THE 500 MOST INFLUENTIAL MUSLIMS - CESD

RADICALSMiddle East and North AfricaEGYPTal zawahiri, aymanAyman al Zawahiri is considered the second-in-command, and the key ideological leader of AlQaeda. An alleged radical since the age of 15, he went on to become the leader of Egypt’s IslamicJihad. Al Zawahiri is author of numerous Al Qaeda statements.IRAQal baghdadi, abu omarAbu Omar Al Baghdadi is the alleged leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq. A reclusive figure whose existenceremains in question, it has been claimed by the Iraqi security forces that he has been captured—areport that has been refuted by the American government.SAUDI ARABIAbin laden, osamaThe son of a wealthy Saudi businessman Osama bin Laden is the leader of Al Qaeda and isconsidered the most wanted man internationally for several terrorist attacks—the largest of whichwere the September 11 attacks that resulted in the deaths of 3000 civilians.al madkhali, sheikh rabi’ ibn haadi ‘umayrSheikh Rabi’ Ibn Haadi ‘Umayr al Madkhali is one of the most radical thinkers in the Salafimovement. He is an influential writer and speaker, whose influence has lead to an independentfaction within Salafism. Al Madkhali’s adherents are known as Madkhali Salafis and make up oneof the most significant and influential branches inside the Salafi movement.YEMENal awlaki, anwar [new]Al Awlaki is the first American citizen that the CIA has given explicit permission to kill for hisalleged support and encouragement of terrorist operations such as 9/11, the Ft. Hood shootingsand the attempted Christmas Day and Times Square bombings in 2010. He is reportedly living inYemen.AsiaAFGHANISTANhekmatyar, gulbuddinFormer prime minister of Afghanistan (1993-1994, 1996), Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has been deemeda ‘Specially Designated Global International Terrorist’ by the US Department of State for linkswith Al Qaeda and the Taliban. He is also founder of the Hezb-e-Islami political party that wasfounded as a mujahiddeen force against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan but developed intoa militant group that is responsible for numerous attacks, including those against civilians.omar, mullah muhammadMullah Muhammad Omar is the reclusive leader of Afghanistan’s Taliban. A prominent figureduring Afghanistan’s struggle against Soviet occupation, he is better known for his support ofOsama bin Laden. He is believed to be directing the Taliban in their war against NATO andAfghanistan forces.167