Siege of Lal Masjid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Siege of Lal Masjid |
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| Part of the insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the war on terror | |||||||
 The Lal Masjid in 2018 |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Pakistan |
 Islamic fundamentalist militants |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Lt. Col. Haroon-ul-Islam † |
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| Units involved | |||||||
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Local militants and foreign fighters | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 164 Special Service Group commandos | 100 militants | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 11 killed 44 wounded |
91 killed 50 captured |
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| 204 civilians injured | |||||||
The Siege of Lal Masjid (also known as Operation Sunrise) was a big fight in July 2007. It happened between a group of religious militants and the government of Pakistan. The main places involved were the Lal Masjid (which means "Red Mosque") and the Jamia Hafsa school complex in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Since early 2006, the Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa were controlled by two brothers, Abdul Aziz and Abdul Rashid. This group wanted to make Sharia (Islamic religious law) the only law in Pakistan. They also openly called for the government to be overthrown. For about 18 months, the Lal Masjid group often clashed with authorities. They held violent protests, destroyed property, kidnapped people, set fires, and fought with police.
The military decided to act after several incidents. These included militants taking Chinese health workers hostage and setting fire to a government building. The military response was due to pressure from local people and from China.
The complex was surrounded from July 3 to July 11, 2007. During this time, the government tried to talk with the militants. When talks failed, the Pakistan Army's Special Service Group (SSG) stormed and took control of the complex. The government reported that 154 people died and 50 militants were captured. This event also caused problems with pro-Taliban groups near the Afghan border. It led to more violence in Pakistan, with over 3,000 deaths in 2008.
Contents
About the Lal Masjid Siege
What is Lal Masjid?
The Lal Masjid was started in 1965 by Muhammad Abdullah Ghazi. Its name means "Red Mosque" because of its red walls. Abdullah taught strong religious ideas and talked about jihad during the Soviet–Afghan War. Many important Pakistani military and government leaders visited the mosque. For example, Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, who became president, was a close friend of Abdullah. The mosque was also near the headquarters of Pakistan's intelligence agency.
After the Soviet–Afghan War ended in 1989, the mosque kept teaching strict religious ideas. It had thousands of male and female students in its schools.
Maulana Muhammad Abdullah was killed at the mosque in 1998. His sons, Abdul Aziz and Abdul Rashid, then took charge. The brothers said they often talked with leaders of al-Qaeda, including Osama bin Laden.
Jamia Hafsa was a large religious school for women near Lal Masjid. It was built in 1992 and had over 6,000 students. After Abdullah's death, his son Abdul Aziz oversaw it. Students learned general subjects like math and geography, but only had exams on religious topics.
After the September 11 attacks in 2001, Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf supported the US-led War on Terror. This caused problems with the Lal Masjid leaders, who supported the Taliban. Abdul Aziz and Abdul Rashid said they had no links to banned groups. But they strongly opposed the War on Terror and Musharraf. The mosque became a place where speeches called for Musharraf's assassination. In 2005, police tried to search the mosque but were stopped by female students.
Events Before the Siege
In 2006 and early 2007, students and mosque leaders kept challenging the government. They wanted Islamic law and an end to cooperation with the United States. They started a campaign against things they called "un-Islamic." Students took over a children's library and raided shops selling DVDs or offering massages.
Many students at the mosque came from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa area near Afghanistan.
A big conflict started when the mosque protested against the government tearing down some mosques in Islamabad. After one mosque was destroyed, students protested strongly. They blocked authorities and took over a children's library. Female students led this protest. They stayed there day and night, promising to "fight to the death." The government tried to negotiate, and later rebuilt parts of the destroyed mosque. But the Lal Masjid leaders demanded six other demolished mosques be rebuilt.
On March 27, 2007, students from Jamia Hafsa kidnapped three women and two policemen. They also kidnapped ten Chinese citizens and other officials. The government was criticized for being too soft on the mosque. After fighting with Pakistani troops, students set fire to a Ministry of Environment building near Lal Masjid.
Timeline of the Siege
The Siege Begins
On July 3, 2007, a battle began between Pakistani security forces and Lal Masjid students. Police fired tear gas to break up the students. The fighting left nine people dead and about 150 injured. Among the dead were students, a cameraman, and a businessman. Security forces quickly closed off the area. Hospitals in the capital declared an emergency. Fighting continued as the Pakistani Army arrived.
On July 4, 2007, authorities announced a curfew in the area around Lal Masjid. The army was told to shoot anyone leaving the mosque with weapons. The government offered money and free education to anyone leaving unarmed. Women inside the mosque were offered safe passage home. The government set deadlines for surrender, which were extended several times. Mosque leaders allowed some students to leave. The government believed about 600 armed militants were still inside.
