Mahan Abedin
Mr. Abedin co-edited Unmasking Terror: A Global Review of Terrorist Actitives (2005). He is an expert on Iran, Iraq and Islamic movements and ideologies. Mr. Abedin makes contributions to numerous publications, including the Beirut-based Daily Star and Asia Times. He gained his MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics in 2000. Mr. Abedin has since worked as a consultant on financial, political and security affairs related to the Middle East.
Contact Mahan Abedin
Articles by Mahan Abedin
Mujahideen Shura Council in Iraq: Fact or Fiction?
In a statement released on March 23, the newly-formed Mujahideen Shura Council (MSC) in Iraq announced that on the previous day a combatant from the "Abu Dujana al-Ansari Brigade" (a
The Iraqi Media’s Response to Recent Sectarian Tension in Iraq
A cartoon appearing in the al-Sabah daily on March 2 highlights an increasingly prominent feature of Iraq's post-Saddam media. Depicting the malign hand of a writer (with serpent like fingers)
Anbar Tribesmen Take on al-Zarqawi
A report by al-Hayat on January 26 that “Tribal Popular Committees” have been formed in Ramadi (capital of Anbar province) to hunt down Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and his followers, “for
Violence and Iraq’s Constitutional Referendum: An Interview with Fareed Sabri
Fareed Sabri is the spokesman of the Iraqi Islamic Party in the United Kingdom. He also served on the party's leadership council in the late 1990s. This interview was conducted
Al-Zarqawi Reportedly Moves to New Area of Iraq
A report by al-Jazeera satellite TV on January 22, citing Iraqi military officials who claim that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the head of al-Qaeda in Iraq, is in the Diyala province
Iraqi Rebels Fill Political Vacuum
As Iraqi political parties continue to wrangle over the composition of the new government, the insurgents have taken the initiative with a series of bold strikes over the past 10
Assessing the Iraqi Elections’ Impact on Terrorism and Insurgency
As Iraq staged its first election for a full-term parliament since the fall of Saddam Hussein, there are increasing hopes in Washington and London that the pace of the steadily
New Security Realities and al-Qaeda’s Changing Tactics: An Interview with Saad al-Faqih
Dr. Saad al-Faqih heads the Saudi opposition group, Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia (MIRA), and is a widely acknowledged expert on al-Qaeda. Terrorism Monitor Editor Mahan Abedin conducted this
The Battle within Syria: An Interview with Muslim Brotherhood Leader Ali Bayanouni
Ali Sadreddine Bayanouni was born in 1938 in Aleppo and brought up in a religious family, where his father and grandfather were both well known Muslim scholars. He joined the
Editor’s Note on Syria Special Issue
Syria is an enigmatic country. Ruled by a Ba’athist regime whose top leadership is drawn from a minority religious sect, Syria must contend with the enmity of the West and
How to Deal with Britain’s Muslim Extremists? An Interview with Kamal Helbawy
Dr. Kamal Helbawy was born in Egypt in 1939 and joined the Muslim Brotherhood at the age of twelve, largely receiving his education in Islam from them. After working in
Anbar Province and Emerging Trends in the Iraqi Insurgency
The recent upsurge of fighting in Iraq’s restive Anbar province is one of many indicators that some of Iraq’s insurgents are evolving into organized guerilla formations. This comes at a
Al-Qaeda: In Decline or Preparing for the Next Attack? An Interview with Saad al-Faqih
Dr. Saad al-Faqih heads the Saudi opposition group, Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia (MIRA), and is a widely acknowledged expert on al-Qaeda. Terrorism Monitor Editor Mahan Abedin conducted this
Al-Muhajiroun in the UK: An Interview with Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed
Jamestown Special Correspondent from London Mahan Abedin speaks with Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed. Founder of Hizb-ut-Tahrir in the United Kingdom, Bakri Mohammed later started the Al-Muhajiroun organization, which he now
Politics and Violence in Iraq: An Interview with Fareed Sabri
Fareed Sabri is the spokesman of the Iraqi Islamic Party in the United Kingdom. He also served on the party's leadership council in the late 1990s. This interview was conducted
Terror in Iraq: An Interview with Dr. Mustafa Alani
Mustafa Alani is an Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London. Born in Baghdad, Alani left Iraq in 1975. His focus is on the politics and
