Category: al-Qā’idah

New statement from Ḥarakat al-Shabāb al-Mujāhidīn: "Abū Manṣūr al-Amrīkī: A Candid Clarification"

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin


In the name of Allah the Most Merciful, the Most Beneficent
17-12-2012
In the last few months the story of Abu Mansur Al-Amriki has been playing out in the media circles, not only feeding the narrative of the Western media that deep ideological differences were beginning to devour the Mujahideen in Somalia, but also leaving the Muslim Ummah extraordinarily confounded with a string of video releases that have stimulated a wide range of diverse reactions.
In the light of these events, and for the sake of clarification of the intricacies surrounding the Abu Mansur saga, Harakat Al-Shabaab Al-Mujahideen hereby declares that Abu Mansur Al-Amriki does not, in any way, shape or form, represent the views of the Muhajireen in Somalia. The opinions expressed by Abu Mansur, the alleged frictions and the video releases are merely the results of personal grievances that stem purely from a narcissistic pursuit of fame and are far removed from the reality on the ground.
Following the footsteps of the Noble Messenger, Muhammad (may peace and blessings be upon him) and the pious predecessors before them, the Mujahideen remain faithful to the lofty aspirations of their faith, strengthened by the bond of brotherhood, motivated by the rewards of altruistic self-sacrifice for their Muhajireen brothers and their path illuminated by the creed of Al Walaa-Wal-Baraa (Alliance and Enmity). The Jihadi theatre nevertheless accommodates people of all sorts. Some, above others, occasionally rise to prominence often with little merit save for their uniqueness, and contrary to portrait of the grand strategist, recruiter and fund-raiser portrayed by the Western media, Abu Mansur Al-Amriki does not hold any position of authority within Harakat Al-Shabaab Al Mujahideen.
Despite their fair share of surprise at the turn of events, however, the Mujahideen did not immediately rush to reprimand him, but instead saw it appropriate to lean towards the noble path of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in resolving the situation: that is Naseeha or giving advice to the brother.
To err is human, but Islamic Shari’ah has carved for us a clearly defined path for dealing with disputes should they arise and remedying the mistakes of our fellow Muslim brothers. For months the Mujahideen have been offering advice to Abu Mansur in private, without publicly rebuking him, employing every possible avenue to veil his faults, overlook his shortcomings and conceal the egregious errors he’d committed from the eyes of the Muslim Ummah, in the hope that Allah would guide him and us to the path of righteousness; for it remains obligatory upon the Muslims to offer sound advice to their brothers in religion, in the light of the Qur’an and Sunnah, and guide them towards that which is righteous. It is regrettable, however, that all such efforts have been fruitless despite the numerous attempts. Therefore, when a person rejects the sincere advice of his brothers in private, it becomes religiously and morally incumbent upon the Mujahideen to publicly advise the Muslim Ummah of his obstinacy and insistence on sowing disunity among the vanguards of this Ummah.
The series of video releases – one in March when the Kuffar were preparing to invade the Islamic Administrations in Lower Shabeelle region and another in October just after the Kenyans had invaded the port city of Kismayo, in Lower Jubba region – were intended to serve a broader purpose. Hence, the timing of the releases and the convergence of the entire East African nations upon the Mujahideen were not entirely coincidental occurrences but a calculated attempt to draw attention to the alleged voices of dissent within the ranks of the Mujahideen at a time when they were most likely to be under pressure from their enemies so as to cultivate the destructive seeds of disunity. But Allah is the best disposer of all affairs; the seeds failed to germinate ‘and the evil plot encompasses only him who makes it.’
We sincerely apologise to the Muslim Ummah in general and our Mujahideen brothers in all the fields of Jihad in particular for having to witness such childish petulance in one of the theatres of Jihad, reminding them that the caravan of Jihad cannot and will not, Insha-Allah, be derailed from its tracks or the spirit of this great Ummah dampened by the superficial allegations, frivolous ramblings and whimsical desires of those who wish to enhance their image at the price of Jihad and the Mujahideen, spreading discord and disunity in the process.
Press Office
Harakat Al-Shabaab Al Mujahideen
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New statement from the Muslim Youth Center: "Message To Our Beloved Amir Sheikh Aḥmad Imān 'Alī"

