On 23 April 2023, Islamic State (IS) supporters in Mauritius organized a motor rally from Cap Malureux to Souillac, from one end of the small country to the other, approximately a one-hour journey. This caravan took place all while the IS supporters chanted about the potential for Muslim unification solely under a black banner. The rally was overseen by the police.
Just two days prior, Islamic State Indonesian insiders shared a video of the cell's supporters celebrating Eid al-Fitr in the republic of Mauritius. It wasn't entirely impossible to tell the exact number in attendance for the Eid al-Fitr prayers, which took place in broad daylight with a bold display the IS Flag, but TRAC estimates at least 100 were present based on the footage taken in the last 20 seconds of the video.
The video features a famous Islamic State Nasheed (Nashid) "What, so it was possible or what?" while a small child, known as "cubs of the Caliphate" in IS circles looks on.
The Imam leading the Eid al-Fitr prayers is Javed Meetoo aka Abu Junaya, who last made headlines for openly wearing a Islamic State (IS) headband during anti-LGBTQ+ protests in Mauritius in June 2018.
Meetoo is a radical preacher and the leader of a religious organization named Abu Faaris. He reportedly completed his education in Pakistan before teaching students under Taliban rule in Afghanistan. In 2015, he was arrested together with his family on the Turkey-Syria border, purportedly on his way to Mecca.
Meetoo, originally a businessman from Vallée-Pitot, Port Louis, has been at the center of several investigations related to previous incidents in Mauritius, including the firing of gunshots at the French embassy in 2016. Monitored by both Interpol and local authorities, he is suspected of radicalizing youth to join IS and of facilitating their routes to Syria.
English is the national language of this small country, but the food and culture are a mixture between Creole, Indian and African cuisines, indicating a high level of inclusion.
Mauritius is an agriculture-based society, where farmers can earn a middle-class living. Though it is not unheard of for the non-impoverished to be attracted to Islamic State’s ideology, it is atypical. Further, it is worth noting that there is a huge black market for hard drugs flowing between South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and Mauritius. It is possible that Islamic State supporters are using the smuggling network to also recruit within ranks.
SOURCE: TRAC