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1/1/2007 - The Homebody: How Abdul Rashid Ghazi Wages Jihad From His Living Room by Nicholas Schmidle

The Homebody How Abdul Rashid Ghazi Wages JihadFrom His Living Room By Nicholas Schmidle January EVERY FRIDAY AROUND NOON IN THE CAPITAL OF ISLAMABAD leafy avenue lined towering conifers dozen baton swinging policemen dressed congregate front mosque Meanwhile worshipers disappear draining water through perform their ablutions unroll their prayer listen firebrand preacher praise jihad Osama Laden compares toAbraham patriarch Judaism Christianity Islam Sometimes after Friday prayers parishioners spill through space march through chant government Sometimes smash window tires policemen ready Journalists gather shade before mosque watch Last reporters dared enter mosque stick wielding teenage madrassa students chased Fortunately police there In small tucked alley behind walls Abdul Rashid Ghazi deputy Lal Masjed beyond police Ghazi short curly flips wildly around neckline A length beard smile gentle grandfa therly demeanor With rimmed glasses bears slight resemblance former Grateful Dead front Jerry Garcia Ghazi eclectic sense taste The first I visited office I noticed framed items hanging opposite walls ornate arrangement etched Quranic verses other length silver sword On another Ghazi tacked Spring Inks Color Process Chart Sherman Williams AKalashnikov tilted against table pistol waist holster large pillows lined walls In corner IT station complet machine Hewlett Packard printer scanner laptop screen monitor I computers without trace humility I computer people after meeting You I designed website madrassa I I website though looked little Ghazi smiled sheepishly confessed That because I forgot password Ghazi spends entertaining guests equipped hovel The roster visitors includes Members National Assembly other religious leaders prominent journalists They often hours share political developments outside Ghazi reaction Ghazi believe future leader Pakistan Given promising future coupled articulate energetic opinions visitors anxious As Pakistani journalist explained If fundamentalist Taliban govern comes Pakistan Ghazi could easily become Amir Momineen leader faithful But Ghazi simply homebody He confined small behind walls moving between mosque At meeting November cardigan sweater shalwar kameez accentuating beginnings potbelly If stepped leafy avenues around mosque fears either arrested killed intelligence agencies Ghazi figured someone wants eliminated since government accused Egyptian militant masterminding group buildings Islamabad Rawalpindi August includ Presidency Prime Minister House General Headquarters US embassy Chief theArmy Staff House Convention Centre LAL MASJED IS REPUTED TO BE A MA JOR HUB OF JIHADI ACTIVITY Pakistan In sermon November Abdul Aziz Ghazi older brother proclaimed blood shahadat martyrs brings God mercy He later added When Osama challenged enemy Allah helped succeed Every Friday newsies jihadi publications around mosque Last I bought latest issue Zarb Momin banned weekly treatise Sepah Sahaba banned sectarian organi zation Rupees The U S Embassy issues regular notices warning citizens about likelihood raucous demonstrations Besides police undercover agents around Last while I sitting concrete ledge waiting Friday sermon begin approached asked authoritative voice I there Even before introduced himself being Intelligence Bureau crackling sound walkie talkie tucked inside shalwar kameez I listen sermon I Are Muslim I He cocked squished rubbed shiny Then copied personal information small notepad Little decade after formation Paki Maulana Abdullah Ghazi Abdul Rashid father founded Lal Masjed MaulanaAbdullah teach Binori Town madrassa Karachi Field Marshal Ayub Khan decided capital Karachi Islamabad Binori Town still biggest influential madrassas Pakistan The headmaster Maulana Yusuf Binori wanted He needed madrassa mosque capital So Maulana Abdullah teachers start Maulana Abdullah moved family Islamabad early 1960s which nothing streets jungle Margalla Hills Abdul Rashid toddler Not after settling Islamabad Abdul Aziz Abdul Rashid brother returned Karachi enrolled Binori Town Abdul Rashid however attended secular schools later studying English National University Modern Languages International Relations Quaid Azam University Meanwhile Maulana Abdullah attracted growing number worshippers Lal Masjed opened madrassas Jamia Hafza women Jamia Faridia Before Maulana Abdullah succeeded mission Lal Masjed mosque capital FROM THE DAY OF THE RED ARMY S IN VASION Afghanistan December Ghazi family would