Jamaa Islamiyya
Jamaa Islamiyya
Leader
Ibrahim Al-Masri;
Former: Sheikh Faysal al-Mawlawi.
Spokesman
Alaa Mouhyi al Din holds both roles spokesman and media and communication director in Baghdad.1
Ideology & Goals
Jamaa Islamiyya believes in establishing an Islamic order in Lebanon based on the Shari’a law. As argued by Sheikh Faysal al-Mawlawi, the group thinks “that Islam can be through any modern system of governance, as long as it abides by the rulings of Islam and Islamic 'Shari'a'. We also think that the people are the source of power, and Islamic rule should not be imposed upon the people, it must be through their own choosing".2 Until now, Jamaa Islamiyya has shown moderation in its understanding of Islam and stays committed to the book of God and tradition of its Prophet. As argued by Sheikh Faisal Mawlawi, the doctrine followed by Jamaa Islamiyya is that people are advocates rather than judges and that if the rule of atonement is applicable to some regimes hostile to Islam existing in that time, it does not affect the individuals in the society. As a result of this, the group’s understanding of true Islam became loyal to the idea of Mr. Qatb and other thinkers of the Islamist Movement.
Strategy
In the context of the Syrian revolution, the party insists that it lends its support through humanitarian assistance, political backing, and information campaigns solely. No fighters or weapons have been provided by the group, and it has not been involved in any border crossing or smuggling of any kind.However, al-Akhbar has accused the party of taking up arms and sending troops to fight against the regime in Syria.It has been said that Jamaa Islamiyya’s attitude shifted from condemning the repression at the beginning of the strife, to joining sides in the conflict, while other hinted that it is unlikely they only took up arms only because of Syria.3
In Lebanon, Jamaa Islamiyya is said to recruit youth through mosques, schools, and in the North through the Iman boys’ scouts. Former leader, Sheikh Faysal al-Mawlawi said that they considered themselves as representing popular sentiments, and therefore do not adopt any organizational mobilization. They rely more on "popular support" away from any organized outreaching call, i.e. no recruitment. The Youth are in general those who are active on the ground." In Lebanon, it also has a strong record for supporting Palestine.4
Allies
Future Movement; March 14th Coalition;5 Hezbollah (only pertaining to relations towards Israel).6
Regionally, Jamaa Islamiyya has relationships and policies in line with the Muslim Brotherhood, in Turkey, Libya, and most certainly Syria and Saudi Arabia.7
The approximate number of followers in Lebanon: 5,000 in the north and 3,000 in other parts of the country. 8
Due to its organic growth, it now has one seat in the Lebanese Parliament.
Self-funding through donations from members and investments.
Number of troops
The party claims to be non-military.
However, at the beginning of the Lebanese civil war, Jamaa Islamiyya formed a military structure, Al Mujahedun, which was to handle the defence of Islamic regions. It had a military presence first in Tripoli and the North and then in 1976 in Beirut and Sidon.9
If applicable, type of weapons
Not applicable in the present.
Soft power tools
The mosque milieu has been a primary ground for mobilisation for salafists, not only through Friday sermons, but also through religious lessons that some Sheikhs regularly give to their followers.
Furthermore, during the civil war, the group gained supporters through its establishment of specialised institutions sponsoring Islamic activities and providing help to people through education for youths, public services, relief during crises and creating medical institutions (clinics and medical centers). It also established the Association of Muslim students, the Women’s Social and Society Foundation, and a number of other charities throughout Lebanon. 10
Status
History & Politics
During the civil war, Jamaa Islamiyya, like most political parties at the time, established a military force - Al Mujahedun- which was to promote and defend the interests of Islamic regions. Following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, the group joined the efforts of the Islamic Resistance. At that point, its political stance had matured, and the group argued it was further confirmed by the cohesion of the South Lebanese Islamic forces. Its participation - described on the group’s website as prominent - in the operations which led to the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Southern Lebanon in May 2000, allowed the Arab-Israeli conflict to rise as an essential element of the group’s political ideology and field work. Since then, the group has consistently encapsulated the Israelis as the enemy of the Lebanese State and its citizens, and has argued for the need to face it.11
In 2003, the group introduced the ‘Charter of the Islamic Work in Lebanon’ and called for national conference that was attended by more than 206 members of the Lebanese Islamic Association, and issued a final version of the Charter. The latter was well received, especially by Christian circles as it looked at the issues of sectarian coexistence and terrorism.12
During the 2006 war, some members of the group fought alongside Hezbollah in the towns close to the Israeli border.13 In these operations, the group abided to Hezbollah as they could not match the group militarily.14
Before and during the 2009 parliamentary campaign, Jamaa Islamiyya sided with the March 14th coalition as the two factions shared goals, including the furthering of the interests of the Sunni community and the success of the uprising in Syria in removing President Bashar Assad, as well as providing assistance to Syrian refugees.
Bassam Hammoud, the Jamaa political bureau chief in south Lebanon said, however, his party was not allied with the Future Movement but dealt with it in the same manner as other parties.15 Furthermore, cool ties are maintained with Hezbollah (despite the similarity of their thoughts towards Israeli, their respective position on the events in Syria differ, which has led the two groups to grow apart for the time being).16
Since the 2009 parliamentary elections, the group holds a seat in Parliament.
1972: Jamaa Islamiyya’s first parliamentary electoral experience, with the overarching aim of spreading their Islamist view on current events, allowed its candidate, the lawyer Mohammad Ali Dannawi to win one seat in Tripoli.17
1982-2000: Jamaa Islamiyya was integrated within the Islamic Resistance’s operations, and as such participated in the liberation of Southern Lebanon in May 2000.18
* “Al Jamaa in brief”, The official website of Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiyah, Arabic, available at: http://www.al-jamaa.org/pageother.php?catsmktba=15 [last accessed January 14th, 2015].
