Muslim Shishani

Shishani is a Georgian national belonging to the Kist people, a Chechen subethnos residing in the Pankisi Gorge.{{Cite journal |last=Moore |first=Cerwyn |date=27 May 2015 |title=Foreign Bodies: Transnational Activism, the Insurgency in the North Caucasus and "Beyond" |url=http://pure-oai.bham.ac.uk/ws/files/19586098/C_Moore_TPV_Foreign_Bodies.pdf |journal=Terrorism and Political Violence |volume=27 |issue=3 |pages=395–415 |doi=10.1080/09546553.2015.1032035 |issn=0954-6553 |s2cid=56451099}} He was born into a poor family and did not attend any local schools, becoming a shepherd instead. Later on in his childhood, his family moved to the Soviet Union where he finished basic education and served in the Soviet Army. Then the family moved back to the Pankisi Gorge and later back to the Soviet Union to settle in Grozny where Shishani worked in construction before the outbreak of the First Chechen War.{{Cite web |title="Does it matter where one fights against Russians? Jihad is jihad, no matter the place" - Muslim al-Shishani |url=https://georgianjournal.ge/usa-news/28500-does-it-matter-where-one-fights-against-russians-jihad-is-jihad-no-matter-the-place-muslim-al-shishani.html |date=16 October 2014|access-date=7 March 2025 |website=Georgian Journal |language=en}}

He joined Ibn Khattab's group in 1995 using his wealth to support the group. During the Second Battle of Grozny he was severely wounded. After healing from his wounds he participated in the Battle of Vedeno alongside many other battles. He served as Khattab's aide.{{Cite web |last=Lister |first=Charles |date=8 September 2021 |title=Twenty Years After 9/11: The Fight for Supremacy in Northwest Syria and the Implications for Global Jihad |url=https://ctc.westpoint.edu/twenty-years-after-9-11-the-fight-for-supremacy-in-northwest-syria-and-the-implications-for-global-jihad/ |access-date=25 February 2025 |website=Combating Terrorism Center at West Point |language=en-US}} A few years later he was promoted to emir of Vedeno.{{cite web|url=http://www.chechensinsyria.com/?p=21316|title=Syria: Who is Muslim Abu Walid Shishani? Part One|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531144143/http://www.chechensinsyria.com/?p=21316|archivedate=31 May 2014|last=Paraszczuk|first=Joanna|date=26 March 2014|work=From Chechnya to Syria|accessdate=22 January 2025}} After the death of Ibn Khattab he also served with Abu al-Walid in Chechnya.

Shishani was appointed emir of the Sunzhensky District of Ingushetia on 11 May 2003 at a shura council meeting by Dokka Umarov, Shamil Basayev, Ruslan Gelayev, Vakha Arsanov, Abdul-Malik Mezhidov, and Abu al-Walid. He was in charge of multiple attacks against Russian forces in Ingushetia in 2003.{{cite web|url=http://www.chechensinsyria.com/?p=21316|title=Muslim Shishani led attacks on Russian troops deploying to Ingushetia in 2003|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509055650/http://www.chechensinsyria.com/?p=26167|archivedate=9 May 2019|last=Paraszczuk|first=Joanna|date=4 November 2018|work=From Chechnya to Syria|accessdate=11 January 2025}} An ambush near Galashki on 30 July employing a remote IED{{cite web |date=30 July 2003 |title=Chechen fighters kill five Russians |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2003/7/30/chechen-fighters-kill-five-russians |accessdate=10 January 2025 |work=Al Jazeera English}} killed five Russian servicemen and another attack on 7 August, utilizing an RPG-18 and machine guns, near Nesterovskaya, killed six Russian servicemen.

