Aukai Collins

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Aukai Collins, born in 1974 is also known as "Aqil Collins" is an American of Nordic descent who converted to Islam and fought with Islamic Chechen irregulars of the Islamic Republic of Ichkeria. He was wounded in combat with elements of a Russian SPETZNAZ unit from which he subsequently lost his leg. He then, among other things, went on to work as a deep cover intelligence operative for the FBI [1][2][3][4][5][2][6][7]

His exploits, which included contacts with Al Qaeda leading operatives, are described in the autobiographical book My Jihad: One American's Journey Through the World of Usama Bin Laden--as a Covert Operative for the American Government (ISBN 0-7434-7059-1). Although he is sometimes referred to as Hawaiian American, he is Caucasian and was born in the United States, having moved to Hawaii for a period in his youth.

In this book he distinguishes between the Chechen armed resistance against the Russian army, which he regards as justified according to Islam, and terrorism in Al Qaeda style, which he regards as contrary to Islam.

He also appears in Canadian-born adventurer Robert Young Pelton's book, "The Hunter, The Hammer, and Heaven: Journeys to Three Worlds Gone Mad".

After authoring My Jihad, Collins became a bounty hunter which ultimately led to his arrest in Mexico on weapons charges. He was recently released after serving a 4 year prison sentence in Durango, Mexico.


[edit] References

  1. ^ Template:Cite news targeting terrorist cells both at home and abroad.
  2. ^ a b Edward W. Lempinen. "A conversation with Aukai Collins", Salon magazine, July 17, 2002. Retrieved on 2007-08-29. 
  3. ^ James S. Robbins. "Accidental Jihadist: One “crazy American” and his very strange book.", National Review, June 21, 2002. Retrieved on 2007-08-29. 
  4. ^ Matt Bivens. "An American Fighter's War in Chechnya", Moscow Times, Monday, July 21, 2003. Retrieved on 2007-08-29. 
  5. ^ Ed Finn. "Hawaiian Jihadi", Time magazine, Monday, August 26, 2002. Retrieved on 2007-08-29. 
  6. ^ Claire Rosser. "My jihad - Biography & Personal Narratives - Book Review", Findarticles, July, 2003. Retrieved on 2007-08-29. 
  7. ^ Aukai Collins. "The War Junkie", Maxim magazine, August 2002. Retrieved on 2007-08-29. 

[edit] External links


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