1. ABU SAYYAF GROUP
Origins, Objectives, and Doctrines
Taieba Kohistany

2. ORIGINS OF ASG Early 1980s Abdurajak Janjalani 1991 Afghan-Soviet War
Filipino fundamentalists & Mujahideen vs. Soviets
Abdurajak Janjalani
Studied and trained under Professor Abdul Rasul Sayyaf
Returned home & formed Mujahideen Commando Freedom Fighters (MCFF) in 1990
Gained attraction from existing Filipino Muslim insurgent groups – Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) & Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
1991
Officially established Abu Sayyaf Group

3. OBJECTIVES First formed to create homeland for Bangsamoro
Create a pure independent Islamic state in Mindanao, South Philippines
Janjalani declared justice through jihad
ASG objective should be a total Islamic state, not autonomy, independence, nor a revolution

4. DOCTRINES OF ASG
Rooted deep in radical Islamic ideology and Wahhabi theology
Come from neither leftist or rightist thought
Janjalani believed in devotion to Jihad fi Sabilillah, a war for the sake of God
Necessary in order to procure the “Four Basic Truths”

5. CONCLUSION Original goal abandoned because death of Janjalani
Growing menace to society
Loose alliance of many groups controlled by radical Muslim leaders
Still has strong support from local Muslim population
Still has strong capability to plan piracy and launch maritime terrorism