The Iranian Intelligence Services and the War On Terror
Afghanistan and Pakistan The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 did not come as a surprise to the Iranian intelligence community, primarily because they had been engaged in their own
Analyzing Ansar Al-Islam
Ansar al-Islam is often touted as the Kurdish constituency of al-Qaeda. It has been grabbing the headlines from its inception in September 2001. Reports have traced its influence from Afghanistan
An Interview with Hamid Bayati
Hamid Bayati became the deputy foreign minister in political affairs and bilateral relations in Iraq in February, 2004 and is a member of the General Assembly and the central committee
Inside Hizb ut-Tahrir: An Interview with Jalaluddin Patel, Leader of Hizb ut-Tahrir in the UK
The following are excerpts from the interview with Jalaluddin Patel, which was conducted on 29 July, 2004 at the London Continental Hotel. A complete transcript of the interview is available
Accessing The Present And Future Threat In Saudi Arabia: An Interview With Saad Al-faqih
Dr. al-Faqih heads the Saudi opposition group, Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia (MIRA), and is a widely acknowledged expert on al-Qaeda. Terrorism Monitor Editor Mahan Abedin conducted this interview
Iran: Understanding The Relationship with Pakistan and Al-qaeda
Aside from Afghanistan and Iraq, the U.S. led war on terrorism has affected the geopolitical fortunes of Iran and Pakistan more than any other country in West Asia and the
Editor’s Note: 9/11 Anniversary Special Issue
Three years after the terrorist attacks on the United States and the declaration of war on terrorism by the U.S. government, the enigma of al-Qaeda remains all-pervasive. This edition marks
Terrorism Cases in the UK: An Interview with Mudassar Arani
Mudassar Arani was born in Uganda and moved to Great Britain in 1972. She is a leading UK Human Rights attorney representing terrorist suspects in Britain, among them the case
From Mujahid to Activist: An Interview with a Libyan Veteran of the Afghan Jihad
Noman Benotman is a veteran of the Afghan Jihad and former member of the Shura Committee of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), a group which sought to overthrow the
Singapore: Continuing Threats and Progress in the War on Terror
The following is an interview with Mr. Michael Eng Cheng Teo, the High Commissioner (Ambassador) of Singapore to the UK. He is concurrently accredited as Ambassador to Ireland. Mr. Teo
Post-Election Terrorist Trends in Iraq
Half-heartedly trumpeted as a potential breakthrough against the insurgency, the Iraqi elections – in the short-term at least – seem to have made the security difficulties even more intractable. Indeed,
The Essence of Al Qaeda: An Interview With Saad Al-Faqih
Dr. al-Faqih heads the Saudi opposition group, Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia (MIRA), and is a widely acknowledged expert on al Qaeda. Terrorism Monitor Special Correspondent Mahan Abedin conducted
Libya, Radical Islam and the War on Terror: A Libyan Oppositionist’s View
Born in 1947, Ashur Shamis was one of the founding members of the National Front for the Salvation of Libya in 1981. He is also a founding member of the
Mojahedin-e-Khalq: Saddam’s Iranian Allies
The Mojahedin-e-Khalq Organisation (MKO) is arguably the most controversial and perplexing topic in terrorism today. It is one of the greatest ironies of the recent Iraq war that an organization
Editor’s Note on Special Chechnya Issue
The deterioration of the war in Chechnya has very serious consequences for security and stability in the entire Caucasus region. The Western media often accept the Russian version of events,
A Saudi Oppositionist’s View: An Interview With Dr. Muhammad Al-Massari
A telephone interview conducted on November 26, 2003, by Terrorism Monitor correspondent Mahan Abedin with the head of the London-based Saudi opposition group, Committee for the Defence of Legitimate Rights
Sciri: An American Ally In Iraq?
SCIRI The United States faces three adversaries in its attempts to stabilize and democratize Iraq. These are indigenous Arab Nationalists (Baathist or otherwise), foreign Sunni Islamists and Shia extremists. The
An Interview With Jamal Khashoggi
The following is an excerpt from Jamestown Correspondent Mahan Abedin's interview with Jamal Khashoggi, A Saudi journalist and media advisor to the Saudi Ambassador to the UK, Prince Turki al-Faisal.