closely Afghani Moscow intrusion Kabul affairs sparked resistance movement across Afghanistan eventually transformed global jihad against Soviet Union Around Pakistani mujahideen command Fazlur Rehman Khalil Qari Saifullah Akhtar began paying frequent visits Lal Masjed They father Ghazi teenager studying English National University Modern Languages But Akhtar Khalil stories danger adventure inspired Abdul Rashid He wanted Dismissing motivated jihad Ghazi added The concept jihad clear I defensive Pakistan Finally around twenty second birth Ghazi beardless eager university student asked father permission Afghanistan Maulana Abdullah qualms Abdul Rashid mother would never allow I convince Ghazi So I I going Allah To Allah euphemism those embarking journey Tablighi Jama missionary group Ghazi figured language covered sufficiently without being deceitful I I Afghanistan friends The first Ghazi He joined Arab mujahideen Paktia province where trainer showed Kalashnikov Rocket Pro pelled Grenade Launcher But hardly fired We there We mountain could Russians there activity fighting recalled Plus Arabs brought their wives families further diluting martial environment Ghazi craving Arabs cannot anywhere without their wives quipped Sometimes After weeks returned Islamabad In during university break Ghazi proached Qari Saifullah Akhtar That Akhtar formed Harakat Jihad Islami HUJI first Pakistani based jihadi organization Akhtar reputation tough disciplinarian Some mujahideen Ghazi those liked careless along But Ghazi appre NES Thousands worshippers during Frida prayers November ciated discipline And Akhtar favored Ghazi He would later first weapon would travel Afghanistan together several times When Soviet retreated Ghazi returned studies Islamabad Akhtar stayed Afghanistan running training camps group mujahideen In early 1990s Pakistan ISI funding supporting jihad Kashmir against India constantly needing fighters HUJI eagerly supplied Then Akhtar conspired Army general overthrow Benazir Bhutto government install Islamic state The attempted putsch failed Akhtar returned Afghanistan In Osama Laden released joint statement World Islamic Front Jihad Against Jews Crusaders HUJI amongst signatories When I asked Ghazi about extent connections HUJI today replied They I We other We relationship That Maulana Abdullah received sonal invitation Laden The Qaeda chief living under protection Taliban government wished Maulana Abdullah Kandahar My father wanted opinions Ghazi Maulana Abdullah asked Abdul Rashid accom Quetta where drove across border Afghanistan Bin Laden INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS waited greet The Abdul Rashid Maulana Abdullah Laden breakfast until night One enough He vinced Osama ideas Ghazi about father Maulana Abdullah Abdul Rashid returned Islamabad excited their friendship equipped ideas Maulana Abdullah exalted Laden struggle I asked Ghazi kinds things saying That Osama right That I discussed argued Osama convinced Americans being country wrong The authori might overlooked Abdullah neighborhood mosque outside capital But influential position largest mosque Islamabad attracted flood tention On October three months after meeting Laden assassin fired magazines ammunition Abdullah walking across courtyard Lal Masjed holding fruit either Abdullah collapsed blood underneath young dogwood Bin Laden letter condolence AFTER MAULANA ABDULLAH S DEATH Ghazi brothers Lal Masjed picking right where their father Abdul Aziz drassa graduate prayers Friday sermons praising Laden denouncing United States Ghazi handled public relations media It between brother reflecting their different education backgrounds rengths He knows Quran perfectly But I civil bureaucracy media people He taking control I taking control other And making For three years after Abdullah assassination Ghazi brothers normal schedule without major incident running madrassas mosque Mujahideen leaders stopped regularly without raising suspicion Pakistani policy endorsed support Taliban Afghani militants waging jihad Kashmir The September terrorist attacks prompted policy shift Between ensuing U S invasion Afghanistan Ghazi helped Pak Afghan Defense Council PADC PADC support group Taliban platform protesting bombardment Afghanistan staged several large rallies Pakistani cities Ghazi arrested demonstration thrown During interview nearly burst excit ement Member National Assembly unscheduled visit Ghazi introduced gushed This I shared prison Though PADC eventually disbanded Ghazi found another In close associate Laden named Sheik Essa Ghazi several times Essa Egyptian takfiri adherent ultra radical