From ERM Collection on Islam

Muslim brotherhood The organisation has 70 branches across the world. It is one of the oldest and largest Islamist organisations. Founded in 1928 in Egypt, the group tends to be conservative rather than radical. It has been very influential across the world with its model of political activism combined with Islamic charity work. The group is banned from open political activity in Egypt, but is tolerated in Jordan and holds seats in the parliament. Al-Qaeda (The Base) Osama Bin Laden's international network of militants is widely believed to have carried out attacks on US targets across the globe, including the suicide attacks of 11 September 2001. It is also believed to be behind bombings in Saudi Arabia and to be the inspiration behind a whole range of other attacks worldwide. Al-Qaeda joined forces with a number of other groups in 1998 to form the World Islamic Front for Jihad against Jews and Crusaders. Egypt During the 1990s dozens were killed in clashes between the Gamaah Islamiyah's (the Islamic Group) armed fighters and Egyptian security forces. The group also attacked foreign tourists. Islamic Jihad was behind the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat. Hundreds of alleged members of Islamic Jihad were imprisoned and the group practically collapsed. Ayman alZawahiri, one of Jihad's leading figures, is close to Osama Bin Laden. Both groups are currently maintaining ceasefires. Iraq Ansar al-Islam (Supporters of Islam) are based in Iraqi Kurdistan, an area not controlled by Saddam Hussein before March 2003. The group was involved in fierce fighting with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Kurdish and US officials allege that Ansar al-Islam has had links with Osama Bin laden. US officials say the Ansar al-Islam is regrouping after being attacked by the US during the war and that Islamic militants with links to foreign organisations are gathering in Iraq. Jordan Jordan has several active militant groups. One of the longest established is the Hizb al-Tahrir alIslami (Islamic Freedom Party). The group does not recognise the Jordanian state, and advocates the restoration of the Islamic caliphate. Another group, Islah wa al-Tahaddi (Reform and Challenge Movement) has since 1994 led a campaign of attacks on entertainment venues and government targets. One of the group's leaders is Abu Qatada, believed to be an important alQaeda member. Lebanon With backing from Syria and Iran, Hezbollah remains one of the Middle East's most powerful and successful guerrilla organisations. The Shia group is based in south Lebanon, but plays an important role in regional politics. It is viewed by the US and Israel as a terrorist organisation. In Lebanon it is viewed as a resistance movement, a major political party and provider of social services. Palestinian Territories The main militant group, Hamas, has carried out hundreds of attacks on Israeli targets. However, the organisation has won support from Palestinians for its welfare and charity work. Islamic Jihad in Palestine has always relied on a strategy of armed struggle, and has never sought a mass membership. The Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade, an off-shoot of Yasser Arafat's Fatah organisation, was formed after the start of the 2000 intifada. All three groups have carried out suicide bombings against Israeli civilians.

From ERM Collection on Islam

Saudi Arabia Several Islamic opposition groups operate in Saudi Arabia. All are banned and heavily suppressed by the authorities. Recent militant attacks have been blamed on cells connected to al-Qaeda. For example, co-ordinated attacks in May 2003 targeted western interests in the capital Riyadh killing about 30 people. The Movement for Islamic Change claimed responsibility for an explosion at the headquarters of the US military mission in Riyadh in 1995 and for an explosion at the US military base in Khobar in June 1996. Other groups such as the Committee for the Defence of Legitimate Rights, are believed to be political rather than armed groups.

Africa
Algeria In 1991 the army stepped in to scrap elections which the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) looked set to win. The FIS was outlawed and its armed wing embarked on a bloody conflict with government forces in which thousands were killed. The FIS agreed to end its armed struggle in 2000. The Armed Islamic Group (GIA) is responsible for a continuing campaign of killings. The Salafist Group for the Call and Combat, which split from the GIA, also continues to wage a campaign of violence. Morocco The Salafiyah al-Jihadiyah (Islamic Reform and Jihad) is believed to have been formed in the early 1990s and is now banned in Morocco. The group has been accused of involvement in bombings in Casablanca in May 2003. Fourteen members of the Sirat al-Mustaqim (Correct Path) were tried and imprisoned in December 2002 for stoning a man accused of debauchery. Another group, the Saiqah (Thunderbolt) - a splinter group of the Sirat al-Mustaqim claimed responsibility for the Casablanca bombings. South Africa A whole range of non-violent Islamic political groups represent the country's 1.2 million Muslims. However, Muslims Against Global Oppression claimed responsibility for an August 1999 pipebomb explosion in a Cape Town restaurant which killed two people, but subsequently retracted the claim. People Against Drugs and Violence is an Islamic vigilante movement based in Port Elizabeth. The group's leadership was rounded up by police in 2002. Several weapons, including shotguns, hunting rifles, pistols and revolvers, were seized.

Asia
Afghanistan Some of Afghanistan's political parties are linked to mujahideen factions from the war against the Soviet army and the period of civil war and chaos that followed. Some factions back or have been integrated into the administration of Hamed Karzai. The Hezb-e Islami has called for a holy war against foreign forces on Afghan soil. Until the American-led campaign to remove the Taleban in 2002, Afghanistan was home to al-Qaeda. Recent violence has been blamed on the Taleban. Kashmir India accuses Pakistan of backing the Islamic militant groups that operate in Indian administered Kashmir. The groups which are largely political include the Badr Mojahedin, the Dukhtaran-iMillat (a militant women's group based in Srinagar), Lashkar-i-Jabbar which campaigns to force all women to wear veils. The groups fighting Indian forces include Harakat-ul-Mojahedin, Hizbul-Mojahedin, Jaish-i-Mohammad, Jamiat-ul-Mojahedin, Lashkar-i-Jabbar, Lashkar-iToiba and al-Umar Mojahedin.

From ERM Collection on Islam

India Deendar Anjuman was formed in India in 1924 as a Muslim religious order. In the 1940s many of its devotees moved to Pakistan. The organisation has been blamed for a number of bomb blasts at churches across India. Jaish-e-Mohammad is accused of a number of attacks in India, including involvement in the 13 December 2001 attack on the Indian parliament. The Students Islamic Movement of India has been classified as a terrorist organisation and declared illegal by the Indian Government. Indonesia Jemaah Islamiya is an underground Islamist group with regional connections, seeking to establish an Islamic state comprising Indonesia, Malaysia and the southern Philippines. There are claims that it has links with al-Qaeda and it has been blamed for the 2002 Bali bombing. Laskar Jihad led a "holy war" in Central Sulawesi and Ambon. The organisation is believed to have disbanded. Darul Islam claims to have sent 30,000 Malaysian-trained troops to Afghanistan in the 1980s and has claimed links with al-Qaeda and the Taleban. Philippines Several Islamic groups are campaigning to establish an Islamic state on the southern island of Mindanao. The Abu Sayyaf has used bombings, kidnapping and murder. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the largest separatist organisation, began peace talks with the government in 2001. The Moro National Liberation Front, signed a peace accord with the government in 1996 after a 24-year rebellion. The Maranao Islamic Statehood Movement is thought to be a composite of the most radical elements of the other groups.