Sri Lankan Islamist terrorist group
National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ; Arabic: جماعة التوحيد الوطنية ; Jamā‘at at-Tawḥīd al-Waṭanīyah, "National Monotheism Organization") is a Sri Lankan jihadist group implicated in the 2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings.[9][10] It is believed to have ties with Islamic State.[11]
Aims [ edit ]
The group promotes "Islamist terrorist ideology".[9] The director of the International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism said that it "aims to spread the global jihadist movement to Sri Lanka and to create hatred, fear and divisions in society."[9]
History [ edit ]
NTJ is believed to have separated from the Sri Lanka Thowheed Jamath (SLTJ), also a hardline Islamist organization, in or around 2016.[12] The NTJ's leadership had been condemned by several Sri Lankan Muslim organizations in 2016 for advocating extreme fundamentalist indoctrination of children, and for clashes with Buddhist monks.[13] One of the leaders, Abdul Razik, was arrested for inciting racism.[9]
In 2018, NTJ was linked to vandalism of Buddhist statues following anti-Muslim riots in Sri Lanka.[14][15] The group's propaganda highlighted violence against Muslims in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India and other countries.[16]
Easter bombings [ edit ]
NTJ was first made known to the Sri Lankan police force when a police officer sent an announcement to the authorities warning about a possible attack on churches 10 days before the 2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings on 21 April 2019. The report read that "the NTJ is planning to carry out suicide attacks targeting prominent churches as well as the Indian high commission in Colombo."[17] The prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, remarked that government officials did not receive the advisory and that they would "look into why adequate precautions were not taken."[9]
After the attacks, the Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne confirmed at an 22 April 2019 press conference that all seven of the suicide bombers in the near-simultaneous attacks were Sri Lankan citizens associated with NTJ, but said that foreign links were suspected.[18] Officials earlier blamed the local Islamist group, "National Tawhid", but Al Jazeera correspondent Samer Allawi said the authorities had denied officially accusing the group of responsibility.[19]ISIS has clamed responsibility for the attacks.[20]
References [ edit ]
- ^ "Muslim Council deplores Wijedasa's statement on ISIS". Daily Mirror. Sri Lanka. 19 November 2016 . Retrieved 22 April 2019 .
- ^ "Little-known Islamist group NTJ accused in Sri Lanka blasts". France 24. 22 April 2019.
- ^ "Nearly 190 dead, 500 injured as two more blasts strike Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday". Sindh Post. 21 April 2019 . Retrieved 22 April 2019 .
- ^ "Muslim Council deplores Wijedasa's statement on ISIS". Daily Mirror. Sri Lanka. 19 November 2016 . Retrieved 22 April 2019 .
- ^ "Little-known Islamist group NTJ accused in Sri Lanka blasts". France 24. 22 April 2019.
- ^ "Nearly 190 dead, 500 injured as two more blasts strike Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday". Sindh Post. 21 April 2019 . Retrieved 22 April 2019 .
- ^ "Little-known Islamist group NTJ accused in Sri Lanka blasts". France 24. 22 April 2019.
- ^ "Nearly 190 dead, 500 injured as two more blasts strike Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday". Sindh Post. 21 April 2019 . Retrieved 22 April 2019 .
- ^ a b c d e Garcia, Sandra E. (22 April 2019). "What Is National Thowheeth Jama'ath? Suspicion Falls on Sri Lanka Islamic Group". The New York Times . Retrieved 22 April 2019 .
- ^ "Sri Lanka explosions: Suspicion falls on radical group National Thowheeth Jama'ath". The Straits Times. 22 April 2019 . Retrieved 22 April 2019 .
- ^ ISIS Claims Responsibility for Attacks
- ^ "Sri Lanka Attacks: Who Are National Thowheed Jamath?". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 22 April 2019 . Retrieved 22 April 2019 .
- ^ "Muslim Council deplores Wijedasa's statement on ISIS". Daily Mirror. Sri Lanka. 19 November 2016 . Retrieved 22 April 2019 .
- ^ "Little-known Islamist group NTJ accused in Sri Lanka blasts". France 24. 22 April 2019.
- ^ "Nearly 190 dead, 500 injured as two more blasts strike Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday". Sindh Post. 21 April 2019 . Retrieved 22 April 2019 .
- ^ "Little-known Islamist group prime suspect in Sri Lanka terror attacks". SBS News. 22 April 2019.
- ^ Morton, Victor (21 April 2019). "Sri Lankan officials warned of Muslim jihad group's plan to attack churches 10 days earlier". The Washington Times. The Washington Times, LLC . Retrieved 22 April 2019 .
- ^ Associated Press, ed. (22 April 2019). "The Latest: Man recalls death of daughter, wife in blast". San Francisco Chronicle. Hearst Newspapers . Retrieved 22 April 2019 .
- ^ "طوارئ وحداد وطني واتهام شبكة دولية.. سريلانكا تلملم جراحها وتبحث عن المنفذين". aljazeera.net (in Arabic). Al Jazeera Media Network. 22 April 2019 . Retrieved 22 April 2019 .
- ^ Callimachi, Rukmini; El-Naggar, Mona; Goldman, Russell; Gettleman, Jeffrey; Pérez-Peña, Richard; Schmitt, Eric (23 April 2019). "ISIS Claims Responsibility for Attacks". NY Times. The New York Times Company . Retrieved 23 April 2019 .