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Anwar Al-Awlaki
 Anwar Al-Awlaki, also known as Imam Anwar, was born in New Mexico, USA, in the early 70s’. He was sent back to Yemen in the mid 80s’ as a young boy for Islamic education during in which he also attended Islamic studies in Saudi Arabia. After Anwar Al-Awlaki returned to USA, in the mid 90s’, he has served as an Imam in Colorado, California. Afterwards he moved to Washington DC area where he headed the Dar al-Hijrah Center and was also the Muslim Chaplain at George Washington University. Anwar Al-Awlaki holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University, an M.A. in Education Leadership from San Diego State University and was working on a Doctorate degree in Human Resource Development at George Washington University.
Eventually, in late 2001, Anwar Al-Awlaki migrated back to Yemen having no travel restrictions. On 08/31/2006, ostensibly due to a Yemeni Secret Police investigation over Yemeni Tribal issues, Anwar Al-Awlaki was detained for questioning by the Yemeni authorities. According to Anwar Al-Awlaki, during the course of his interrogation he was asked specific questions about his Islamic activities, which led him to believe that he was being held and questioned at the behest of the USA.
On 12/12/2007, Anwar Al-Awlaki was released by the Yemeni authorities. He currently (02/2009) resides in Yemen and is associated with Imam University in Sanaa.
Anwar Al-Awlaki is a pro Al Qaeda ideologue with influence in the West. USA government agencies are increasingly concerned about the ability of pro-Jihad ideologues to use the Internet to incite U.S.-based Muslims to conduct terrorist attacks.
Indeed, there have been several terrorism cases in the years since The 9/11 in which people based in Western countries were influenced by lectures, writings, and videos downloaded from the Internet that were generated by spiritual figures and strategists living in the Middle East and elsewhere.
Anwar Al-Awlaki is an influential player in efforts to radicalize and incite American Muslims to commit terrorist acts. His lectures on leaderless Jihad were downloaded by, and provided inspiration to, the conspirators of the Fort Dix Plot in 2006-07.
In early January of 2009, Anwar Al-Awlaki published an essay titled – “44 ways to support Jihad” on his web site (see - http://www.anwar-alawlaki.com/ ). The site appeals to young, English-speaking, Muslim audience and calls for armed and financial support of Global Jihad against the infidels - “kuffar”.
In the weeks since its initial publication to the web site, it has been reposted to hundreds of other sites. Anwar Al-Awlaki discusses his experience in the United States, his reputation as an ideologue, and his connections to Al Qaeda.
* On 11/09/2009, Anwar Al-Awlaki posted in his website the following remark referring to the Fort Hood shooting, from 11/05/2009, and Maj. Malik Hasan - “Nidal Hassan is a hero. He is a man of conscience who could not bear living the contradiction of being a Muslim and serving in an army that is fighting against his own people”.
* Anwar Al-Awlaki was killed, allegedly, on 12/24/2009, in the Shabwa Air-Strike. But his brother in Yemen claimed, on Friday 12/25/2009, he has “guarantees” Anwar Al-Awlaki was not killed in the attack and is still alive. USA confirmed, eventually, that Anwar Al-Awlaki survived the attack unharmed.
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17/02/2009 06:08:46
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