Early on July 5, Pakistani troops set off explosions around the mosque. Gunfire was exchanged, but major clashes stopped. The government continued to extend deadlines, hoping to get more people out. The Interior Minister said they believed 300 to 400 students were left, with only 50 to 60 being militants.
After one deadline, Abdul Aziz, one of the leaders, was caught trying to escape. He was disguised as a woman wearing a burqa. After his capture, about 800 male students and 400 female students surrendered.
Abdul Aziz's younger brother, Abdul Rashid, was negotiating with the government. He said the remaining students would leave if they were granted amnesty and not shot at. Government officials were unsure if he would keep his word. Abdul Rashid denied all charges against him in a TV interview. He asked for safe passage for himself and his followers. He also asked for medical care for his sick mother.
The siege continued on July 6. Talks between the mosque leaders and the government did not resolve anything. Twenty-one more students surrendered, and two were killed in a shooting. The government delayed the main attack, hoping more students would leave safely. President Pervez Musharraf gave an ultimatum on July 7. The Pakistani army took over the operation. A 13-year-old child escaped unharmed.
Pakistani commandos attacked the outer walls of the complex. They blasted holes to let trapped women and children escape. The attacks began after 1:00 AM on July 7. Militants fought back strongly. Special Service Group Commander Lt. Col. Haroon-ul-Islam, who was leading the operation, was wounded on July 6 and died two days later. The commandos succeeded in breaking through the walls. Abdul Rashid Ghazi said they would not surrender and had enough supplies for a month.
On July 9, a group of Pakistani religious schools asked for the operation to stop. Finland also closed its embassy in Islamabad temporarily due to safety concerns. By July 10, the government reported that 100 militants and 300 to 400 women and children were still inside.
Attack on President Musharraf's Aircraft
On July 6, 2007, President General Musharraf flew to areas affected by floods. As his plane took off from Islamabad airport, militants fired anti-aircraft weapons at it. They fired from a house roof in Rawalpindi. It's not known if these militants were connected to Lal Masjid. Security forces found two anti-aircraft guns and a machine gun on the roof. The government said shots were heard minutes after the plane took off. Some thought it was revenge for the Lal Masjid operation.
Getting Ready for the Attack
Drones flew over Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa on July 8 and 9. They took pictures of the people inside. Security forces used these images to check Abdul Rashid Ghazi's claims about casualties. The drones flew for over an hour. Government officials and security forces studied the pictures. This information helped plan the attack. Pakistan used several security units for the attack. These included the Army's 78th Paratrooper Brigade, 111th Infantry Brigade, and the elite Special Service Group. The Pakistan Rangers and Elite Police also helped.
The Main Attack
Fighting for the Mosque
On the morning of July 10, talks failed. The Special Service Group was ordered to storm the mosque. A Pakistan Army spokesman said troops attacked from the south and three other directions at 4:00 AM. They immediately faced heavy gunfire from militants. The militants were hiding behind sandbags on the roof and in holes in the walls. The Special Service Group quickly cleared the mosque's ground floor. About 30 women and children ran towards the soldiers and escaped safely.
As the Special Service Group secured the ground floor, they were shot at from the mosque's minarets. This slowed them down. Militants had piled sandbags at the base of the minarets to use as steps for shooting. After taking the minarets, the soldiers moved deeper. Militants threw gasoline bombs to try and burn the mosque, but failed. Once the ground floor was safe, the Special Service Group tried to enter the Jamia Hafsa school. But they were delayed by hidden traps, which had to be disabled.
Fighting for Jamia Hafsa
The Special Service Group entered the Jamia Hafsa complex, where Abdul Rashid Ghazi lived. A firefight began in the main courtyard. Militants shot at them from bunkers under the stairs. An army spokesman said the bunkers must have been built over months. After clearing the courtyard, the Special Service Group went into the maze-like Jamia Hafsa building. Militants inside had guns and rockets. Some areas had traps. Some militants wore bulletproof vests and had advanced weapons. The Special Service Group had most of its injured soldiers during this part. In close fighting, they were attacked with different types of grenades. Many soldiers were injured by fragmentation grenades. The fight continued until they found a room with militants. One militant set off a bomb, killing everyone in the room. It took hours of intense fighting for the Special Service Group to control Jamia Hafsa. Only the basement was left.
Final Stand
The army spokesman said troops had secured 80 percent of the complex. They were moving slowly because resistance was strong in the remaining areas. Heavily armed militants had gone into the basement. They used women and children as human shields, according to the army. The militants in the basement kept fighting.
Militants continued to shoot at the soldiers from air vents in the basement. During the fight, Abdul Rashid Ghazi was shot in the leg. He was asked to surrender. But militants in the room shot back, and Ghazi was killed. Other reports say Ghazi came out to surrender but was shot by his own forces. The fighting continued until everyone in the basement either surrendered or was killed.
