6 December 2024, amidst the Syrian opposition offensives, Abdul Haq al-Turkistani released a statement saying "while the Muslims are celebrating these victories in every place, the Muslims of oppressed East Turkistan remain far removed from the news of them as they live under a filthy oppressive, disbelieving occupation that suppresses them by every means possible". He called for attack inside China, stating "through God's support, the Chinese disbelievers will soon taste the same torment that the disbelievers in al-Sham have tasted, if God wills".[13]
References
edit- ^ a b "Treasury _targets Leader of Group Tied to Al Qaida". United States Treasury. 2009-04-20. Archived from the original on 2009-10-08.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b ""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.
- ^ Joscelyn, Thomas (April 21, 2009). "The Uighurs, in their own words". The Long War Journal.
- ^ Roggio, Bill (11 June 2015). "Turkistan Islamic Party emir thought killed in 2010 reemerged to lead group in 2014". The Long War Journal.
- ^ "TIP Leader Congratulates Attack in Hotan in Video | Jihadist News". News.siteintelgroup.com. 2015-06-10. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
- ^
"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.
- ^ "Al Qaeda-linked Chinese terrorist leader reported killed in US strike in Pakistan". March 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ^ "TIP leader killed in Pakistan drone strike". Neil Doyle. 2010-03-01. Archived from the original on 2016-01-24. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
- ^ Roggio, Bill (September 17, 2010). "ETIP leader thought killed in February Predator strike". Long War Journal. Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
- ^ "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.[non-primary source needed]
- ^ 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.
- ^ Yan, Sophia (2024-12-13). "Uyghur fighters in Syria vow to come for China next". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2024-12-15.