Abdul-Aziz ibn Myatt

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Abdul-Aziz ibn Myatt after his conversion to Islam in 1998, wearing traditional Islamic clothing, a Thobe and a Kufi.
Abdul-Aziz ibn Myatt after his conversion to Islam in 1998, wearing traditional Islamic clothing, a Thobe and a Kufi.

Abdul-Aziz ibn Myatt,[1] (born 1950) - formerly known as David Myatt and David Wulstan[2] Myatt - is British Muslim and a former neo-nazi.

Before his conversion to Islam in 1998,[3][4][5], Myatt was the first leader of the British National Socialist Movement (NSM),[6][7] and was identified by the British newspaper, The Observer, as the "ideological heavyweight" behind Combat 18.[8]

Following his conversion to Islam, Myatt dissociated himself from nationalism and racialism, and has spoken openly about his contempt for racism[9][10][11][12], and wrote that the only distinction that mattered was that of between Muslims (Mumin) and the Unbelievers (Kuffar)[13].

Additionally, and subsequently following his conversion, he also became an advocate of Islamic martyrdom operations (Shaheed),[14][15][16] and expressed support for Osama bin Laden[17] and the Taliban,[4] and referred to the Holocaust as a "hoax."[5]

An April 2005 NATO workshop heard that Myatt had called on "all enemies of the Zionists to embrace the Jihad" against Jews and the United States.[18] Political scientist George Michael writes that Myatt has "arguably done more than any other theorist to develop a synthesis of the extreme right and Islam."[19]

Myatt came to public attention in 1999 when a pamphlet he wrote, A Practical Guide to Aryan Revolution, described as a "detailed step-by-step guide for terrorist insurrection,"[20] was said to have inspired David Copeland, who left nailbombs in areas frequented by London's black, Asian, and gay communities. [21] Three people died and 129 were injured in the explosions, several of them losing limbs.

In addition to writing about Islam and National Socialism, Myatt has translated works by Sophocles,[22] Sappho,[23] Aeschylus, and Homer, and has written several collections of poems[24] and some science fiction, using the name D.W. Myatt.[25]


Contents

[edit] Personal life

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Myatt grew up in Tanzania, where his father worked as a civil servant for the British government, and later in the Far East, where he studied the martial arts. [19] He moved to England in 1967 to complete his schooling, and has said that he began a degree in physics but did not complete it, leaving his studies to focus on his political activism. [26] He is reported to live in the Midlands and to have been married three times.

British anti-fascist magazine Searchlight has written of him: "He does not have the appearance of a Nazi ideologue ... [S]porting a long ginger beard, Barbour jacket, cords and a tweed flat cap, he resembles an eccentric country gentleman out for a Sunday ramble. But Myatt is anything but the country squire, for beneath this seemingly innocuous exterior is a man of extreme and calculated hatred." [27]

Political scientist George Michael has written that Myatt is an "intriguing theorist," [19] with a reported IQ of 187, [19] who has embarked over the years on a series of "Faustian quests." [19] He studied Taoism and spent time in a Buddhist and later a Christian monastery, [28] and is alleged to have explored the occult, as well as Paganism and what Michael calls "quasi-Satanic" secret societies, while remaining a committed National Socialist. [28]

[edit] Political activism

Myatt joined Colin Jordan's British Movement, a neo-Nazi group, in 1968, where he sometimes acted as Jordan's bodyguard at meetings and rallies. [29] From the 70s until the 90s, he remained involved with paramilitary and neo-Nazi organizations such as Column 88 and Combat 18, [30] [31] and was imprisoned twice for violent offenses in connection with his political activism. [19]

Myatt was the founder and first leader of the National Socialist Movement [32] of which David Copeland was a member. He also founded the neo-Nazi organization the NDFM which was active in Leeds, England, in the 1970's, [33] and the neo-Nazi Reichsfolk group. [34].

