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Encyclopedia: Armed Islamic Group |
 | | The Armed Islamic Group (GIA, from French Groupe Islamique Armé; Arabic al-Jama'ah al-Islamiyah al-Musallah) is a militant Islamist group with the declared aim of overthrowing the Algerian government and replacing it with an Islamic state. |
 | | Under the leadership of Antar Zouabri, its longest serving "emir" (1996-2002), the GIA became a "takfirist" group, considering Algerian society to be in violation of Islamic precepts, therefore justifying the killing of members of that society as a form of purification of heretical elements. |
 | | The Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) splinter faction appears to have eclipsed the GIA since approximately 1998 and is currently assessed by the CIA to be the most effective armed group remaining inside Algeria. |
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