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin


Dear Beloved Amir Sheikh Ahmad Iman
We thank Allah almighty for persevering for you for MYC and the rest of the Mujahideen in East Africa. It is with great satisfaction and admiration that we continue to see you sit at the right handside of Amir Sheikh Abu Zubeyr (May Allah Protect him for us) leading the Mujahideen in battle against the Kuffar in Somalia.
It has been many years since you took that moral decision of selflessness to defend and protect Islam by going +252. And since this departure, the cubs you left behind have become lions and some have even dared to join you in the land of Jihad. Today, those fortunate lions with you are a source of inspiration and recruiting force to the up and coming young cubs of East Africa that yearn to spread the sword here in Kenya and beyond.
Praise be to Allah for in the last couple of months, you have delivered messages and lectures to Kenya and the rest of East Africa, warning of the consequences of their refusal to leave Somalia. So far, the Kuffar has refused to leave Somalia, and in return you have sent back lions into Kenya and East Africa to remind them of your prophetic words on the consequences of invading our Muslim land of Somalia.
With the blessing of Allah, both your lions and cubs pledge and declare that we will not end our support to you as our Amir, and nor will we stop spreading the virtues of Jihad throughout East Africa. You have bestowed upon us a gift of understanding the necessity of Jihad and now we are in your debt forever. If only you could see the restlessness of your MYC lions in Nairobi and the eagerness of your cubs on the Coast to spread the sword of Islam throughout East Africa you would be amazed that your messages and lectures have been stamped on our hearts.
With Allah’s blessing we ask that our restlessness and eagerness translate into a Tsunami of Chinja Chonja Fiyeka in Kenya and East Africa, and that our Taqwa continue to remain strong.
We ask that Allah continue to protect you for the Mujahideen in East Africa.
MYC
Press Office
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New statement from Anṣār ad-Dīn: "Regarding the Political Situation in Bamako"

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الحمد لله رب العالمين، والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله وعلى اله وصحبه وسلم تسليما كثيرا اما بعد:
Jamaat Ansar Al-Din follows carefully and watches the volatile situation in the corridors of the regime in Bamako, which resulted removing and arresting the prime minister of the transitional government, these events that occurred in the midst of talks sponsored by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), represented in the president of Burkina Faso, and the group sees that this step has strong connotations, that suggest that the rulers of Bamako are aware that they are walking in the wrong direction, since the deposed prime minister was from the most ardent for the aggressive campaign against the people of Azawad, and he had declared that clearly in all his media appearances, underestimating all the steps that indicate good faith, which were expressed by the negotiators of the Azawadi people, including Jamaat Ansar Al-Din, for the sake of reaching a peaceful solution, that spare us the horrors of war.
As we consider this daring step a positive action that pours in the framework of moving the pending issues, and moving it ahead, but at the same time we see it insufficient, rather there should be revving of similar steps, which we see that they prevent the region serious crises, that any future government assigned should take into account, these steps include the following:
1. Stopping the repeated barbarian assault against our unarmed people, that was under the sponsorship and supervision of the former racist government, and that was confirmed by its recognition of these crimes and not investigating them, to punish the perpetrators, and instead of that the defense minister comes out with provocative statements, justifying the killing of the innocents that he is protecting his territory, despite that he is incapable of securing the surrounding of his office, and the alleys of his cities which turned to a theater for organized crimes.
2. Continuing to silencing the aggressive racist voices that call for foreign interference, and assault on our people without any guilt, and remove them from the decision making posts, so that the voice of reason and wisdom can prevail.
3. Dealing seriously with the ongoing negotiation file, and changing the traditional transcendent vision, which the successive governments has consistently pursued, which considers the Azawadi people a pressure card to only bring the foreign financial aid, then turn a blind eye to it, and overlooking the legitimate rights of this nation, and on top of it its right to live free and in dignity, under the Islamic Sharia.
4. We remind the parties that are a driving force for the political situation that running behind the Western ambitions will do them no good, and the fate of those who gasp behind the colonial schemes will only be abandoning them, and throwing them in the corridors of oblivion, and you have a lesson in the icons of the repressive regimes, who were an obedient servant to the colonial powers against the interests of its peoples, and in particular the icons of the former Malian regime, who built its glories on the carnage and skulls of the our oppressed people in Azawad, for decades.
5. We renew our conformation to choose the possible peaceful solutions, that don’t contradict with our Islamic fundamentals and principles, and have a benefit to our nations. And we express our readiness to listen, discussion and negotiate, with any serious party that seeks a peaceful solution without antagonizing other on us.
وبالله التوفيق والحمد لله رب العالمين
Press Office of the Jamaat
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New statement from the Muslim Youth Center: "Moving East: Whatever It Takes To Support Our Mujāhidīn"

