During the war, he received patronage from Arab sources and mobilized Arab volunteers for the Mujahedin forces. Sayyaf is said to have been the one who first invited Osama bin Laden to Afghanistan[1].
In 2005 the Islamic Union was convertered into the political party Islamic Dawah Organisation of Afghanistan. He has been considered a member of the Northern Alliance,[2] despite his close relationship with militant groups that opposed it. He has also been accused of betraying the Northern Alliance's leader, Ahmad Shah Massoud, by having knowingly assisted two assassins in killing him.[3]
Biography
editSayyaf is fluent in Arabic and holds a degree in religion from Kabul University and a masters from Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. He has been described as "a big, beefy man with fair skin and a thick gray beard." Approximately six feet three, 250 pounds. "He usually wears a white skullcap or a large turban, and a traditional Afghan shalwar kameez, a tunic with loose pants."[3]
- ^ Wright, Lawrence (2006). The Looming Tower. Vintage Books. pp. 116–117.
- ^ Layden-Stevenson, Justice. "Hassan Almrei and the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and Solicitor General for Canada", "Reasons for Order and Order", December 5, 2005
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
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