Islamic Movement of Afghanistan
Encyclopedia
Islamic Movement of Afghanistan is a political party
and former faction of the Afghan Northern Alliance (United Front) in Afghanistan
. The movement is registered as a political party with the Ministry of Justice. From its foundation to 2005, the movement was led by Ayatollah
Muhammad Asif Muhsini
. The movement emerged in 1978, as a political formation of non- Shiites. Initially the movement was inspired by the Islamic revolutionary ideas of Ali Shari'ati, but over time this influence waned.
During the 1980s, the movement was part of the 'Tehran Eight', an alliance of Shiite mujahedin factions supported by Iran
that fought against the PDPA
government and Soviet
troops. The movement joined the Hezb-e Wahdat, which was intended as a united Shiite political front, but soon bolted out of it. During the Taliban years, it joined the 'Northern Alliance'.
After the US occupation of Afghanistan, the movement was divided into two. A dissident sector broke away, and formed the People's Islamic Movement of Afghanistan. The dissidents, led by Seyyed Hossein Anwari, were based amongst the militia forces of the movement and had a more secular political outlook.
In February 2005, Muhsini resigned as leader of the movement. Said Mohammad Ali Jawid
, who has served in Hamid Karzai
's first cabinet in 2001, became the new leader of the movement.
In April 2005, the movement joined the National Understanding Front of Afghanistan
, a 12-member front of opposition parties. However, the front soon became inactive.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
and former faction of the Afghan Northern Alliance (United Front) in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. The movement is registered as a political party with the Ministry of Justice. From its foundation to 2005, the movement was led by Ayatollah
Ayatollah
Ayatollah is a high ranking title given to Usuli Twelver Shī‘ah clerics. Those who carry the title are experts in Islamic studies such as jurisprudence, ethics, and philosophy and usually teach in Islamic seminaries. The next lower clerical rank is Hojatoleslam wal-muslemin...
Muhammad Asif Muhsini
Muhammad Asif Muhsini
Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Asif Muhsini is a Twelver shi'a marja from Afghanistan. He is the founder of the Islamic Movement of Afghanistan . He was born in Kandahar to an ethnic Tajik Shia family...
. The movement emerged in 1978, as a political formation of non- Shiites. Initially the movement was inspired by the Islamic revolutionary ideas of Ali Shari'ati, but over time this influence waned.
During the 1980s, the movement was part of the 'Tehran Eight', an alliance of Shiite mujahedin factions supported by Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
that fought against the PDPA
People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan
The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan was a communist party established on the 1 January 1965. While a minority, the party helped former president of Afghanistan, Mohammed Daoud Khan, to overthrow his cousin, Mohammed Zahir Shah, and established Daoud's Republic of Afghanistan...
government and Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
troops. The movement joined the Hezb-e Wahdat, which was intended as a united Shiite political front, but soon bolted out of it. During the Taliban years, it joined the 'Northern Alliance'.
After the US occupation of Afghanistan, the movement was divided into two. A dissident sector broke away, and formed the People's Islamic Movement of Afghanistan. The dissidents, led by Seyyed Hossein Anwari, were based amongst the militia forces of the movement and had a more secular political outlook.
In February 2005, Muhsini resigned as leader of the movement. Said Mohammad Ali Jawid
Said Mohammad Ali Jawid
Sayed Mohammad Ali Jawid or Said Mohammad Ali Jawid is the leader of Harkat party Afghanistan. He was born in Polebaraq, Mazar-e-Sharif, in the Islamic calendar year 1330 in a poor and religious family. He completed his preliminary education in Afghanistan and moved to Najaf, Iraq for higher...
, who has served in Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai, GCMG is the 12th and current President of Afghanistan, taking office on 7 December 2004. He became a dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001...
's first cabinet in 2001, became the new leader of the movement.
In April 2005, the movement joined the National Understanding Front of Afghanistan
National Understanding Front of Afghanistan
National Understanding Front of Afghanistan was an alliance of opposition parties in Afghanistan. It was founded in April 2005, with the intention of jointly contesting elections. It did however become inactive within a couple of months...
, a 12-member front of opposition parties. However, the front soon became inactive.