American Somali children join jihad

ICC Note

Some American Somalis have joined Islamists insurgents in Somalia . The Islamists are fighting to create Islamic state where Christians and other religious minorities would be persecuted. In Islamic state, it would be impossible for Muslims to convert to Christianity.

By Judy West

02/20/2009 Somalia (Religious Intelligence)-Several Somali children have left the US to join the ‘jihad’ against foreign forces in Somalia , it has been reported.

According to the MidEast News Source, the children, mainly from Minneapolis and Minnesota left the country in secret, with one mother claiming that the first she knew of it was when her son called her from Mogadishu . She had earlier reported her son missing to police.

Observers believe that American children are now joining the jihad, and they have suggested that some were involved in a string of suicide attacks in Somaliland and Puntland.

It seems that their involvement coincided with the arrival of Ethiopian troops, who defeated the Islamic Courts Union. Following the recent peace deal, the Ethiopian troops have now departed.

Most of the children appear to have links with Abubakar Alsiddiq mosque in Minneapolis . But the imam there, Sheikh Abdirahman Ahmed, claimed the accusations were baseless and denied that he was recruiting fighters. There are also concerns in Europe and other continents that children are leaving for jihad in Somalia .