ideology prevalent among Egyptian jihadis including Qaeda doctor leader Ayman Zawahiri Takfiris excom municators define Muslims narrowest terms Those qualify contend infidels And order Muslims prosper infidels killed Essa Ghazi instance clerk Pakistani bureaucracy serving Musharraf serving Bush legitimate target My widened Ghazi described Essa I disagree assured Even Osama Laden disagrees point But intelligence agencies whether Ghazi agreed His association Essa fueled suspicions something August agencies moved Ghazi outside mosque afternoon leading demonstration against disappearances kidnap pings someone pulled aside whispered should You danger Ghazi sumed sympathizers inside agencies There people agencies favor mentally Despite Pakistan official relationship United States suspicion still surrounds loyalty Pakistan intelligence agencies which nurtured mujahideen fighters Afghanistan Kashmir decades Ghazi started warning fully convince He never before For Ghazi being But closer another stopped adding War behind That I something wrong Ghazi He rushed house darted bedroom where changed clothes glasses wrapped cloth around He leaving while Don about anything about instructed He slipped street Then hailed Over coming while Ghazi house reports surfaced about disrupted terrorist involving Ghazi Essa young Pakistani named Usman Usman driving Ghazi Suzuki hatchback agencies arrested The Minister In formation alleged Usman planned American Embassy General Headquarters Prime Minister House Chief Army Staff House President House I Suzuki Mehran small hatchback CNG Ghazi rational There ammuni would places listed In middle telling Ghazi excused himself retrieve manila folder overflowing newspaper clippings period He proudly showed daughters holding placard My daddy terrorist Meanwhile government problem Not could Essa Ghazi brothers disappeared While agents continued government launched campaign discredit First appointed another replace Abdul Aziz But Many people locality government servants Ghazi And resisted replacement Then Director General Inter Services Intelligence ISI General Ehsan brought couple dozen leading ulema together He wanted draft statement their signatures denouncing Ghazi brothers being terrorists Pakistan elements When Ministry Interior escalated dropping charges casually dismissing whole episode misun derstanding Ghazi found explanation accept after almost three months living tension keeps sense humor about episode The script drama loopholes lacunas since written writer They should gotten written FBI Maybe could written better Ghazi eventually returned resumed normal schedule shuttling between Lal Masjed madrassa father built other One morning after driving along highway shadow Margalla Hills Ghazi noticed someone aiming barrel Ghazi reached pistol under shalwar kameez intended warning But excitement fired rounds through nearly blasting eardrums filling smoke Unable anything twice through windscreen general direction other vehicle That confused Ghazi blamed intelligence trying again In July shortly after bombings Lon British intelligence reports alleged bombers native Pakistanis received terrorist training Pakistan Under pressure Pakistani authorities cracked madrassas On July police raided Jamia Hafza female madrassa attached Lal Masjed More students injured carried stretchers I photographs elder brother should human beings Ghazi Islamists consider depictions human haram forbidden Infuriated police brutality rioters burned tires looted stores around Islamabad The government pressed charges stemming Anti Terror Act against Ghazi brothers their parent inciting violence A court They never showed Since court summons after summons declared absconders Ghazi But absconder someone whose whereabouts known We My brother leads prayers every Friday I having guests sometimes entertain media How I absconder Ghazi changed sounding almost taunt You coming They another thing Jamia Hafza happen again They wanted But afraid arrest trouble Islamabad Nonetheless behind bravado Ghazi knows leaves mosque snatched killed So stays ON A RECENT CRISP NOVEMBER DAY I wound through alleys behind Lal Masjed briefly Ghazi before Friday prayers We string minutes talking before Abdul Aziz flanked bodyguards clutching Quran chest emerged mosque Abdul Aziz wears spectacles misty scratched lenses beady smiled cordially paused shake Earlier Abdul Aziz I conversed almost about elections United States He wanted Americans overthrow Bush A minutes later Abdul Aziz began khutba sermon sharing story about Abraham In story Abraham smashes collection stone idols villagers believe Afterwards biggest