It is also alleged that he tried to establish a Nazi-occultist commune in Shropshire.[35][36]

Michael writes that Myatt took over the leadership of Combat 18 in 1998, when Charlie Sargent, the previous leader, was jailed for murder. [19]

[edit] Alleged influence on David Copeland

In November 1997, Myatt posted an allegedly racist and anti-Semitic pamphlet he had written called Practical Guide to Aryan Revolution on a website run out of British Columbia, Canada by Bernard Klatt. The pamphlet included chapter titles such as "Assassination," "Terror Bombing," and "Racial War." [37] According to Michael Whine of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, "[t]he contents provided a detailed step-by-step guide for terrorist insurrection with advice on assassination targets, rationale for bombing and sabotage campaigns, and rules of engagement."[20]

In February 1998, British police raided Myatt's home in Worcestershire and removed his computers and files. He was subsequently charged with publishing hate material, but the case was dropped because the evidence supplied by the Canadian authorities was not enough to secure a conviction. [38]

It was this pamphlet that, in 1999, allegedly influenced David Copeland, the London nailbomber — also a member of Myatt's National Socialist Movement — who planted homemade bombs in Brixton, Brick Lane, and inside the Admiral Duncan pub on Old Compton Street in London, frequented by the black, Asian, and gay communities respectively. Friends John Light, Nick Moore, and Andrea Dykes and her unborn child died in the Admiral Duncan pub. Copeland told police he had been trying to spark a "racial war."[6]

According to the BBC's Panorama, in 1998 when Myatt was leader of the NSM, he called for "the creation of racial terror with bombs."[6]

[edit] Conversion to Islam

An Islamic Flag, featuring the first Kalimah, the Shahada, used by Muslims. White flags with black lettering symbolically represent 'Dar al-Salam/Islam' and Black flags with white lettering symbolically represent 'Dar al-Harb/Kufr
An Islamic Flag, featuring the first Kalimah, the Shahada, used by Muslims. White flags with black lettering symbolically represent 'Dar al-Salam/Islam' and Black flags with white lettering symbolically represent 'Dar al-Harb/Kufr

Myatt converted to Islam in 1998. He told writer George Michael that his decision to convert began when he took a job on a farm in England. He was working long hours in the fields and felt an affinity with nature, concluding that the sense of harmony he felt had not come about by chance. He told Michael that he was also impressed by the militancy of Islamist groups, and believed that he shared common enemies with Islam, namely "the capitalist-consumer West and international finance." [39][40]

Some critics and observers have suggested that Myatt's conversion is insincere and "may be just a political ploy to advance his own failing anti-establishment agenda." [41] Others, however, accept his conversion as genuine [42] [43] [44].

According to Fionnuala Bourke, Myatt wrote to Nick Griffin, leader of the British National Party, in August 2004 urging him to embrace Islam [45]. Gerry Gable, editor of Searchlight, dismissed the letter as a ploy: "Myatt is a self-publicist who has claimed to have taken up many guises, including being a monk. Satanism is probably his overriding inspiration. He still supports neo-Nazi groups and contributes to their websites. This letter is probably some kind of bluff in their favour." [46] Myatt has always strenuously denied such allegations about Satanism: "For over twenty years, journalists, and [others] have been circulating rumours and making allegations about my personal involvement with Occultism and Satanism. This is despite the fact that I have denied and do deny ever having been a 'Satanist'... These rumours and allegations were started by, and are still circulated by, my enemies for one simple reason — to try and discredit me personally." [47].

In addition, Myatt has repeatedly challenged anyone to provide any evidence of such malicious allegations, and even challenged two journalists - Nick Lowles (from Searchlight) and Nick Ryan - to a duel for repeating such allegations, a challenge which they both declined. [48] [49]

According to an article in The Times published on April 24, 2006, Myatt believes that: "The pure authentic Islam of the revival, which recognises practical jihad as a duty, is the only force that is capable of fighting and destroying the dishonour, the arrogance, the materialism of the West ... For the West, nothing is sacred, except perhaps Zionists, Zionism, the hoax of the so-called Holocaust, and the idols which the West and its lackeys worship, or pretend to worship, such as democracy... Jihad is our duty. If nationalists, or some of them, desire to aid us, to help us, they can do the right thing, the honourable thing, and convert, revert, to Islam — accepting the superiority of Islam over and above each and every way of the West." [5]

