Abu Sayyaf, meaning "Bearer of the Sword”, is the smaller of the two Islamist groups whose goal is to establish an Iranian-style Islamic statein Mindanao in the Southern Philippines.

In 1991, the group split from the Moro National Liberation Front. With ties to to numerous Islamic fundamentalist groups, they finance their operations through kidnapping for ransom, extortion, piracy, and other criminal acts. It is also thought that they receive funding from al Qaeda. It is estimated that there are between 200 and 500 Abu Sayyaf terrorists, mostly recruited from high schools and colleges.