He was arrested on 11 October 2003.{{cite web|url=http://www.chechensinsyria.com/?p=21585|title=Syria: Russian Newspaper From 2003 Reports Arrest of Muslim Shishani|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531161251/http://www.chechensinsyria.com/?p=21585|archivedate=31 May 2014|last=Paraszczuk|first=Joanna|date=6 April 2014|work=From Chechnya to Syria|accessdate=15 January 2025}} According to Memorial, a Russian human rights organization, he and four other companions were abducted in Ordzhonikidzevskaya. He was eventually found jailed in Vladikavkaz.{{cite web|url=http://www.chechensinsyria.com/?p=21592|title=The Strange Tale of Muslim Shishani Part 2: 2003 Kidnapping & Arrest|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531155107/http://www.chechensinsyria.com/?p=21592|archivedate=31 May 2014|last=Paraszczuk|first=Joanna|date=6 April 2014|work=From Chechnya to Syria|accessdate=15 January 2025}} Shishani was "convicted of involvement in an illegal armed group" in 2004, though he was acquitted of arms smuggling charges.{{cite web|url=http://www.chechensinsyria.com/?p=21590|title=The Strange Tale Of Muslim Shishani Part 3: FSB Accused Of Attempting His Kidnap|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531142857/http://www.chechensinsyria.com/?p=21590|archivedate=31 May 2014|last=Paraszczuk|first=Joanna|date=7 April 2014|work=From Chechnya to Syria|accessdate=15 January 2025}} In February 2006 Shishani was acquitted on all charges by the Supreme Court of Ingushetia and quickly left the courthouse; afterwards the courthouse was "besieged" by agents who his Moscow Bar Association lawyer suspected to be part of the Federal Security Service (FSB).{{cite web|url=https://eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/6378/|title=Attempt to kidnap an acquitted Chechen resident from Ingushetia Supreme Court|publisher=Caucasian Knot|date=4 February 2006|access-date=8 January 2025}}

During the Russo-Georgian War a group that included Shishani notified the Georgian government that they had prepared 250 people in the gorge to fight against Russia but the war ended before they were called upon.

In 2008, he traveled to Dagestan and organized militants there as part of the Caucasus Emirate.{{cite web|url=https://gordonhahn.com/2015/10/20/report-an-anatomy-of-north-caucasus-tied-jihadi-groups-in-syria-and-iraq/|title=REPORT: An Anatomy of North Caucasus-Tied Jihadi Groups in Syria and Iraq|publisher=Russian & Eurasian Politics|date=20 October 2015|access-date=17 January 2025|author=Gordon M. Hahn}} Shishani was a prominent figure in the Caucasus Emirate where he mainly trained soldiers. His presence opened up a passage for fighters from Georgia to travel to Dagestan. He continued training soldiers in Dagestan until a month and a half before the Lopota incident which happened around mid-2012. After this, Shishani moved back to Georgia and tried multiple times to enter Chechnya and once he realised it was impossible, he went through Turkey to Syria.

Muslim Shishani established Junud al-Sham in 2012. Muslim Shishani's group first took part in active conflict during the 2013 Latakia offensive. During this offensive, Junud al-Sham captured numerous points including the strategic hilltop village of Durin, earning Shishani the nickname Sopka Durin meaning "Durin hilltop" in Russian. Muslim Shishani was also wounded as a result of the battles.{{Cite web |date=20 August 2013 |title=ShamCenter - Operation: Jabal Akrad - Jabal Durin - Deutsch|url=http://shamcenter.info/news/149/15/ShamCenter-Operation-Jabal-Akrad-Jabal-Durin-Deutsch/d,detail-de|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820122424/http://shamcenter.info/news/149/15/ShamCenter-Operation-Jabal-Akrad-Jabal-Durin-Deutsch/d,detail-de|archivedate=20 August 2013|access-date=30 March 2025 |website=Sham Center|lang=de}}

