Main militant Islamic groups active in Turkey

The Associated Press ^ | 11/20/2003 | N/A

[a_Turk]

ANKARA - The following is a glance at militant Islamic groups active in Turkey:

IBDA-C - ISLAMIC GREAT EASTERN RAIDERS-FRONT. The group, which advocates Islamic rule in this predominantly Muslim and officially secular country, is allegedly backed by Iran. It has claimed responsibility for Saturday's pickup truck bombings outside two synagogues in Istanbul that killed 24 people, but Turkish authorities disputed the claim.

Active since the mid-1970's, it has become increasingly violent in the last decade and has an estimated 600 followers.

The group has staged attacks on left-wing and Christian targets as well as secular-oriented intellectuals, claiming responsibility for the assassination in 1999 of prominent pro-secular columnist, Ahmet Taner Kislali.

Its leader, Salih Izzet Erdis, also known as Salih Mirzabeyoglu, who was captured in 1998.

HIZBOLLAH - The Sunni group is not linked to Lebanon-based Shiite Hezbollah and it is also allegedly backed by Iran. It aims to create an Islamic state in Turkey's mainly Kurdish regions. The group which has a few thousand followers, is believed to be behind hundreds of killings of opponents in the region.

The leader of the group's most militant wing was killed in a shootout in Istanbul in 2000.

Turkey allegedly supported Hezbollah when it was formed in the early 1980s, because it fought autonomy-seeking Kurdish rebels.

ISLAMIC ACTION - Known for its strong affiliation with Iran, it aims to establish an Islamic state. Its members reportedly received military training in Iran. Authorities believe that the group was behind the killings of a few pro-secular Turkish intellectuals in the early 1990s. A senior member, Irfan Cagirici, was captured in 1996.

[a_Turk]

ping.

[optimistically_conservative]

I'm curious to see how effective the AKP can be in cracking down on Islamic terrorists groups, domestic and international.

[Unam Sanctam]

My condolences, Turk. Turkey has been such a comparatively stable and democratic part of the Moslem world. I hope the Al Qaeda will not be successful in introducing its violence into Turkish society permanently.

[freedom44]

"HIZBOLLAH - The Sunni group is not linked to Lebanon-based Shiite Hezbollah and it is also allegedly backed by Iran. It aims to create an Islamic state in Turkey's mainly Kurdish regions. The group which has a few thousand followers, is believed to be behind hundreds of killings of opponents in the region. "

Islamic Republic of Iran--behind virtually every single terror organization in the world.

Interesting enough they have even funded by the IRA in Ireland. After the Revolution they named streets after the scumbags in the terror group and started funding all kinds of terror groups in Turkey

[a_Turk]

It's been that way since the overthrow of the Shah.

[rmlew]

I think the Islamists in Turkey just slit their throats. The armey will kill them and who is going to complain?

[ChemistCat]

I've been sad about this all day.

Istanbul probably isn't completely recovered from the last big earthquake. They don't need this too.

One thing I know--they know how to deal with terrorists over there. If anyone can smash their local branch of Al-Qaeda, it's Turkey.

[tubavil]

Not to worry!

It's just a few extremists in Turkey.

The rest of the world is safe.

islam is a religion of peace.

You can tell by the huge muslim outcry against these terrorist acts.

[a_Turk]

Civilians are usually less than apt than the military. Emergency rule would clean up the streets.

[Monty22]

I wonder why my comments were erased. They were quite appropriate to current events.

[anotherview]

Have you looked at the Turkish press in the last week? Outrage at the Islamists, solidarity with Israel, fears that Islamists are trying to damage the strong Israel-Turkey alliance, etc... Turkey is VERY different from the Arab nations.

Take off your blinders and drop your hatred. Muslim==evil is WRONG.