stone appear guilty No however doubts Abraham throw blazing But Allah story changes properties saving Abraham Abdul Aziz story present Today people Allah In every Allah sends someone those things people great really meaningless The great powers world proud blind power Allah When World Trade Center Osama This pride expression power success Allah shown those things blink As service ended Abdul Aziz praised those their lives jihad lives mujahideen Later I asked Abdul Rashid Ghazi Afghanistan jihad Pakistanis living Islam If someone capable defending themselves jihad becomes obligatory those people surrounding areas Afghans themselves sufficient America aggression against innocent people The closer Afghanistan obligatory Unfortunately added hatred against America created We trying people there difference between people America government But longer Bush stays power statement appears tenable Hatred against U S increasing But innocent people Afghanistan still martyr I asked Ghazi adjusted tunic lifted mouth fixed serious looking If someone targets innocent people started murderer Nothing But enemy surrounded innocent people decision Is enemy dangerous enough ignore lives innocent If Ghazi There burden shoulder He through other scenarios might complicated amateur jihadi enemy using Muslim human shield another Muslim declaring jihad against another Muslim allowed remedied opponent Afghans today supporting Americans protecting Muslim That jihad Ghazi By reiterated point decides In respect Ghazi jihad Afghanistan Americans restore Taliban emirate Afghanistan The ideal governance Islamic governance Afghanistan under Mullah Omar Sure there problems But there peace The warlord constant Afghanistan history Mullah Omar there He issued order implemented He banned poppy cultivation decree No incentive given That doesn sound Islamic democracy I I democracy Islam about counting people In democracy weight taking drugs doesn about country vision future The majority people ignorant people This doesn bring system But Islam example I I decision majority disagrees I canstilldoit IaskedifMullahOmar sgovernment replicable Pakistan Soon Ghazi answered According conditions Taliban Afghanistan during 1990s facilitating their expansion Pakistan today Taliban reaction chaotic situation In Afghanistan lawlessness warlords When Taliban killed these dacoits robbers North Waziristan Tribal Agency Pakistan local people happy But these dacoits Punjab So start Pakistan We Pakistan become chaotic fight field From hearts But minded young people coming closer another GHAZI HAS THE SLIGHTLY HUNCHED POSTURE someone deteriorating middle It understandable since spends sitting around meeting people making plans three within spitting distance another Occasionally shuffles through allies lifestyle taking When I showed meeting November I black leather couches office furniture place traditional pillows previously strewn along edges I joked Ghazi getting My hurting I bought chair pointing chair But everyone still sitting floor I chairs guests When I asked crazy assured means lying across backseat When mosque This morning I people replied devilish smile I things anyone I outdoors This imposed house arrest comparable better because I family Still sometimes I Who morning I sister because I think mujahideen commander Fazlur Rehman Khalil I decided Perhaps there surveil lance His words trailed before could finish sentence raised NES shoulders upturned palms facial expression conveyed concern I pointed Kalashnikov leaning against puter station That I No replied shaking But I gesturing short cylinder fixed underside barrel Oh That grenade launcher He picked demonstrated millimeter grenade launcher works I recently friend It The accessory range meters Afew I received friend government When pointing grenade launcher illegal I I illegal When I illegal whether I grenade launcher whole thing illegal The Ghazi remains within bounds legality madrassas brother boasts second largest madrassa Pakistan other biggest women madrassa world I asked recruit various jihads supports The subject jihad teach admitted Teaching thing recruit something We teach Islam And Islam jihad Islam prayer relationships jihad But recruit madrassas Remember I joined Russian I college student I madrassa student And because father I because environment institute Today young people jihad against Americans But general fatwa The young Americans mostly college students madrassa students Why Because madrassa students understand concept jihad totality correct format where implemented where implemented Those haven studied madrassa Ghazi often eager fight You