Later in October, Muslim Shishani, Abu Musa al Shishani and Sayfullakh Shishani merged their groups, which came under Muslim Shishani's command.{{cite web|url=http://www.jamestown.org/programs/edm/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=41748&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=27&cHash=c6284313ddb2fb5722b36786f9e16cab|title=Chechens Among the Syrian Rebels: Small in Number, but Influential|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614075909/http://www.jamestown.org/programs/edm/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=41748&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=27&cHash=c6284313ddb2fb5722b36786f9e16cab#.U5wA2PvP1S-|archivedate=14 June 2014|last=Vatchagaev|first=Mairbek|date=12 December 2013|work=Eurasia Daily Monitor|accessdate=11 January 2025}} Following this merger, Shishani was in Aleppo, where he trained fighters associated with Sayfullakh Shishani's jamaat.{{Cite web |date=26 March 2014 |title=Muslim Abu Walid Shishani Participating In Latakia Offensive |url=http://www.chechensinsyria.com/?p=21311 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531143544/http://www.chechensinsyria.com/?p=21311 |archivedate=31 May 2014 |access-date=23 January 2025 |work=From Chechnya To Syria}} The group took part in the 2014 Latakia offensive after the merger, capturing several key points along the Turkish border including the strategic Observatory 45 until they were forced to withdraw due to Syrian Arab Armed Forces (SAA) attacks. In September of that year, Shishani was sanctioned by the US State Department{{cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/syria-chechens-islamic-state-iraq/2462711.html|title=Behind Islamic State's Battlefield Gains, Battle-Hardened Chechens|publisher=Voice of America News|date=26 September 2014|access-date=4 January 2025|last=Eckel|first=Mike}} for reportedly building a base for jihadist foreign fighters in Syria.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-usa-sanctions-idUSKCN0HJ2HA20140924|title=U.S. imposes financial sanctions on Islamist fighters|publisher=Reuters|date=24 September 2014|access-date=4 January 2025}} Shishani was also in contact with Tarkhan Batirashvili (Abu Omar al-Shishani) before he joined Islamic State (ISIS). After joining ISIS, Abu Omar was approached by Muslim Shishani to persuade him that "the brutality of ISIS had nothing to do with Islam." Shishani blamed Batirashvili's inexperience for joining the group.

Shishani also played a role in the capture of Jisr as Shughour. On 22 April, the first day of the offensive, he is seen alongside his deputies Abu Turab al-Shishani and Abu Bakr al-Shishani. They are overlooking the city and communicating by radio.{{Cite web |date=23 April 2015 |title=Muslim Shishani & His Military Emir Reappear In Jisr Al-Shugur|work= From Chechnya To Syria |url=http://www.chechensinsyria.com/?p=23700 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528234516/http://www.chechensinsyria.com/?p=23700 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 May 2015 |access-date=8 April 2025 }} Two days later Shishani is seen in the city and on 26 April he is touring the city alongside Abu Bakr al-Shishani and a British fighter.{{Cite tweet |last=Lister |first=Charles |date=27 April 2015 |title=British Junud al-Sham fighter tours Jisr al-Shughour in #Idlib |user=Charles_Lister|number=592512194186760192 |access-date=31 March 2025 |work=Twitter}}{{Cite news|

url=https://archive.org/details/VictoryIsFromAllah-InsideJisrAsshugur-English.hd|title=Victory is from Allah - Inside Jisr asShugur - English.HD}}{{Primary source inline|date=April 2025}}

According to the Turkish newspaper Yeni Akit, Shishani participated in the 2018 Turkish offensive.{{Cite web |url=https://anfenglishmobile.com/news/chechen-commander-on-terror-list-participates-in-afrin-operation-24445 |title=Chechen commander on terror list participates in Afrin operation |date=25 January 2018 |work=ANF English|access-date=28 January 2025}} He denied this and said that his group was in Hama countryside during the SAA offensive.{{Cite web |title=Tarkhan’s Jamaat (Katiba İbad ar-Rahman) Fighting In Hama Alongside Muslim Shishani|work=From Chechnya To Syria |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204000107/http://www.chechensinsyria.com/?p=25655|archivedate=4 February 2018|date=29 January 2018|url=http://www.chechensinsyria.com/?p=25655|access-date=23 January 2025}}{{Cite web |date=19 December 2017 |title=Чеченский командир рапортует об успехах в боях с сирийской армией |url=https://www.kavkazr.com/a/28926316.html |access-date=27 January 2025 |website=Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty |language=ru}} In an interview from October 2018 he stressed the importance of Muslims needing to fund jihad. He also mentioned that there were injustices in many groups in Syria and that these groups regularly fought each other. He mentioned that this infighting could have been remedied if fighters were brought together and were financially supported. Later on in the interview he envisioned that "the Ummah will soon rejoice over our victories." At the end of the interview he advises the Mujahideen in Syria to be patient and prepare for the next round of jihad.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=ePB9ynT6WQHCXt4M&v=j8rDHAQ09BM&feature=youtu.be |title=Chechen War Veteran Muslim Shishani Addresses the Muslim Ummah |date=21 October 2018|access-date=24 January 2025 |via=YouTube}}{{Primary source inline|date=April 2025}}

