Al Salam 313

Al Salam 313 (السلام ٣١٣) is a political organization and criminal gang of conservative Shia Iraqis in Western Europe. The gang was founded by the style of a motorcycle club by Mohammed Bunia in Germany. Salam 313 has members in Central and North Europe and is based on the ideology of the Iraqi Shia militia Sarāyā al-Salām (former Mahdi Army). The group threatens Iraqis in Europe who live a secular or Western lifestyle and speak against the religious Shia-led Iraqi government.

Background and connections
Mohammed Bunia is the founder and boss of Salam 313. "Al Salam" means peace; the numbers 313, is said by Shias to be the number of people that will accompany Muhammad al-Mahdi when he returns to the world. "Mahdi" is called the Redeemer, so he is seen as a kind of Messiah.

The gang has a white dove as heraldic animal in their emblem. The white dove refers to the militia of the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, Seraya al-Salam. They have pledged allegiance to the Popular Mobilization Forces, a faction of the Iraqi Army of Iraqi Armed Forces, without being under control of the Iraqi government.

Gang members are known in Germany, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands.

Police assessment and action
In May 2019 German police took action against Al-Salam 313, targeting 34 suspects. 800 police officers including Spezialeinsatzkommandos and officers of state security searched a total of 49 residential properties in Cologne area and the Ruhr area.

The gang is also seen in the context of Middle East family clans, involved in crime in Germany. The North Rhine-Westphalian state office of criminal investigation (LKA) saw no reason to put the merger on a par with "Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs", like "Hells Angels" and "Bandidos". The LKA also does not want to classify the group as "rocker-like".