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin


In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
Mererani (11/12/2012) – For a number of years, MYC and mujahideen from other East African countries have been supporting our beloved brothers Al-Shabaab in Somalia to fend off the onslaught of the Kuffar. MYC for its part has contributed immensely to Jihad in Somalia, and now Jihad in the region of East Africa with the obvious emphasis on Kenya.
Our focus on the region of East Africa should not be viewed as an admission of defeat in Somalia. In fact, as many of the mujahideen will know, MYC lions and cubs continue to work closely with our brothers in Al-Shabaab in Somalia on declaring Jihad on the Kuffar invaders and their apostate allies who dare call themselves Muslims. Insha’Allah, MYC will never leave the side of our brothers in Al-Shabaab but stand shoulder to shoulder with the lions of Sheikh Abu Zubeyr.
MYC’s decision to focus on Kenya and the wider East African region is but a mere continuation of the Jihad in Somalia and not defeat as the Kuffar continues to falsely propagate to its meek public. Jihad takes many forms and many routes. As our brothers Al-Shabaab and our Kenyan mujahideen combat the Kuffar inside Somalia, MYC and its lions will continue to spread the sword here in East Africa making Kenya an example for other East African countries.
It is now time for the mujahideen in East Africa to join MYC in Kenya and our brothers in Tanzania confront the evil that the Kuffar represents to our sacred religion of Islam. As Sheikh Aboud Rogo (May Allah grant him the highest place in Jannah), our mentor would say about the Kuffar: “the Kuffar understands one language and it’s the language of the sword”, we must now take all measures to first, defend Islam, and second, support our brothers Al-Shabaab in declaring Jihad on the Kuffar both inside Somalia and in East Africa.
Press Office
MYC
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New statement from the Islamic State of Iraq: "Denying News on the Arrest of Its Amīr"

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

قالت دولة العراق الإسلامية في بيان لها أن أمير دولة العراق الإسلامية “على خير حالٍ بين أهله وإخوانه”.

وجاءعلى لسان وزير الإعلام بدولة العراق الإسلامية: “نحنُ نكذّب هذه المزاعم جملةً وتفصيلاً، فالشيخ البغدادي حفظه الله بمعيّة الله على خير حالٍ بين أهله وإخوانه”

وأضاف البيان (الذي حصلت جهاد برس على نسخة منه) “نطمئن الموحّدين بأنّ رجال البغدادي حسموا خيارهم وأعدوا عدّتهم وأخذوا بأسباب المواجهة (…) فدون هؤلاء الأقزام والوصول للشيخ مفاوز وأهوال لا قبل لهم بها”.

