Mohammed Omar
| Mullah Mohammed Omar ملا محمد عمر |
|
|---|---|
| Former Head of the Supreme Council of Afghanistan | |
| In office 27 September 1996 – 13 November 2001 |
|
| Prime Minister | Mohammad Rabbani Abdul Kabir (Acting) |
| Preceded by | Burhanuddin Rabbani (President of Afghanistan) |
| Succeeded by | Burhanuddin Rabbani (President of Afghanistan) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1959 Nodeh, Afghanistan |
| Political party | Islamic and National Revolution Movement of Afghanistan Taliban |
| Religion | Khawarij Sect of Islam |
| Military service | |
| Battles/wars | Soviet-Afghan War Civil war in Afghanistan War in North-West Pakistan |
Mullah Mohammed Omar (Pashto: ملا محمد عمر) is the leader of the Taliban in Afghanistan. His name is often shortened to Mullah Omar. Between 1996 and 2001, he was Afghanistan's de facto head of state. Three states officially recognised him under the title of Head of the Supreme Council. He was born around the year 1959 in Nodeh, near Kandahar.[1] He held the title Commander of the Faithful from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
The United States has put him on their most wanted list. They believe he sheltered Osama bin Laden, and some of his al Quaeda group, directly before and after they supposedly committed the September 11 attacks.[2] He is believed to be directing the Taliban in their war against Hamid Karzai's Government and foreign NATO troops in Afghanistan from Pakistan.[3]. Many people everywhere around the world, Muslims and others, consider him to be a major terrorist, too.
Despite his political rank, and his high status on the FBI's wanted list,[2] not much is publicly known about Omar. There are very few photos of him. None of these photos is official. A picture that was used by the media in 2002, shows another Taliban official, but not Omar. It is also debated how authoritative the images that exist really are.[4]
Omar seems to be missing one eye. Other than this, people have described him in different ways: Some who have met him say he is tall,[5][6] others describe him as small and frail.[4] He has been described as shy and untalkative with foreigners.[4][7]
When he was Emir of Afghanistan, Omar stayed in Kandahar most of the time and rarely met outsiders.[5] He sent his Foreign Minister, Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil, to represent him, on most occasions.
Death? [change]
News media have claimed that he was killed by a drone strike in 2008.[8]
References [change]
- ↑ Rashid, Taliban, (2001) p.23
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Wanted Poster on Omar". Rewards for Justice Program. US Department of State. http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/english/index.cfm?page=MullahOmar.
- ↑ CNN.com - Source: Mullah Omar in Pakistan - Sep 9, 2006
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Who is the real Mullah Omar?, Daily Telegraph, 22 December 2001
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Griffiths, John, C. "Afghanistan: A History of Conflict", 1981. Second Revision 2001.
- ↑ Christian Science Monitor, The reclusive ruler who runs the Taliban
- ↑ Afghanistan: Taliban Preps for Bloody Assault, Newsweek, 5 March 2007
- ↑ 'US strike' kills Taleban leader. BBC News [1]
