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Islamic Jihad Union (IJU)
The Islamic Jihad Union—also known as al-Djihad al-Islami, Dzhamaat Modzhakhedov, and the Islamic Jihad Group of Uzbekistan, among other names—is an extremist organization that splintered from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. It opposes secular rule in Uzbekistan and seeks to replace the current regime with a government based on Islamic law.
The group first conducted attacks in April 2004, targeting a popular bazaar and police at several roadway checkpoints. These attacks killed approximately 47 people, including 33 terrorists, some of whom were suicide bombers. These attacks marked the first use of suicide bombers in Central Asia. The IJU’s claim of responsibility, which was posted to multiple militant Islamic Web sites, denounced the leadership of Uzbekistan.
In July 2004 the group struck again, with near-simultaneous suicide bombings of the US and Israeli Embassies and the Uzbekistani Prosecutor General’s office in Tashkent. The IJU again claimed responsibility via an Islamic Web site and stated that martyrdom operations by the group would continue. The statement also indicated that the attacks were done in support of IJU’s Palestinian, Iraqi, and Afghan brothers in the global insurgency. The date of the July attack corresponded with the trial of individuals arrested for their alleged participation in the April 2004 attacks.
The IJU issued a statement in May 2005 fully supporting the armed attacks by antigovernment protestors on Uzbek police and military personnel in Andijon that month, and calling for the overthrow of the Uzbekistani regime.
IJU members are scattered throughout Central Asia and probably parts of South Asia.
In September 2007, German authorities arrested three IJU members for planning attacks against US and German citizens and facilities. |
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