Michael writes that Myatt's initial euphoria about Islam after his conversion did not last long, and he has recommitted himself to National Socialism, although he still admires Islam, and still uses his Muslim name on occasion. [50]. Myatt denies this, and says he is still a Muslim. [51] [52] [53]

There has been some discussion on some Internet forums regarding whether some articles attributed to ibn Myatt were in fact written by him, or whether the dates given on some of those articles were genuine. Myatt has responded to his.[54][55] These rumours have brougt some to question whether Myatt still is a Muslim. Myatt has responded to these allegations many times.[56]

[edit] "The Numinous Way of Folk Culture"

Myatt has written of what he calls "The Numinous Way of Folk Culture" that "[o]ne way of effectively combating the New World Order is by creating new rural communities inspired by honourable, rational pagan/heathen beliefs — and the Numinous Way of Folk Culture is a step toward this.[57]

He describes the "Numinous Way" as a new form of "heathenism" based on respect for the natural world and the principles of personal honour, compassion,[58] cosmic ethics, empathy, [59] [60] loyalty to family, "folk" and community. The lifestyle is distinguished by the desire for personal freedom, the desire to learn, and a willingness to do one's communal duty. It is clear from Myatt's writings that the term "community" is defined in racial terms. He has written that those who uphold the "Numinous Way" should respect diversity and enhance their own culture while respecting the cultures of others, but that this should not lead to integration or to miscegenation.

Myatt has since stated: "As a Muslim, I regard my earlier philosophy, which I first called "Folk Culture" and then The Numinous Way, as kufr - a concealment of the reality, the truth, of Tawheed, and thus as a manifestation of Jahiliyyah." [61]