ونبّه البيان إلى أن مثلَ هذه “الأكاذيب الملفّقة” حولَ إنجازات الأجهزة الأمنيّة “الخائبة” (كما أسماها البيان) لن تنقطع؛ معلّلاً ذلك باستمرار تدهور الوضع الأمني على الأرض ما يتوقع أن يدفع حكومة المالكي للتسرع والإضطراب في تعاملها مع الموقف.

وتوعّد البيان حكومة المالكي بردّ قوي، قائلاً أن “ما حصل لحميركم في الجنوب قبل بضعة أيّام أول الغيث، وليأتينّكم نبأ ما يُعدّه أحفاد الصحابة لكم قريباً بإذن الله”.

وأشار البيان إلى ما تواتر عن معاملة سيئة تلقاها أسيرات المسلمين في سجون حكومة المالكي المدعومة من إيران بقوله: “لن تزيدنا أفعالكم الجبانة بحرائر أهل السنّة في سجونكم إلا إصراراً على نُصرتهنّ وبذل النُفوس والمهج ثأراً لهنّ والفتك بكم”

وأصدرت وزارة الإعلام في بيانين منفصلين تفاصيل 75 عملية عسكرية نوعية في ولايتي كركوك والأنبار تم جلّها في شهري ذو القعدة و ذو الحجة من العام الهجري المنصرم.

وهذا نصّ البيان كما حصلت عليه جهاد برس:

بيان تكذيب المزاعم الجديدة لحكومة المنطقة الخضراء=&0=&} وزارة الإعلام / دولةُ العِراق الإسلاميّة

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To inquire about a translation for this statement for a fee email: [email protected]

Check out my new article for Foreign Policy: "The Rise of al-Qaeda in Syria"

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin


President Barack Obama’s administration is reportedly planning to designate the Syrian jihadist group Jabhat al-Nusra (“the Support Front”) as a terrorist organization. The group, which was firstannounced in late January 2012, has become a growing part of the armed opposition due to its fighting prowess — perhaps no surprise, as many of its fighters honed their skills in battlefields in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Yemen. As a result, Jabhat al-Nusra has carved out an important niche in the fight to oust the Syrian regime even as it remains outside of the mainstream opposition.
The U.S. administration, in designating Jabhat al-Nusra, is likely to argue that the group is an outgrowth of the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI). While there is not much open-source evidence of this, classified material may offer proof — and there is certainly circumstantial evidence that Jabhat al-Nusra operates as a branch of the ISI.
There’s no denying that Jabhat al-Nusra is deadly: It has claimed responsibility for more than 500 attacks since its creation, including a series of suicide bombings. Unique among rebel groups operating in Syria, it has also earned the legitimacy of top global jihadist ideologues, who have called for grassroots supporters across the world to help fund or join up with the group. And foreign fighters have answered the call: Based on data from al Qaeda’s online forums, of the 46 individuals for which the forums have provided “martyrdom” notices and announced their group affiliation, 20 fought with Jabhat al-Nusra. Since Oct. 1, almost all of the notices that mention affiliation have reported that the fighter was aligned with Jabhat al-Nusra.
Click here to read the rest.

al-Malāḥim Media presents a new audio message from al-Qā’idah in the Arabian Peninsula's Shaykh Ibrāhīm bin Sulaymān al-Rubaysh: "Do Not Blame America"

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

UPDATE 8/26/13 7:56 AM: Here is an English translation of the below Arabic audio message and transcription:
bnr1_dntblameAmerica
Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: Shaykh Ibrāhīm bin Sulaymān al-Rubaysh — “Do Not Blame America” (En)
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UPDATE 12/4/12 10:23 PM: Here is an Arabic transcription of the below audio message:
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Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: Shaykh Ibrāhīm bin Sulaymān al-Rubaysh — “Do Not Blame America” (Ar)
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AdaM1
Shaykh Ibrāhīm bin Sulaymān al-Rubaysh — “Do Not Blame America”

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