Juma Namangani

Juma Namangani was a prominent Uzbek military commander and Islamist leader, originally from Uzbekistan. He founded the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, an organization aiming to establish an Islamic state in Central Asia. Namangani fought against Soviet forces in the 1990s and later against Afghan government forces during Afghanistan’s civil war. Known for his militant tactics, he played a significant role in regional conflicts and was seen as a key figure in the rise of Islamist militancy in Central Asia. He was killed in 2001 during military operations in Afghanistan.