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"). 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 assessment 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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