Explore the background, motives and often surprising locations of the world’s most notorious extremists and funders
The Counter Extremism Project today launched the Extremist Leadership Database, a unique searchable list and interactive map highlighting information on more than 50 of the world’s most dangerous extremist leaders and financiers in an easy-to-use format.
“The Extremist Leadership Database is part of our commitment to building a best-in-class resource for information on extremist groups, their supporters and the social and financial networks on which these groups rely,” said CEP CEO Ambassador Mark Wallace. “Our Database, which we will continue to expand, incorporates information on the background, training, motives and connections among extremists and makes it accessible. We hope this new tool contributes to a better understanding and appreciation of the growing threat to world peace and progress posed by extremists, their supporters and financial enablers.”
The information on extremist leaders is presented in both list form and graphically on a world map. In either format, users can search by name, by political leader, by financial leader or filter by extremist groups, such as: Al-Shabab; Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP); Boko Haram; Golden Dawn; Hamas; Hezbollah; ISIS; Khorasan; Muslim Brotherhood; and the Nusra Front.
Following is a sampling of data available on CEP’s Extremist Leadership Database:
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Al-Baghdadi has served as ISIS’s caliph, Arabic for “successor,” since June 2014, when he declared himself the chief religious, political, and military leader of all Muslims.
Ibrahim al-Asiri, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s chief bomb-maker. Al-Asiri is notorious for designing a score of difficult-to-detect bombs aimed at the United States, including the 2009 and 2012 underwear bomb plots, as well as the 2010 cargo plane bomb plot.
Khaled Meshaal, leader of Hamas’s political bureau. Meshaal resides in Qatar where he acts as Hamas’s public face. Reports in January 2015 speculated that Qatar might expel Meshaal and other Hamas leaders amid pressure from neighboring Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, but thus far, that has not occurred.
Abd al-Aziz bin Khalifa al-Attiyah, Qatari national and alleged terrorist fundraiser and financier for al-Qaeda and the Nusra Front. According to Lebanese and American authorities, al-Attiyah has funneled money to al-Qaeda and its Syrian affiliate, the Nusra Front. He is believed to be living in Qatar. Al-Attiyah is the cousin of Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid al-Attiyah and former Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah, who oversees Qatar’s enforcement against terror financing.
Mohammed Deif, Hamas bomb-maker and the leader of the military wing of Hamas. Deif has been on Israel’s “most wanted” list for more than 20 years. He is credited with masterminding rocket launching techniques, as well as suicide bus bombings, soldier kidnappings, and tunnel-digging.
Jehad Serwan Mostafa, trainer, recruiter and social media expert for al-Shabab. Mostafa is an American citizen who moved to Somalia in 2005 and joined the extremist group. Mostafa is on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list and has a $5 million bounty on his head.
Abu Muhammad al-Golani, leader of al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate, the Nusra Front. During the 2003 Iraq War, al-Golani fought American troops and rose quickly through al-Qaeda’s ranks. Al-Golani spent time in Lebanon and then in U.S. military prison in Iraq. After his release in 2008, he worked alongside then-leader of AQI Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Al-Golani formed the Nusra Front in 2012 in Syria.
Abdallah Ghanim Mafuz Muslim al-Khawar, U.S.-designated al-Qaeda facilitator and financier based in Qatar. Al-Khawar has reportedly delivered money, messages and other material support to al-Qaeda leaders in Iran and facilitated the travel of al-Qaeda recruits to Afghanistan.
To explore CEP's Extremist Leadership Database, click here.
For more information about the Counter Extremism Project, please visit our website.
About The Counter Extremism Project (CEP)
The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) is a not-for-profit, non-partisan, international policy organization formed to combat the growing threat from extremist ideology. Led by a renowned group of former world leaders and former diplomats it will aim to combat extremism by pressuring financial support networks, countering the narrative of extremists and their online recruitment, and advocating for strong laws, policies and regulations.