Lebanon: Group named Esbat Al-Ansar (Band of Supporters, Partisans League) (Esbat al Ansar, Osbat Al-Ansar) that operates out of the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain Al-Hilweh (Ain el-Hilweh, Ain el-Helweh), east of Sidon; membership and activities since 1995; its leader, Ahmad Abdel-Karim Saadi (Mohammed Abdel Karim al-Saadi, Ahmad Abdel-Karim al-Saadi) also known as Abu Mehjan (Abu Majan, Abu Mahjan)

Esbat Al-Ansar, a "Sunni fundamentalist group", was founded in 1985 under the name Ansar Allah (Supporters of God) (IPS 11 Jan. 2000). Since 1991, its leader has been a Palestinian named Ahmad Abdel-Karim Saadi also known as Abu Mahjan "who brought the group closer to the Wahhabist traditions and advocates armed struggle against democracy" (ibid.). Esbat Al-Ansar has been described as a "Wahabi faction which follows the main school of religious thought in Sunni Saudi Arabia" (DPA 24 Mar. 1997).

In March 1997, three members of Esbat Al-Ansar were hanged after being convicted by the Lebanese authorities of the 1995 murder of Sheikh Nizar Halabi, the leader of a Sunni Muslim group named Al-Ahbash (Association of Islamic Philanthropic Projects [AIPP], Society for Islamic Charitable Activities) (Xinhua 24 Mar. 1997; DPA 24 March 1997; UPI 24 Mar. 1997). " (24 Mar. 1997). The three men were Khaled Hamed and Ahmed Al-Kassem, both Lebanese, and Mounir Abboud, a Palestinian (Xinhua 24 Mar. 1997; DPA 24 Mar. 1997). In relation to this case, the Lebanese court also sentenced to death in absentia Ahmed Abdel-Karim Saadi, who was "believed to be hiding" in the Ain Al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in Southern Lebanon (ibid.). In June 1999, Middle East Intelligence Bulletin reported that he "openly resides in the camp." (ibid.). As of October 2000, Ahmed Abdel-Karim Saadi was still reportedly in the camp (AFP 29 Oct. 2000; Jane's Intelligence Review 13 Oct. 2000). AFP specifies that Lebanese security forces surround the camp but do not enter (29 Oct. 2000), as international conventions prevent them from entering refugee camps (Washington Report Sept. 1998).

In June 1999, Middle East Intelligence Bulletin reported that "other members of Esbat Al Ansar believed to be in hiding in Ain Al-Hilweh include Ahmad Toufic Hassa Rifaai, Nasser Ahmad Ismail and Chehab Khodr Qaddour, who are charged with attempting to assassinate north Lebanon mufti Sheikh Taha Sabonji and plotting to kill Sheikh Taha Naji, the current leader of the AIPP."

Lebanese Security believes that Ahmad Abdel-Karim Saadi has been involved in several murders:

including four judges at a courthouse in Sidon last year. An attack on the Russian Embassy in Beirut last January was reportedly carried out by one of Abu Mahjan's supporters, according to the Lebanese authorities. In late January, a military court prosecutor charged Abu Mahjan with aiding Islamic militants in northern Lebanon who were responsible for killing 13 Lebanese Army soldiers in the first week of the year. If endorsed by military tribunal, it will be the second death sentence passed in absentia against Abu Mahjan (Jane's Intelligence Review 13 Oct. 2000).

Jane's Intelligence Review also reported claims by "a senior Lebanese military officer" that Abu Mahjan has links with Arafat (ibid.). However, on Sunday 28 October 2000, Esbat Al-Ansar participated in a gunfight with a rival faction, Yasser Arafat's Fatah (AFP 29 Oct. 2000). The fighting, which lasted for half an hour, took place in the Ain Al-Hilweh refugee camp (ibid.). A member of the Fatah was killed in the incident (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 29 October 2000. "One Killed, two Injured in Palestinian Infighting at Refugee Camp." (NEXIS)

Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). 24 March 1997. "Demonstrators Disrupt Funeral for Executed Killers of Cleric." (NEXIS)

Inter Press Service (IPS). 11 January 2000. "Nations Ends Week of Fundamentalist Violence." (NEXIS)

Jane's Intelligence Review [Surrey]. 13 October 2000. "Palestinians Pawns in a Proxy War." [Accessed: 15 Dec. 2000]

Middle East Intelligence Bulletin [Washington, DC]. June 1999. "Amnesty International al-Hilweh: Lebanon's Phantom Menace." [Accessed: 15 Dec. 2000]

United Press International (UPI). 24 March 1997. "Lebanon Hangs Killers of Muslim Leader." (NEXIS)

Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. September 1998. Ghada Khouri. "Sixteen Years After the Sabra-Shatila Massacre: The State of Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon." [Accessed 30 Nov. 2000]

Xinhua News Agency. 24 March 1997. "Three Convicted Killers Hanged in Lebanon." (NEXIS)