General information
First Active Year: 1993
Current Name: al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya
Current Name full English: Islamic Group
Current Name full native language: al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya
Original Name: al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya
Original Name full English: Islamic Group
Original Name full native language: al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya
Actor Chronology
This section contains information about (if applicable) group splinters, name changes, and alliances according to the UCDP definitions of these concepts.
UCDP has not recorded any Chronology Activities involving this group.
Conflict issues
Government of Egypt - al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya
Conflict Goal Issues: Al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya, Islamic Group, was an Islamist rebel group that splintered from the Muslim Brotherhood that aimed to topple the government of Egypt. The group’s first stated goal of incompatibility toward the Egyptian government were made in 1980, when the group accused the Egyptian President Anwar Sadat of being secular and corrupt. They called for the removal of the Egyptian regime, and for it to be replaced with “one ruled by Islam”.
As the conflict progressed, al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya continuously reemphasized its intentions of establishing an Islamic state in Egypt and frequently called for the ousting of the Egyptian government. The group also stated its intentions to protect Egyptian Muslims’ religious rights, and in singular instances the group called for law and order to be established, for the destruction of the Egyptian tourism industry, for the toppling of the President, and for the judicial system to be reformed “until young Moslems are again safe, until the shackles are broken, torture and physical liquidation stop and the farce of the military courts is over”.
The main conflict goal issues for al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya were the ousting of the Egyptian regime and the establishment of an Islamic state in Egypt. These issues were frequently and continuously stated with heavy emphasis and became the foundational pillars for the group.
Conflict Dynamics Issues: Whilst no statements pertaining to conflict dynamics issues were interpreted in 1980, al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya would continuously state several issues throughout the conflict. In 1988, the group called for the release of political prisoners, and later, young Muslims and of cessation of military misconduct, accusing the Egyptian government and its military of ‘state torture’ and of taking hostages. The issue of military conduct was not reemphasized, although the group did re-state its accusations of government-permitted torture in 1996. The group also called for the killing of Copts (Coptic Christians) and secularists whilst stating their, and the government’s, intentions of destroying Islam and Muslims. In the earlier stages of conflict, the group called for the removal of foreigners, specifically tourists and for the removal of Arab and foreign influence over Egypt. Finally, the group also called for revenge to be taken against security forces, tourists, and the conduction of an attack as a response to declared death sentences against suspected members of the group.
Whilst many conflict dynamics issues were stated throughout the conflict, none were particularly heavily emphasized nor frequently mentioned, which is why no particular main conflict dynamics issue was interpreted for al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya.
Conflict Resolution Issues: Al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya were only interpreted as stating one issue pertaining to the resolution of the conflict, when the group, in 1993, announced its opposition to negotiations, stating that: “There will be no dialogue until one side is victorious over the other, or the Islamic regime is established”.
Type of conflict issues: Conflict Goal Issues: CPS: Islamic state, Economic reforms, Law and order, Oust full executive, Oust head of the executive, Reform judicial system, Religious rights
Conflict Dynamics Issues: Atrocities and abuses, Call for collective targeting: religious, Collective targeting: religious, DFI: Removal of foreign influence, DFI: Removal of foreigners, Military conduct, Release of prisoners, Revenge/vengeance
Conflict Resolution Issues: Opposition to negotiations
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1993
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Egypt - al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya
1994
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Egypt - al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya
1995
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya - Civilians
Government of Egypt - al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya
1996
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya - Civilians
Government of Egypt - al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya
1997
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya - Civilians
Government of Egypt - al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya
1998
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Egypt - al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya
Group Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1993 Group Archive
Government of Egypt - al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya
Comment on Name: The Islamic Group (IG), or the Islamic Association, is the English translation of Al-Gamaa al-Islamiyya. The arabic version of the groups name is spelled in a variety of ways such as Jamaat Islamiyya or Gamaat Islamiya. There are no widely used abbreviations of the arabic name.