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Myatt originally changed his name to Abdul-Aziz (which he has penned articles under) but has been accused that he was trying to hide his identity so on the advice of an Imaam he added the ibn Myatt so people would know who he was.[1]
  2. ^ Some accounts give Myatt's middle name as William, such as the 1998 edition of Searchlight magazine [2] and Black Sun: Chapter "Nazi satanism and the new Aeon", Goodrick-Clarke, 2002. But, these accounts are seen as unreliable as the authors have allegedley never corresponded with Myatt. However, several authors did and confirm his middle name as Wulstan, namely Michael, George. (2006) The Enemy of My Enemy and Kaplan, Jeffrey. (1998) Nation and Race: The Developing Euro-American Racist Subculture, Northeastern University Press, 1998, ISBN 1-55553-331-0. Additionally, their is Myatt himself (qv his poetry and Greek translations).
  3. ^ Greven, Thomas (ed) (2006) Globalisierter Rechtsextremismus? Rechtsextremismus in der Ära der Globalisierung. VS Verlag, p.62
  4. ^ a b Michael, George. (2006) The Enemy of My Enemy: The Alarming Convergence of Militant Islam and the Extreme Right. University Press of Kansas, p. 147.
  5. ^ a b c Woolcock, Nicola & Kennedy, Dominic. "What the neo-Nazi fanatic did next: switched to Islam", The Times, April 24, 2006.
  6. ^ a b c Program Transcript: 'The Nailbomber'", BBC Panorama, June 30, 2000.
  7. ^ Langenohl, Andreas Langenohl & Westphal, Kirsten. (eds.) "Comparing and Inter-Relating the European Union and the Russian Federation," Zentrum für internationale Entwicklungs- und Umweltforschung der Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, November 2006, p.84.
  8. ^ Barnett, Antony. "Right here, right now", The Observer, February 9, 2003.
  9. ^ ibn Myatt, David Myatt: From Neo-Nazi to Muslim 2 Shaban 1428
  10. ^ ibn Myatt, Nationalism, Race, Culture and Islam 28 Jumaadi Al-Thaani 1425
  11. ^ ibn Myatt, Questions for David Myatt (Part 1) Yaumul Ithnain 25 Jumaada al-Awal 1428
  12. ^ ibn Myatt, Islam, The Numinous Way, and Zionist Rumours 26 Zhul al-Hijjah 1428
  13. ^ ibn Myatt Questions For Abdul-Aziz ibn Myatt question and answer session posted on an Islamic Internet forum between 3 Shaban 1427 and 16 Ramadan 1427
  14. ^ Myatt, David. "Are Martyrdom Operations Lawful (According to Quran and Sunnah)?", retrieved May 1, 2006 from Abdul-Aziz ibn Myatt's website, now removed.
  15. ^ Questions Regarding Martyrdom Operations, Jannah and Jizya retrieved April 30, 2008 from Abdul-Aziz ibn Myatt's.
  16. ^ where he states: "In respect of Sheikh Abu Baseer at-Tartusi, I incline toward the view that he might be mistaken in some of the things he has said, especially in relation to martyrdom operations in Dar al-Harb. For instance, he has spoken about some such operations being haram because they can or might or have resulted in the death of "innocent" people, and involve the Mujahid in "suicide". I have written several articles striving to express the view that I myself incline toward - such as "Thinking Like a Muslim" and "Are Martyrdom Operations Lawful According to Quran and Sunnah?" (the publication of which on the muslimcreed website was, I believe, one of causes which led the kuffar to close down that site) - which view of mine is that such operations are legitimate, according to Quran and Sunnah, and that it is an error to apply the terms and concepts of the kuffar, such as "innocent" and "civilian", to Deen Al-Islam, and that using such terms amounts to an imitation of the kuffar."
  17. ^ ibn Myatt, Abdul-Aziz - "Why I Support Sheikh Usama bin Laden (Hafidhaullah)", 18 Thul-Hujja 1423
  18. ^ Karmon, Ely. "The Middle East, Iran, Palestine: Arenas for Radical and Anti-Globalization Groups Activity".
  19. ^ a b c d e f g Michael, George. (2006) The Enemy of My Enemy: The Alarming Convergence of Militant Islam and the Extreme Right. University Press of Kansas, p. 142.
  20. ^ a b Whine, Michael. "Cyberspace: A New Medium for Communication, Command and Control by Extremists"
  21. ^ "Panorama Special: The Nailbomber", BBC, June 30, 2000.
  22. ^ J. Michael Walton: Found in Translation: Greek Drama in English, Cambridge University Press, 2006, pp.206, 221, 227
  23. ^ Gary Daher Canedo: Safo y Catulo: poesía amorosa de la antigüedad, Universidad Nur, 2005.
  24. ^ D.W. Myatt's publications at Amazon.co.uk.
  25. ^ Myatt, David. "Towards Identity and the Galactic Empire".
  26. ^ Searchlight, July 2000.
  27. ^ a b Michael, George. (2006) The Enemy of My Enemy: The Alarming Convergence of Militant Islam and the Extreme Right. University Press of Kansas, p. 143.
  28. ^ Goodrick-Clarke, Nicholas. "Hitler's Priestess: Savitri Devi, the Hindu-Aryan Myth and Neo-Nazism", NYU Press, 2000, p.215
  29. ^ Goodrick-Clark, N. (2001) pp.215-217 Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism and the Politics of Identity. (chapter 11 in particular)
  30. ^ Lowles, N. (2001) White Riot: The Violent Story of Combat 18. Milo Books, England; this edition 2003
  31. ^ Goodrick-Clark, N. (2001) p.50 Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism and the Politics of Identity
  32. ^ Goodrick-Clark, N. (2001) p.217 Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism and the Politics of Identity
  33. ^ Kaplan, Jeffrey. Encyclopedia of White Power: A Sourcebook on the Radical Racist Right, Rowman & Littlefield Pub Inc., 2000, pp. 216ff; pp. 512ff
  34. ^ "Right here, right now", The Observer, February 9, 2003
  35. ^ David Myatt Biog
  36. ^ Vacca, John R. "Computer Forensics: Computer Crime Scene Investigation", Charles River Media, 2005, p.420 ISBN 1-58450-389-0
  37. ^ Vacca, John R. "Computer Forensics: Computer Crime Scene Investigation", Charles River Media, 2005, p.420 ISBN 1-58450-389-0
  38. ^ Michael, George. (2006) The Enemy of My Enemy: The Alarming Convergence of Militant Islam and the Extreme Right. University Press of Kansas, p. 144.
  39. ^ ibn Myatt, Abdul-Aziz "[Autobiographical Notes]", Revised Yaumul Ahad 3 Jumaada al-Awal 1428
  40. ^ Amardeep Bassey. "Midland Nazi turns to Islam", Birmingham Mail, February 16, 2003. Retrieved on 2006-05-01. 
  41. ^ Miller, Rory (2007). British Anti-Zionism Then and Now. Covenant, Volume 1, Issue 2 (April 2007 / Iyar 5767), Herzliya, Israel.
  42. ^ Common Motifs on Jihadi and Far Right Websites. Retrieved on 2007-03-23.
  43. ^ Steyn, Mark (2006). American Alone, Regnery Publishing, USA, p.92. ISBN 0895260786
  44. ^ An Open Letter To Nick Griffin of the BNP. Retrieved on 2007-05-02.
  45. ^ Fionnuala Bourke. "Come and be a Muslim, Nick", Sunday Mercury, August 1, 2004. Retrieved on 2006-05-01. 
  46. ^ The National-Socialist (March 1998, Thormynd Press, York, England).
  47. ^ A Statement for Journalists. Retrieved on 2007-03-23.
  48. ^ The Machinations of Journalists. Retrieved on 2007-03-21.
  49. ^ Michael, George. (2006) The Enemy of My Enemy: The Alarming Convergence of Militant Islam and the Extreme Right. University Press of Kansas, p. 146.
  50. ^ An Interview with Abdul-Aziz ibn Myatt - IA Forums. Retrieved on 2007-05-05.
  51. ^ Questions for Abdul-Aziz ibn Myatt. Retrieved on 2007-05-05.
  52. ^ Islam OnLine. Retrieved on 2007-05-05.
  53. ^ Omnipitus2006's obsession with Ibn Myatt - IA Forums
  54. ^ Are Martyrdom Operations Lawful
  55. ^ Are Martyrdom Operations Lawful
  56. ^ An Interview with David Myatt. Retrieved on 2006-05-01.
  57. ^ Compassion, Empathy, and Honour. Retrieved on 2006-07-11.
  58. ^ Honour, Empathy and The Question of Suffering. Retrieved on 2007-05-05.
  59. ^ A Statement for Journalists. Retrieved on 2007-05-05.
  60. ^ Questions for David Myatt. Retrieved on 2007-10-18.

