Ahmad al-Hasan al-Yamani
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Ahmad Ismail al-Qati' (Arabic: احمد اسماعيل القاطع) is an Iraqi militia leader.[2] The New York Times repeated a claim that he had claime to be the Yamani, a Shi'a Muslim figure believed to be the messenger of the 12th Shi'a Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi, when he was actually Sunni.[1]
Role in the Iraq War
Ahmad al-Hasan was claimed to be one of the leaders of the Soldiers of Heaven militia and commanded them during the Battle of Najaf in 2007. The militia was primarily made up from Sunni and Shi'a Muslim Iraqis. However the Iraqi government claimed it also included 31 foreigners (30 Afghan and Saudis, and 1 Sudanese).
Various accusations
The New York Times repeated claim that Ahmed al-Hasan was not a Shi'ite at all, that he was really a Sunni moslem masquerading as a Shi'ite.[1] Asia Times notes that the Iraqi government accused him of alignment with three different groups, and mocked the Iraqi government for putting forward three different inconsistent and not particularly credible claims.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Damien Cave (2007-02-01). "Mystery Arises Over Identity of Militia Chief in Najaf Fight". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/01/world/middleeast/01iraq.html?_r=1. Retrieved 2012-06-06. "At a news conference on Wednesday meant to clarify details of the skirmishes, which left at least 250 militants dead, Iraqi officials declared that Ahmad bin al-Hassan al-Basri, identified as the leader of the militia, was actually a Sunni militant who had been able to take control of the militia group by masquerading as a Shiite." mirror
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Pepe Escobar (2007-02-03). "A massacre and a new civil war". Asia Times. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/IB03Ak05.html. Retrieved 2012-06-06. "In this sorry attempt by the Iraqi government to create a one-size-fits-all conspiracy (Saddamists, al-Qaeda and Iranian fanatics all in cahoots), the main problem is how to fit in current US anti-Iran hysteria."