Troop Size: 5000 - 15 000
Comment on Troop Size: Information on the number of active al-Gamaa al-Islamiyya members is hard to obtain, most sources do however estimate they should be counted in thousands during 1993. The range above, found in the Internal Wars and Failures of Governance 1955-2001 dataset, includes all Egyptian Islamic militants engaged in the conflict. Since al-Gamaa is by far the largest of these groups the range is likely to include the actual number of al-Gamaa fighters.
Secondary Support: It is suspected that Sudan provides Egypts militants with training and material support. Iran is also accused of backing the groups with training and in other unspecified manners. It needs to be noted that the source of most information on the involvement of Sudan and Iran originally comes from Egypt officials. The Shiite government of Iran is however notorious for sponsoring extremists in Middle East states with Sunni or secular governments.A number of al-Gamaa militants have received training in the area around the Afghan-Pakistani border. Usama bin Laden has sponsored training camps in Kunar and Khost where Egyptian Islamic extremists have learned military skills.
1994 Group Archive
Government of Egypt - al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya
Comment on Name: The Islamic Group (IG), or the Islamic Association, is the English translation of Al-Gamaa al-Islamiyya. The arabic version of the groups name is spelled in a variety of ways such as Jamaat Islamiyya or Gamaat Islamiya. There are no widely used abbreviations of the arabic name.
Troop Size: 5000 - 15 000
Comment on Troop Size: Information on the number of active al-Gamaa al-Islamiyya members is hard to obtain, most sources do however estimate they should be counted in thousands during 1994. The range above, found in the Internal Wars and Failures of Governance 1955-2001 dataset, includes all Egyptian Islamic militants engaged in the conflict. Since al-Gamaa is by far the largest of these groups the range is likely to include the actual number of al-Gamaa fighters.
Secondary Support: Information on secondary support of al-Gamaa was scarce during 1994. Although there is no direct evidence, Sudan, which supported the group during 1992 and 1993, is believed to be harbouring Egyptian terrorists. In an address concerning the possible change in Sudanese policy after the extradiction of the infamous assassin Carlos (from Sudan to France) the president of Sudan stated that it was Sudans duty to protect Islamic freedom fighters that sought refuge.
1995 Group Archive
al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya - Civilians
Comment on Name: The Islamic Group (IG), or the Islamic Association, is the English translation of Al-Gamaa al-Islamiyya. The arabic version of the groups name is spelled in a variety of ways such as Jamaat Islamiyya or Gamaat Islamiya. There are no widely used abbreviations of the arabic name.
Government of Egypt - al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya
Comment on Name: The Islamic Group (IG), or the Islamic Association, is the English translation of Al-Gamaa al-Islamiyya. The arabic version of the groups name is spelled in a variety of ways such as Jamaat Islamiyya or Gamaat Islamiya. There are no widely used abbreviations of the arabic name.
Troop Size: 5000 - 15 000
Comment on Troop Size: Information on the number of active al-Gamaa al-Islamiyya members is hard to obtain, most sources do however estimate they should be counted in thousands during 1995. The range above, found in the Internal Wars and Failures of Governance 1955-2001 dataset, includes all Egyptian Islamic militants engaged in the conflict. Since al-Gamaa is by far the largest of these groups the range is likely to include the actual number of al-Gamaa fighters.
Secondary Support: In 1995 al-Gamaa al-Islamiyya and al-Jihad cooperated in the failed attempt to assassinate President Mubarak. Three militants that survived the assassination attempt were captured by Ethiopian police and revealed incriminating information of Sudans part in the operation. Sudan assisted with travel documents, weapons and also the harbouring of key planners of the operation.
1996 Group Archive
al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya - Civilians
Comment on Name: The Islamic Group (IG), or the Islamic Association, is the English translation of Al-Gamaa al-Islamiyya. The arabic version of the groups name is spelled in a variety of ways such as Jamaat Islamiyya or Gamaat Islamiya. There are no widely used abbreviations of the arabic name.
Government of Egypt - al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya
Comment on Name: The Islamic Group (IG), or the Islamic Association, is the English translation of Al-Gamaa al-Islamiyya. The arabic version of the groups name is spelled in a variety of ways such as Jamaat Islamiyya or Gamaat Islamiya. There are no widely used abbreviations of the arabic name.