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

  • Goodrick-Clarke, Nicholas. (2001) Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism and the Politics of Identity. New York University Press ISBN 0-8147-3124-4 ISBN 0-8147-3155-4 (Paperback)
  • Greven, Thomas (ed) (2006) Globalisierter Rechtsextremismus? Rechtsextremismus in der Ära der Globalisierung. VS Verlag. ISBN 3-531-14514-2
  • Kaplan, J. (1998) "Religiosity and the Radical Right: Toward the Creation of a New Ethnic Identity" in Kaplan and Tore Bjørgo (eds.) Nation and Race: The Developing Euro-American Racist Subculture, Northeastern University Press, 1998, ISBN 1-55553-331-0.
  • Kaplan, J. (ed) (2000) Encyclopedia of White Power: A Sourcebook on the Radical Racist Right. Rowman & Littlefield Pub Inc., 2000; AltaMira Press. ISBN 0-7425-0340-2 pp.216ff; pp.235ff; pp.512ff
  • Lowles, Nick. (2003) White Riot: The Violent Story of Combat 18. Milo Books ISBN 1-903854-00-8 *McLagan, Graeme. (2003) Killer on the Streets. John Blake Publishing. ISBN 1-904034-33-0
  • Myatt, David. Some of Myatt's Islamist writings.
  • Ryan, Nick. (2003) Homeland: Into A World of Hate. Mainstream Publishing Company Ltd. ISBN 1-84018-465-5

[edit] External links