Al Salam 313

Al Salam 313 is a political organization and criminal gang of conservative Shia Iraqis in Western Europe. The gang was founded by the style of a motorcycle club by the Iraqi Mohammed Bunia in Germany. Salam 313 has members Central- and North Europe and is based on the ideology of the Iraqi Shia militia Sarāyā al-Salām (former Mahdi Army). The group intimidates Iraqi citizens in Europe who represent a Western lifestyle and oppose the Iraqi government.

Background and connections

Mohammed Bunia is the founder and boss of Salam 313. "Al Salem" means peace; the combination of numbers is said to have a religious meaning: Shiites believe that the hidden Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi will return to earth with 313 companions. "Mahdi" is called the Redeemer, so he is seen as a kind of Messiah.[1]

The gang has a white dove as heraldic animal in their emblem. The white dove refers to the militia of the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, Seraya al-Salam ("peace army"). This Iraqi militia is presumed to be financed by Iran. Today it is an official part of the Iraqi Army of Iraqi Armed Forces, without being entirely under control of the Iraqi government.[2]

Gang members are known in Germany, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands.[3]

Police assessement and action

In May 2019 German police took action against Al-Salam 313, targeting 34 suspects. 800 police officers including Spezialeinsatzkommandos and officers of state security searched a total of 49 residential properties in Cologne area and the Ruhr area.[4]

The gang is also seen in the context of Middle East family clans, involved in crime in Germany. The North Rhine-Westphalian state office of criminal investigation (LKA) saw no reason to put the merger on a par with "Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs", like "Hells Angels" and "Bandidos". The LKA also does not want to classify the group as "rocker-like".[5]

References
  1. Biesel, Matthias (December 8, 2017). "Brutaler Überfall: Teestuben-Besitzer ist Anführer der irakischen Rocker-Gruppe „Al-Salam 313"". www.derwesten.de.
  2. "Weltspiegel: Der lange Arm irakischer Milizen". tagesschau.de.
  3. "Muslim biker gang raid in Germany: what do we know about Al-Salam-313?". Islam Media Analysis. May 23, 2019.
  4. ONLINE, ZEIT (May 22, 2019). ""Al-Salam-313": Razzia gegen Rockerorganisation in Nordrhein-Westfalen" – via Die Zeit.
  5. "Rocker-Gang aus dem Irak: "Al Salam 313" im Visier der Polizei". vol.at.
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