Abdullah Mansour
Abdullah Mansour is a leader of the Turkistan Islamic Party, an Islamic and Uyghur separatist organization founded by militants in western China, the Xinjiang region. Its stated goal is the independence of East Turkestan. The group is active in the ongoing Xinjiang conflict. Between 2008 and 2013 Mansour was an editor of his movements quarterly publication Islamic Turkistan, before rising to its leadership.[1]
Abdullah Mansour | |
|---|---|
| Emir of the Turkistan Islamic Party | |
| In office 2013–2014 | |
| Preceded by | Abdul Shakoor al-Turkistani |
| Succeeded by | Abdul Haq |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  al-Qaeda |
| Branch/service |  East Turkestan Islamic Movement |
| Battles/wars | Xinjiang conflict War in North-West Pakistan |
Biography
According to IntelCenter, Mansour was seen in a 2008 video, holding an assault rifle and stating: "We, members of the Turkestan Islamic Party, have declared war against China. We oppose China’s occupation of our homeland of East Turkestan, which is a part of the Islamic world." He threatened coming attacks against the 2008 Summer Olympics held in Beijing.[2]
In an eight-minute audio clip published online by SITE Intelligence Group, Mansour claimed responsibility for the 2013 Tiananmen Square attack which killed five people and injured 38 on 28 October 2013. In the message Mansour warned of future attacks by Uyghur fighters, including one targeting the Great Hall of the People. He is quoted as having stated: "The people have learned who is the real enemy and they returned to their own religion. They learned the lesson."[3][4]
In March 2014 interview with Reuters from an undisclosed location in North Waziristan, Pakistan, Mansour stated that it was his holy duty to fight China, and promised further attacks.[5] Also in March 2014, Mansour expressed support for the 2014 Kunming attack, without claiming responsibility.[6]
References
- Zenn, Jacob (23 May 2014). "Beijing, Kunming, Urumqi and Guangzhou: The Changing Landscape of Anti-Chinese Jihadists". China Brief. The Jamestown Foundation. 14 (10). Retrieved 2 November 2014.
- Wong, Edward (7 August 2008). "Group Says Video Warns of Olympic Attack". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
- Maclean, William (23 November 2013). "Islamist group calls Tiananmen attack 'jihadi operation': SITE". Reuters. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
- Kaiman, Jonathan (25 November 2014). "Islamist group claims responsibility for attack on China's Tiananmen Square". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
- Khan, Dera Ismail (14 March 2014). "From his Pakistan hideout, Uighur leader vows revenge on China". Reuters. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
- Tiezzi, Shannon (20 March 2014). "Turkestan Islamic Party Expresses Support for Kunming Attack". The Diplomat. Retrieved 3 November 2014.