Junud al-Sham returned to the Latakia front after the 2018 offensive. They took part in many local battles during the broader Syrian Army offensives like the Battle of Kabanah,{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable (WP:NOTRS).|date=February 2025}} where loyalist attacks were repelled.{{Cite web|last=Waters |first=Gregory |date=6 January 2020 |title=Battle for Kabani: A Rare Defeat for the Syrian Army in 2019 |url=https://international-review.org/battle-for-kabani-a-rare-defeat-for-the-syrian-army/ |access-date=16 February 2025 |website=International Review |language=en-GB}} Their military activities lasted up to the 2020 ceasefire.{{Cite tweet|date=21 February 2020 |title=German foreign fighter with Junud al-Sham with a Mosin Nagant which was heavily customized with a custom stock, rebarreled with a PKT barrel and is fitted with a Fortuna One 3L/6L COTS thermal scope, likely on #Ribat in #Latakia. |user=AnalystMick|number=1230839846811426816}}{{better source needed|date=January 2025}}

Shishani was also seen in a video from early 2019 encouraging people to donate to militants.{{Cite web |title=Cryptocurrency Crowdfunding Platform Telegram Channel Posts Video Of Militant Encouraging Viewers To Donate Through Bitcoin |url=https://www.memri.org/cjlab/cryptocurrency-crowdfunding-platform-telegram-channel-posts-video-of-militant-encouraging-viewers-to-donate-through-bitcoin |access-date=6 April 2025 |website=MEMRI |language=en|date=8 January 2019}}{{Cite web |title=MEMRI CJL Compilation Video Shows Examples Of Jihadi Groups Using Bitcoin |url=https://www.memri.org/cjlab/memri-cjl-compilation-video-shows-examples-of-jihadi-groups-using-bitcoin#_edn2 |access-date=6 April 2025 |website=MEMRI |language=en|date=26 February 2019}}

In 2021 members from Junud al-Sham were involved in numerous criminal activities and used the group as cover to evade conviction. Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) demanded Shishani cooperate to get the criminals arrested. Shishani released a statement wherein he said that the criminals were not in the group when the crimes were committed. He also clarified that he was asked to dismantle Junud al-Sham and leave Idlib after a summon from the HTS-affiliated General Security Service on 22 June. HTS affiliated media released a video on 8 July where it is claimed that the group did not fight during heavy offensives in 2015 and 2016. Furthermore criminals purportedly belonging to Junud al-Sham said that they were members of the group. Following this Shishani disbanded the group on 8 July and the group left their positions near Tuffahiyeh which were taken over by the Turkistan Islamic Party.{{Cite web |date=9 July 2021 |title=HTS and Muslim al-Shishani: What Happened? |url=https://levant24.com/articles/2021/07/hts-and-muslim-al-shishani-what-happened/ |access-date=3 January 2025 |website=Levant24}}

In October 2021 there were clashes in the Bayirbucak Turkmen Mountain region between Jundallah and HTS. Shishani was allied with Jundullah but was forced to abandon them after learning that HTS was mobilising troops to fight Jundullah. He left the area of conflict with 70 soldiers.{{Cite web |date=27 October 2021 |title=Muslim Shishani Steps Aside as HTS Concludes Security Operations against Jundullah |url=https://levant24.com/articles/2021/10/muslim-shishani-steps-aside-as-hts-concludes-security-operations-against-jundullah/ |access-date=23 January 2025 |website=levant24 |language=en-US}} Shishani later settled with his family near the Christian village of Al-Yacoubiyah in the Jisr ash-Shughur countryside. That December, the Russian Air Force bombed his residence, killing a bodyguard and their child while failing to kill Shishani.{{Cite news |title=Today #Russia carried out its second ad hominem airstrike in #Idlib since 2015. A Muslim Shishani's guard (& his son) were killed, 3-4 of his children & his wife are wounded. Other casualties are from nearby families. |url=https://twitter.com/QalaatAlMudiq/status/1469727953982472192 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20211211175816/https://twitter.com/QalaatAlMudiq/status/1469727953982472192 |archive-date=11 December 2021 |access-date=12 January 2025 |work=Twitter |language=en}}

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Category:1972 births

Category:Leaders of jihadist groups

Category:Living people

Category:People of the Chechen wars

Category:People of the Syrian civil war

Category:Muslims from Georgia (country)