Gang Culture

Alshabab and Hizbul-Islam Culture

Birth and Expansion

Gangs evolve from being turf and brotherhood oriented to an organization involved with criminal enterprise.

A group of small clan-oriented courts in Southern Somalia evolved into Islamic courts union which gave birth to Al-Shabab and other religious gangsters.

Leadership

Leaders issue orders and benefit from the gang's activities. 

Leadership authorizes mass murder and claim credit for the terror activities carried out by loosely connected units.

Law

Gangs break the law to obtain funding for gang activities or to promote the gang's reputation on the streets.

Total disregard for the state sovereignty, and the sanctity of the principles of Islam.  Funds come from the Gulf States as well as Alqaa’ida sources in Somalia and in the Diaspora

Slogan

Certain types of clothing, colors, tattoos, or brands.

Emulate Alqaa’ida banners, and slogans (A black flag with the Shahada on it).

Objective

Most gang members crave power, or "juice" as it is known in gang slang.

Members crave for draconian rule that virtually eradicate every sane, thinking Muslim.

Motives for recruitment

Identity, recognition, belonging, money,  disenfranchisement, and general breakdown of social values

Very much the same.  Most Alshabab/Hizbul-Is.. Fighters are disenfranchised youth who have no education or income.  War is a job as well as a short cut to ‘paradise’.

Membership

Gang members are told they will be killed if they try to get out.

Zero tolerance for disobedience and desertion.  Alshabab assassinated many runaways from its crime enterprise.

Media

Gang culture highly glamorizes reports of their brutality by the media. 

Alshabab glamorizes mass murder of innocent citizens including students, teachers, women and children.

Affiliation

Most gangs align with large major city gangs: Crips, Bloods, Folk Nation, People Nation, Blackstone Rangers, etc.

Alshabab is an affiliate of Alqaa’ida, Taliban, and other outlawed organizations.

Principle

Reputation: is based by having the most "juice".

Respect: is carried to the extreme.

Retaliation:  No challenge goes unanswered.

Very much the same.  Recall the mass killings that took place in Hargeisa, Beledweyne, and Mogadishu.

Graffiti

Signs drawn in the neighborhood show gang affiliation.  Gang members are not all one ethnic group.

AlShabab and their affiliates display Alqaa’ida signs and affiliation.  Alshabab includes Somalis, Arabs, Afghans, and African terrorists.

Motto

“Mess with the best die like the rest”

“Undergo the ultimate test of life. Meet Allah before your eyes. Carry out suicidal terrorism, and go to PARADISE!”