Outside, emergency workers waited to enter Lal Masjid. Female police officers were there for female survivors. Relatives of the militants were also outside. The area looked like a "war zone," with troops and armored vehicles everywhere.
Mosque Secured
On July 11, 2007, officials said the Lal Masjid complex was clear of militants. Troops were searching for traps and explosives. The eight-day Lal Masjid operation was the longest ever for the Special Service Group.
Intelligence agencies were surprised by the advanced weapons the militants had. They started an investigation to find out where the weapons came from.
People Affected
Officials in Islamabad saw the operation as a success. They said they captured all fighters, including foreign ones, without many civilian deaths. Pakistan's Prime Minister said, "The number of casualties was much lower than it could have been." Of the 164 Special Services Group soldiers, 10 died and 33 were injured.
The police reported that from July 3 to July 11, 2007, 1,096 people left or were rescued. This included 628 men, 465 women, and 3 children. The police also confirmed that 102 people were killed: 91 militants, 10 Special Service Group soldiers, and 1 ranger. A total of 248 people were injured, including 204 civilians, 41 army soldiers, and 3 Rangers. Seventy-five bodies were found after the operation. Securing Lal Masjid ended nine days of high tension in Islamabad, a city usually peaceful.
Damage to the Mosque
The Lal Masjid was badly damaged. The entrance hall was burned, and the ceiling was scorched. The red walls were blackened. However, the mosque itself was less damaged than the Jamia Hafsa school. Bullet casings were found on the roof. The inside of Lal Masjid was black from militants trying to set it on fire. Militants used the mosque's two white minarets as shooting spots, damaging them. One minaret was destroyed. The dome was not damaged.
In the Jamia Hafsa complex, the damage was huge. Thousands of bullet holes were in the courtyard. The basement was blackened from rockets. The main buildings were still standing, but the walls were broken in many places. The building had bullet marks. The two courtyards were filled with broken glass and empty bullet shells. Piles of girls' beds and books were against the walls.
On July 15, 2007, the government asked for Lal Masjid to be repaired in 15 days. On July 27, 2007, the mosque reopened. However, the Jamia Hafsa complex was torn down. It was built illegally and was in danger of collapsing.
Al-Qaeda and Foreign Fighters
Pakistani intelligence officials said they found letters from Ayman al-Zawahiri, a top leader of Al-Qaeda. These letters were for Abdul Rashid Ghazi and Abdul Aziz Ghazi. They told the brothers to start an armed revolt. Government sources believe that about 18 foreign fighters from places like Uzbekistan, Egypt, and Afghanistan arrived weeks before the fight. They set up shooting ranges to teach students, including children, how to use weapons. Diplomats were surprised how quickly al-Zawahiri spoke out against the attack. He called on Pakistanis to fight against Musharraf's government. Officials blamed the foreign fighters for the failure of peace talks. They seemed to want to die as martyrs instead of making a deal.
Al-Qaeda's second-in-command, al-Zawahiri, released a video on July 11, 2007. He called for Pakistanis to join jihad to get revenge for the army's attack on the mosque. The video was called The Aggression against Lal Masjid.
Reactions to the Siege
Pakistani Public
Many Pakistanis did not speak out about the operation. But most agreed with the government's decision to use force. While some hardline groups tried to create anger, most people were tolerant. They did not want militants to force their religious laws on everyone. Most people in Islamabad agreed that the raid brought peace back to the city.
International Reaction
China supported President Musharraf. China's Minister of Public Security, Zhou Yongkang, called the Lal Masjid militants "terrorists." He demanded that Pakistan do more to protect Chinese people working in the country.
The European Union President, José Manuel Barroso, said the EU "supports the Government of Pakistan." He said they supported Pakistan in defending law and order against armed groups. The EU also praised Pakistan for being careful and moderate.
United States President George W. Bush supported Musharraf. He called him "a strong ally in the war against these extremists." A US State Department spokesman noted that the militants had many warnings before the attack. He said, "The government of Pakistan has proceeded in a responsible way. All governments have a responsibility to preserve order." A US official in Lahore also said the US fully supported Pakistan in the War on Terror. He called Pakistan "their closest ally in South Asia." Some religious groups in Pakistan criticized this support. They demanded the US official be expelled for interfering in Pakistan's affairs. A Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson said the US official's statement was against diplomatic rules.
See also
In Spanish: Asedio de la Mezquita Roja para niños
- August 2013 Rabaa massacre
- Grand Mosque seizure, similar event in Saudi Arabia regarding the siege of Masjid al-Haram
- Memali Incident, similar event in the Malaysia
- Operation Blue Star, Golden Temple, Amritsar, India, 1984
- Waco siege, similar event in the US