Afghanistan jihad I asked Are former students there Maybe there could students routed through answered They where There system When complete their education institution They contact Ghazi shared story illustrate madrassa students filling ranks mujahideen According younger brother ranking police officer Islamabad recently wanted Afghanistan I reading newspaper every young And brothers killed Bajaur missile attack Tribal Areas September killed If Ghazi recalled saying But This university student later family overly religious Yet because chaos killing But I asked become mujahideen It seemed someone going fight because aggravated wouldn qualify warrior Ghazi responded I whether determined When training learn according Islam There fight running lessons And become mujahideen I steered topic madrassa students expected alumni When completed their studies You We taught You field Some preaching business jihad But least taught concept jihad Our produce Muslim intelligentsia those world people Islam Our students working world We student working Bir mingham England years Ghazi recalled reading brother Oh students doing We spirit knowledge alone Ghazi seemingly satisfied answer leaned against blinked purposely through rimmed glasses Mainly I educator I mainly jihadi INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Current Fellows Richard D Connerney INDIA January A Phillips Talbot Fellow Rick studying writing about intertwining religion ulture politics India Rick former lecturer philosophy Asian religions Rutgers University Iona College He holds bachelor degree Wheaton College master degree University Hawaii religion Kay Dilday FRANCE MOROCCO October Kay studying relationships French North African immigrants France North Africa A former editor The New York Times Op Ed Kay holds master degree comparative international politics theory Graduate Center City University New York bachelor degree English literature Tufts University graduate Universiteit Amsterdam Netherlands Cours Civilisation Sorbonne Suzy Hansen TURKEY April A John O Crane Memorial Fellow Suzy writing about politics religion Turkey A former editor New York Observer appeared Salon New York T Book Review Nation other publications She graduated University Pennsylvania Nicholas Schmidle PAKISTAN February Nick freelance writer interested intersection culture religion politics Asia He Pakistan ICWA fellow examining issues ethnic sectarian national identity Previously reported Central Asia Iran His published Washington Post Weekly Standard Foreign Policy Christian Sci Monitor elsewhere He holds master degree International Affairs American University Raphael Soifer BRAZIL April An actor director playwright musician theatre educator Raphi Soifer Donors Fellow studying participant observer relationship between soacial change communities throughout Brazil He worked performer director United States Brazil taught performance prisoners underprivileged youth through People Palace Projects Rio Janeiro Com munity Works San Francisco He holds bachelor degree Theatre Studies Anthropology Yale University Andrew J Tabler SYRIA LEBANON February Andrew ICWA fellowship bases Beirut Damascus where reports Lebanese Syrian affairs He lived studied worked Middle East since Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Fellowship enabled begin Arabic language studiesandworktowarda master degreeattheAmericanUniversityinCairo He editor Middle East Times Cairo Times before moving Turkey Lebanon Syria where worked senior editor Oxford Business Group correspondent Economist Intelligence Unit In Andrew founded Syria Today Syria first independent English language magazine He contributed pieces Syria New York Times International Herald Tribu Institute Fellows chosen basis character previous experience promise They young professionals funded spend minimum years carrying signed programs study writing outside United States The Fel required report their findings experi ences field month They write subject formally informally The result unique reporting analysis periodic assessment inter national events issues ICWA Letters ISSN published Institute Current World Affairs Inc exempt operating dation incorporated New York State offices located West Wheelock Street Hanover NH 03755 The letters provid charge members ICWA available librar professional researchers subscription Phone E orgFax Web Executive Director Steven Butler Program Assistant Publications Manager Ellen Kozak Institute Current World Affairs The Crane Rogers Foun dation The Information contained publication reprinted republished without express written consent Institute Current World Affairs