|
 Burhanuddin Rabbani is the leader of Jamiat-e Islami Afghanistan (Islamic
Society of Afghanistan). He also served as the political head of the United National and Islamic Front
for the Salvation of Afghanistan (UNIFSA), an alliance of various political
groups who fought against Taliban rule in Afghanistan. He served as President
from 1992-1996 until he was forced to leave Kabul because of the Taliban
takeover of the city. His government was recognized by
many countries, as well as the United Nations.
Rabbani, son of Muhammed Yousuf, was born in 1940 in Badakhshan,
a province of Afghanistan. After finishing school in his native province, he went
to Darul-uloom-e-Sharia (Abu-Hanifa), a religious school in Kabul. When he graduated
from Abu-Hanifa, he went to Kabul University to study Islamic Law and Theology. During
his four years at Kabul University he became well known for his works on Islam.
Soon after his graduation in 1963, he was hired as a Professor at Kabul University.
In order to enhance his himself, Rabbani went to Egypt in 1966, and he entered
the University of Al-Azhar in Cairo. In two years, he received his masters degree in
Islamic Philosophy.
In 1968, Rabbani returned to Afghanistan, where the
High Council of Jamiat-e Islami of Afghanistan gave him the duty of organizing
the University students.
Due to his knowledge, reputation, and active support for the cause of Islam, in 1972,
a 15-member council selected him as head of Jamiat-e Islami of Afghanistan; the
founder of Jamiat-e Islami of Afghanistan, Ghulam M. Niyazi was also present.
In the spring of 1974, police cars came to Kabul University to arrest Rabbani for
his pro-Islamic stance, but with the help of his students the police were unable to
capture him, and he managed to escape to the country side.
Later with his base in Pakistan, Rabbani managed to lead his party now evolved into
a successful Mujahideen fighting group to resist the Soviet Invasion. Rabbani's forces
was the first Mujahideen group to enter Kabul in 1992 and defeat the Communists once
and for all.
|
