Introduction
On July 29, 2011, the U.S. Department of Treasury declared U.S.-born Omar Hammami, aka Abu Mansur Al-Amriki, who is a leader of the Al-Qaeda-affiliate in Somalia Al-Shabaab Al-Mujahideen, a Specially Designated National, pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13536, which "targets for sanctions individuals and entities engaging in acts that directly or indirectly threaten the peace, security or stability of Somalia."[1]
By law, "U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in any transactions with... designees and any assets they have under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen."[2]
According to the Department of Treasury announcement, Hammami, who is "one of Al-Shabaab's key figures... serves as a military tactician, recruitment strategist and financial manager for Al-Shabaab. Hammami has commanded guerilla forces in combat, organized attacks and plotted strategy with Al-Qaeda. He was also involved in organizing a suicide bombing attack carried out by a Somali-American from Minnesota who traveled to Somalia to join Al-Shabaab.[3] That attack, and four others organized by Hammami and carried out in October 2008, killed more than 20 people."
The announcement continues: "Hammami, a U.S. citizen, has been indicted in U.S. District Court in Southern Alabama on a three-count indictment for allegedly providing material support, including himself as personnel, to terrorists; conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, Al-Shabaab; and providing material support to Al-Shabaab. In what appeared to be an attempt to increase recruiting among Somalis, including Somali émigrés in the United States, Hammami is also featured in an Al-Shabaab video in which militia members are shown training and explicitly stating their allegiance to Osama bin Laden. He was designated today [i.e. July 29, 2011] for threatening the peace and stability of Somalia, and for acting for or on behalf of and providing material support to Al-Shabaab, which was listed in the Annex to E.O. 13536."[4]
Despite Executive Order, Hammami Openly Continues To Use American Social Media
An Executive Order is an order or directive issued by the head of the executive branch at some level of government. E.O. is most commonly applied to orders issued by the President.
Although E.O. 13536 clearly states that it is against U.S. law for anyone to engage in any transaction with Hammami, and that he is prohibited from any U.S. business dealings, Hammami openly uses American social media, with accounts on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and Scribd.
MEMRI has flagged Hammami's videos on his YouTube page, but they have not been removed.
Hammami's social media accounts make him accessible to others wishing to communicate with him, as well as with each other. Among them are bloggers and media, who are openly in contact with him. For example, soon after the release of his autobiographical book via his YouTube page (youtube.com/user/somalimuhajirwarrior), a request for a copy of the book was posted on the page, stating: "Please, I ju[s]t tried looking for the book [a]nd I can't find it. Please someone help me... or message me or something. Thanks." Also, "AbulHatith14" wrote: "I WANT TO ADD YOU ON FACEBOOK. GIVE ME THE LINK TO YOUR ACCOUNT, BRO[THER]."[5]
Hammami On YouTube
On March 16, 2012, Hammami created his YouTube page (youtube.com/user/somalimuhajirwarrior), posting a video, in which, in a rather strange and very brief appearance, he stated that his life may be threatened by the organization over what he calls "differences… concerning matters of shari'a and matters of strategy." Hammami delivered his message first in Arabic and then in English.[6]
On May 14, an announcement of the upcoming publication of Hammami's autobiographical book was posted on his YouTube page; a few days later, it was published, with a link on the page to the 127-page The Story of an American Jihaadi – Part One on the online publishing website Scribd, to an account registered under the user name "Abu Muhammad As-Somaali" (possibly an additional alias for Hammami).[7]
Currently there are six videos on Hammami's page; all six have been flagged by MEMRI as promoting terrorism, yet they remain active. These videos include one titled "Urgent Message" and a four-part audio lecture series titled "In Defense of the Khilaafa: The Next Stage," posted May 25, 2012.
It is noteworthy that Hammami's YouTube page includes links to his Facebook, Google+, and Twitter (@abumamerican) accounts, where he openly asks people to follow him.
Despite his designated terrorist status, Hammami apparently communicates freely with others via his various social media accounts. For example, on May 23, "somalimuhajirwarrior" wrote: "I just uploaded a new pic of [Abu Mansour] Al-Amriki with the cover of his autobiography on my Facebook page. See video description [for a link to the image]." A day later, he wrote: "My Facebook [page] has been hit. New link."[8]
Hammami On Twitter
On May 14, 2012 Omar Hammami created his twitter account (twitter.com/#!/abumamerican). Since then, he has posted over 170 tweets, and is currently following 39 other Twitter accounts. Among those following him are many "terrorist analysts," journalists, and terrorist organizations that are active on Twitter.
Tweets by Hammami include his discussions of his writing activities and links to his Facebook page and other social media pages.
Hammami is also openly and actively tweeting with people who are writing about jihad, Al-Qaeda, Somalia, and other topics, including those who are following him and his activity.
* Steven Stalinsky is Executive Director of MEMRI.
Endnotes:
[4] The announcement and press releases also provided Hammami's date of birth, Social Security number, and U.S. passport number.
[6] The next day, Al-Shabab responded to Hammami's video clip, with a Twitter statement utterly denying Hammami's claim and stressing that the organization posed no threat to his life. It added that it intended to investigate the matter. See MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 4589, March 19, 2012, http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/6199.htm.