** Bilal Y. Saab, “Securing Lebanon from the Threat of Salafist Jihadism”, Magnus Ranstorp, English, available at: http://democracyinlebanon.org/Documents/CDL-World/SalafistJihadism%28SaabandRanstorp07%29.pdf [last accessed January 14th, 2015].
*** “Al Jamaa in brief”, The official website of Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiyah, Arabic, available at: http://www.al-jamaa.org/pageother.php?catsmktba=15 [last accessed January 14th, 2015].
**** “Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya in Sidon: Where is the status of the state after the terrorist attack in Taamir Ain Al-Hilweh”, The official website of Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiyah, Arabic, December 12th, 2014, available at: http://www.al-jamaa.org/play.php?catsmktba=4066 [last accessed January 14th, 2015].
***** “Al Jamaa in brief”, The official website of Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiyah, Arabic, available at: http://www.al-jamaa.org/pageother.php?catsmktba=15 [last accessed January 14th, 2015].
[Last updated on February 27th, 2015]
- 1. “Ala Mahi Ad-din”, Wikipedia, Arabic, available at: http://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A1_%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%8A_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%86 [last accessed January 14th, 2015].
- 2. Kamal Shayya, Rania Sabaayon, Ghassan Makarem, Makram Kamel and Mustafa Hazim, “Islamic Movements in Lebanon”, Masar Association, August 2009, p.31 available at: http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/beirut/06882.pdf [last accessed February 10th, 2015].
- 3. “Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya: Is the Future Theirs?”, Alakhbar, English, February 15th, 2012, available at: http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/4234 [last accessed January 14th, 2015].
- 4. Bilal Y. Saab, “Securing Lebanon from the Threat of Salafist Jihadism”, Magnus Ranstorp, English, available at: http://democracyinlebanon.org/Documents/CDL-World/SalafistJihadism%28SaabandRanstorp07%29.pdf [last accessed January 14th, 2015].
- 5. “Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya: Is the Future Theirs?”, Alakhbar, English, February 15th, 2012, available at: http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/4234 [last accessed January 14th, 2015]; Kamal Shayya, Rania Sabaayon, Ghassan Makarem, Makram Kamel and Mustafa Hazim, “Islamic Movements in Lebanon”, Masar Association, August 2009, available at: http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/beirut/06882.pdf [last accessed February 10th, 2015].
- 6. NB: In a 2008 interview, Sheikh Faisal Mawlawi claimed that despite the disagreements of the groups in regard to internal Lebanese politics, their relationship remains crucil as any disagreement between them will lead to the weakenin of the State, which is in Israel’s interest. “Al Sheikh Faysal Mawlawi : saving lebanon is by a consensus on the name of the president”, Al-Aman Magazine, September 29th, 2007, available at: http://www.almujtamaa-mag.com/Detail.asp?InNewsItemID=242091 [last accessed February 10th, 2015].
- 7. “Al Jamaa in brief”, The official website of Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiyah, Arabic, available at: , http://www.al-jamaa.org/pageother.php?catsmktba=15 [last accessed January 14th, 2015].
- 8. “Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya: Is the Future Theirs?”, Alakhbar, English, February 15th, 2012, available at: http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/4234 [last accessed January 14th, 2015].
- 9. “Al Jamaa in brief”, The official website of Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiyah, Arabic, available at: http://www.al-jamaa.org/pageother.php?catsmktba=15 [last accessed January 14th, 2015].
- 10. “Al Jamaa in brief”, The official website of Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiyah, Arabic, available at: http://www.al-jamaa.org/pageother.php?catsmktba=15 [last accessed January 14th, 2015].
- 11. “Al Jamaa in brief”, The official website of Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiyah, Arabic, available at: http://www.al-jamaa.org/pageother.php?catsmktba=15 [last accessed January 14th, 2015].
- 12. “The deputy of general secretary of the Islamic group in Lebanon building a dialogue to rennovation”, Arabic, Maghress, April 4th, 2014, available at: http://www.maghress.com/attajdid/17451.
- 13. Omayma Abdel-Latif, “Lebanon’s Sunni Islamists—A Growing Force”, Carnegie Middle East Center, January 2008, available at: http://carnegieendowment.org/files/cmec6_abdellatif_lebanon_final.pdf [last accessed February 6th, 2015].
- 14. Abdul Hameed Bakier, “The Sunni al-Fajr Forces Fight with Hezbollah in Lebanon”, 2006, available at: http://www.jamestown.org/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=864#.VM5WTS7Aq70 [last accessed February 6th, 2015].
- 15. “Future Movement, Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya re-examine ties”, The Daily Star, English, April 11th, 2014, available at: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/Apr-11/252988-future-movement-al-jamaa-al-islamiya-re-examine-ties.ashx#ixzz3Jt5nyMWZ [last accessed January 14th, 2015].
- 16. “Future, Jamaa al-Islamiya back Army, reject extremism”, The Daily Star, English, August 22nd, 2014, available at: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/Aug-22/268079-future-jamaa-al-islamiya-back-army-reject-extremism.ashx#ixzz3JtA3nyp2 [last accessed January 15th 2014].
- 17. “Al Jamaa in brief”, The official website of Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiyah, Arabic, available at: http://www.al-jamaa.org/pageother.php?catsmktba=15 [last accessed January 14th, 2015].
- 18. “Al Jamaa in brief”, The official website of Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiyah, Arabic, available at: http://www.al-jamaa.org/pageother.php?catsmktba=15 [last accessed January 14th, 2015].