Kifah Jayyousi
San Diego, CA
American Islamic Group (AIG); Algerian Armed Islamic Group (GIA)
Jordanian national and naturalized American citizen Kifah Jayyousi founded the American Islamic Group (AIG) in San Diego, California.[1] Jayyousi was a supporter and follower of Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, a blind cleric who preached at mosques in Brooklyn and Jersey City. Rahman was sentenced to life in October 1995 for masterminding the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Under the leadership of Jayyousi, AIG published a newsletter, the Islam Report, in which it promoted violent jihad and reported on developments in the prosecution of Sheikh Rahman.[2]
According to a criminal complaint filed against Kifah Jayyousi in December 2004, "the main purpose of the AIG and the Islam Report was to recruit fighters and solicit money to support the Salafist violent jihad movement." Jayyousi in fact described AIG as "the voice of the mujahideen." He used the Islam Report "to disseminate accomplishments of the mujahideen in various 'theatres of jihad' describing in graphic detail murders, executions and massacres committed by them."[3] The AIG also supported the activities of the Armed Islamic Group of Algeria (GIA). The January 1995 issue of AIG's Islam Report said "we should be proud to identify with GIA and other mujahideen."[4] In August 2007, a federal jury convicted Jayyousi and two other defendants with conspiracy to murder individuals overseas and providing material support to al Qaeda and other terrorist groups.[5]
[1] USA v. Jayyousi, et al., 04-CR-3565, Criminal Complaint (SD FL December 1, 2004)
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Islam Report, January 1995.
[5] USA v. Hassoun, et al., 04-CR-60001, Verdict (SD FL August 16, 2007)