Troop Size: 1000 - 5000
Comment on Troop Size: Around the middle of the 1990s the governments hunt for Islamic militants began to take its toll. With thousands of sympathisers and members behind bars and hundreds killed the number of al-Gamaa activists was decreased by 1996. The range above, found in the Internal Wars and Failures of Governance 1955-2001 dataset, includes all Egyptian Islamic militants engaged in the conflict. Since al-Gamaa is by far the largest of these groups the range is likely to include the actual number of al-Gamaa fighters.
Secondary Support: After the attempted assassination of Mubarak, three men suspected of involvement in the operation were thought to be harboured by Sudan. Besides these men, Egyptian officials claimed that 15 000 Moslem militants (including Egyptian militants) were living in Sudan unchallenged by the Sudanese government. The fact that Sudan was under UN sanctions in 1996 (for supporting political violence), and since Egypts perceptions of Sudan are to some extent shared by the international community, indicate that the allegations are rather strong.
1997 Group Archive
al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya - Civilians
Comment on Name: The Islamic Group (IG), or the Islamic Association, is the English translation of Al-Gamaa al-Islamiyya. The arabic version of the groups name is spelled in a variety of ways such as Jamaat Islamiyya or Gamaat Islamiya. There are no widely used abbreviations of the arabic name.
Government of Egypt - al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya
Comment on Name: The Islamic Group (IG), or the Islamic Association, is the English translation of Al-Gamaa al-Islamiyya. The arabic version of the groups name is spelled in a variety of ways such as Jamaat Islamiyya or Gamaat Islamiya. There are no widely used abbreviations of the arabic name.
Troop Size: 1000 - 5000
Comment on Troop Size: The 1996 decrease in the number of al-Gamaa members remained in 1997. Except for the thousands of sympathisers and members behind bars, and the hundreds of al-Gamaa members killed, the recruitment difficulty was increased after the 1997 Luxor massacre, where more than 60 people, mainly tourists, were brutally killed. The range above, found in the Internal Wars and Failures of Governance 1955-2001 dataset, includes all Egyptian Islamic militants engaged in the conflict. Since al-Gamaa is by far the largest of these groups the range is likely to include the actual number of al-Gamaa fighters.
Secondary Support: In 1997, a conference of â€Liberation Movements†was held in Iran. The participants (al-Gamaa and other militant Islamic groups) reportedly discussed possible coordination between some of the groups, the need for increased support for some organizations, and the topic of Jihad in general.Sudan had not yet turned over to Egypt those al-Gamaa members suspected of involvement in the attempted assassination of Mubarak in 1997. The extradiction of the three suspects was one of the Security Councils demands on Sudan. The other demands centred on harbouring of terrorists and the human rights abuses perpetrated be the government.
1998 Group Archive
Government of Egypt - al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya
Comment on Name: The Islamic Group (IG), or the Islamic Association, is the English translation of Al-Gamaa al-Islamiyya. The arabic version of the groups name is spelled in a variety of ways such as Jamaat Islamiyya or Gamaat Islamiya. There are no widely used abbreviations of the arabic name.
Troop Size: 1000 - 5000
Comment on Troop Size: The 1996 and 1997 decrease in the number of al-Gamaa members remained in 1998. The reason for which was the thousands of sympathisers and members behind bars, the hundreds of al-Gamaa members killed, and the difficulty to recruit new members after was the 1997 Luxor massacre, where more than 60 people, mainly tourists, were brutally killed. The range above, found in the Internal Wars and Failures of Governance 1955-2001 dataset, includes all Egyptian Islamic militants engaged in the conflict. Since al-Gamaa is by far the largest of these groups the range is likely to include the actual number of al-Gamaa fighters.
Secondary Support: Although there were no new incidents or investigations proving Sudans support of al-Gamaa, Sudan had still not turned over the three men suspected of participating in the attempted assassination of Mubarak. In the case of Iran there are not enough information as to Iranian support of al-Gamaa, but as Iranian policy on the issue remained the same in 1998 as in previous years, it is probable that they still provided the group with backing.
