Mohamed Alí Seineldín

Mohamed Alí Seineldín (Arabic: محمد علي زين الدين ) (November 12, 1933 Concepción del Uruguay – September 2, 2009) was an Argentine army colonel who participated in two failed uprisings against the democratically elected governments of both President Raúl Alfonsín and President Carlos Menem in 1988 and 1990.

Seineldín was born in Concepción del Uruguay into an Lebanese (Druze) Argentine family. He converted from Islam to Roman Catholicism during his youth, being consecrated to Virgin of Rosario (Virgen del Rosario). He remained a devout Roman Catholic throughout his life, even devoting his men in the army to the Virgin of the Holy Rosary as well. In an interview on his goals during his military career, Seineldín later explained, Luchamos por el mismo objetivo, que es la nacionalidad y la fe cristiana, which translates as, "We fought for the same goal, which is the nationality and the Christian faith."

Seineldín rose to prominence in Argentina during the 1982 Falklands War against the United Kingdom.

An ardent Christian Argentinian nationalist, Seineldín became a member of the Carapintadas, or "painted faces," group within the Argentine Army. The Carapintadas demanded that the Argentine government halt legal proceedings against army officers accused of human rights abuses during the Dirty War, which occurred during Argentina's military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983. The low ranking officers were charged with a wide range of crimes, including the execution of guerrilla dissidents, torture and kidnapping of guerrilla fighters and their supporters.

In 1987 and 1988, the Carapintadas rebelled against the elected government of President Raúl Alfonsín, but both uprisings were quickly put down. In December 1988, members of the Grupo Albatros, led by Colonel Mohamed Alí Seineldín rebelled once again against the Alfonsín government and seized the military barracks at Villa Martelli. The mutineers eventually surrendered and Seineldín was arrested.

Mohamed Alí Seineldín led a second unsuccessful uprising against the government of President Carlos Menem beginning on December 3, 1990. The failed uprising resulted in 14 deaths, including five civilians.

Seineldín was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the 1990 mutiny. However, he was pardoned by then President Eduardo Duhalde in 2003.

Mohamed Alí Seineldín suffered a heart attack and died in a hospital in Buenos Aires on September 2, 2009, at the age of 75.