Are we Winning the War on Terror? An Interview with Michael Scheuer
Michael Scheuer served in the CIA for 22 years before resigning earlier this year. He is the once anonymous author of Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the War
EDITOR’S NOTE ON SPECIAL CHECHNYA ISSUE
The deterioration of the war in Chechnya has very serious consequences for security and stability in the entire Caucasus region. The Western media often accept the Russian version of events,
LIBYA, RADICAL ISLAM AND THE WAR ON TERROR: A LIBYAN OPPOSITIONIST’S VIEW
Born in 1947, Ashur Shamis was one of the founding members of the National Front for the Salvation of Libya in 1981. He is also a founding member of the
FROM MUJAHID TO ACTIVIST: AN INTERVIEW WITH A LIBYAN VETERAN OF THE AFGHAN JIHAD
From Mujahid to Activist: An Interview with a Libyan Veteran of the Afghan Jihad Noman Benotman is a veteran of the Afghan Jihad and former member of the Shura Committee
POST-ELECTION TERRORIST TRENDS IN IRAQ
Half-heartedly trumpeted as a potential breakthrough against the insurgency, the Iraqi elections – in the short-term at least – seem to have made the security difficulties even more intractable. Indeed,
SINGAPORE: CONTINUING THREATS AND PROGRESS IN THE WAR ON TERROR
The following is an interview with Mr. Michael Eng Cheng Teo, the High Commissioner (Ambassador) of Singapore to the UK. He is concurrently accredited as Ambassador to Ireland. Mr. Teo
Are we Winning the War on Terror? An Interview with Michael Scheuer
Michael Scheuer served in the CIA for 22 years before resigning earlier this year. He is the once anonymous author of Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the War
Terrorism Cases in the UK: An Interview with Mudassar Arani
Mudassar Arani was born in Uganda and moved to Great Britain in 1972. She is a leading UK Human Rights attorney representing terrorist suspects in Britain, among them the case
EDITOR’S NOTE: 9/11 ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE
Three years after the terrorist attacks on the United States and the declaration of war on terrorism by the U.S. government, the enigma of al-Qaeda remains all-pervasive. This edition marks
Iran: Understanding The Relationship With Pakistan And Al-qaeda
Aside from Afghanistan and Iraq, the U.S. led war on terrorism has affected the geopolitical fortunes of Iran and Pakistan more than any other country in West Asia and the
Accessing The Present And Future Threat In Saudi Arabia: An Interview With Saad Al-faqih
Dr. al-Faqih heads the Saudi opposition group, Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia (MIRA), and is a widely acknowledged expert on al-Qaeda. Terrorism Monitor Editor Mahan Abedin conducted this interview
Inside Hizb ut-Tahrir: An Interview With Jalaluddin Patel, Leader Of Hizb ut-Tahrir in the UK
The following are excerpts from the interview with Jalaluddin Patel, which was conducted on 29 July, 2004 at the London Continental Hotel. A complete transcript of the interview is available
An Interview With Jamal Khashoggi
The following is an excerpt from Jamestown Correspondent Mahan Abedin's interview with Jamal Khashoggi, A Saudi journalist and media advisor to the Saudi Ambassador to the UK, Prince Turki al-Faisal.
An Interview With Hamid Bayati
Hamid Bayati became the deputy foreign minister in political affairs and bilateral relations in Iraq in February, 2004 and is a member of the General Assembly and the central committee
Analyzing Ansar Al-islam
Ansar al-Islam is often touted as the Kurdish constituency of al-Qaeda. It has been grabbing the headlines from its inception in September 2001. Reports have traced its influence from Afghanistan
The Iranian Intelligence Services And The War On Terror
Afghanistan and Pakistan The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 did not come as a surprise to the Iranian intelligence community, primarily because they had been engaged in their own
Terror In Iraq: An Interview With Dr. Mustafa Alani
Mustafa Alani is an Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London. Born in Baghdad, Alani left Iraq in 1975. His focus is on the politics and
Al-Muhajiroun In The UK: An Interview With Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed
Jamestown Special Correspondent from London Mahan Abedin speaks with Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed. Founder of Hizb-ut-Tahrir in the United Kingdom, Bakri Mohammed later started the Al-Muhajiroun organization, which he now
The Essence Of Al Qaeda: An Interview With Saad Al-faqih
Dr. al-Faqih heads the Saudi opposition group, Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia (MIRA), and is a widely acknowledged expert on al Qaeda. Terrorism Monitor Special Correspondent Mahan Abedin conducted
Mojahedin-e-khalq: Saddam’s Iranian Allies
The Mojahedin-e-Khalq Organisation (MKO) is arguably the most controversial and perplexing topic in terrorism today. It is one of the greatest ironies of the recent Iraq war that an organization
A Saudi Oppositionist’s View: An Interview With Dr. Muhammad Al-massari
A telephone interview conducted on November 26, 2003, by Terrorism Monitor correspondent Mahan Abedin with the head of the London-based Saudi opposition group, Committee for the Defence of Legitimate Rights
Sciri: An American Ally In Iraq?
SCIRI The United States faces three adversaries in its attempts to stabilize and democratize Iraq. These are indigenous Arab Nationalists (Baathist or otherwise), foreign Sunni Islamists and Shia extremists. The