BOKO HARAM

ORIGINS, OBJECTIVES AND DOCTRINES

Stephen Dorrance

ORIGINS
Influenced by Mohammed Marwa
The Sokoto Caliphate ruled in Nigeria until it was conquered in 1903 by
the British
Founded in 2002 by Mohammad Yusuf
Lies within northern Nigeria in the city of Maiduguri
Boko Haram translates to Western education is sin
Believes politics has been seized by a group of corrupt, false Muslims
Yusuf was outraged about education not being offered to the poor
Built religious schools called Markaz
Poor families sent their children to the schools

OBJECTIVES
Seeks the imposition of a strict Sharia Law system
through out Nigeria
Currently nine northern states follow Sharia Law,
additional three implementing it
Seeks the abolishment of Western-style education
2002-2008 conducted operations peacefully

DOCTRINE
Boko Haram has not produced charters that outline their
doctrine
Shares the Ideology of anti-Western education and
civilization
Ideology is based on hostility towards democracy and
Western anti-Islamist education
Believes the notion of a spherical Earth is contrary to
Islamic teaching and should be rejected

CONCLUSION
The Origins of Boko Haram are believed to have been
influenced by Mohammed Marwa
Formed in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf
Members are mostly poor and cannot get an education
Still operating today