The Clear Banner sub-blog on Jihadology.net is primarily focused on Sunni foreign fighting. It does not have to just be related to the phenomenon in Syria. It can also cover any location that contains Sunni foreign fighters. If you are interested in writing on this subject please email me at azelin [at] jihadology [dot] net.
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Tajik Fighters in Iraq and Syria
By Edward Lemon
Wreaked by violence in the 1990s, Tajikistan played host to prominent Arab foreign fighters including Ibn Khattab and Abu Walid. Now the situation has reversed and young men are travelling from the mountainous Central Asian republic to fight in Iraq and Syria. Whereas some of the first reported fighters joined Jabhat al-Nusra, now the vast majority have been lured into the ranks of the Islamic State.
With a population of almost eight million, the post-Soviet republic of Tajikistan lies in Central Asia. Ruled by strongman president Emomali Rahmon since 1992, the government defeated an opposition it labelled as “Islamist” in the country’s civil war. Remittances sent by more than a million migrants in Russia form the backbone of the economy, with narcotics smuggling from Afghanistan also playing a key role. Although the majority of the population are Muslim, a seventy year Soviet-led campaign against religion has rendered understandings of Islam as secular; Islam is a key part of national identity but does not correspond to a defined set of beliefs and practices.
Continuing in the footsteps of its predecessor, the Tajik government has promoted a good, national religion, and restricted bad, foreign forms of Islam. Salafism was banned in 2009, studying in foreign madrassas without a permit was criminalised in 2011, and imams were given a list of approved sermon topics in 2012. Tajiks who have joined the Islamic State are reacting to this assertive state secularism back home.
Unsubstantiated Estimates: How many Tajiks are Fighting with the Islamic State?
A great deal of scaremongering surrounds the foreign fighter problem in Central Asia. Russian experts, eyeing a return to the Afghan-Tajik border, which it left in 2005, have been keen to highlight the imminent threat that the Islamic State poses to the region. Yevgeny Satanovsky, president of the Russian Institute for Middle East Studies, stated in September that “the catastrophic wave of violence at the hands of the Islamic State will repeat itself in Afghanistan and then move on to Central Asia.” According to Satanovsky, as many as five thousand Central Asian nationals have uprooted for Syria and Iraq. In late October, Rafal Rohozynsky – identified as a Canadian terrorism expert – told a conference in Astana that four thousand Central Asians are fighting with the Islamic State. He claimed he derived the figure from a “careful” reading of online material. His comments were widely circulated by Russian language news services.
International news agencies have been even more arbitrary in guessing the number of Tajik foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq. In September, a CNN map did not mention Central Asian fighters at all. The next month, the Washington Post published a map stating that thirty Kyrgyz fighters were in Syria; it ignored all the other Central Asian republics.
Ever eager to appear in control, the Tajik government itself has offered more circumspect figures. Addressing officials in September 2014, President Emomali Rahmon said that two hundred Tajik nationals are fighting in Syria. This figure conflicts with the State Committee on National Security’s estimate of three hundred. Interior Minister Ramazon Rahimzoda announced in October that fifty Tajiks have been killed in Syria, though only eleven of these deaths have been reported. Online evidence for sixty five fighters exists. This figure includes twenty fighters from the village of Chorqishloq in the north of Tajikistan. Of these, eleven have been reported killed and a further twenty arrested. The fate of the remaining thirty two remains unreported.
Profiling Tajik Fighters in Syria and Iraq
All the reported Tajik fighters have been young men; the oldest being 41 and the youngest 23. Most fighters are recruited in Russia. From Russia, like most foreign fighters, Tajik jihadists transit through Turkey to reach Syria. Approximately one million Tajiks currently work in Russia. Migrants are allegedly more “vulnerable” to radicalisation. They work in low-paid jobs, often experience xenophobia, and endure abuse at the hands of the government. The offer of a steady income and potential glory of becoming shadid (a martyr) in Syria may be a tempting prospect for some disillusioned young migrants. Although a link between migration and radicalisation seems to exist, this remains an understudied phenomenon. Further study is needed in order to examine the dynamics through which this relationship manifests itself.
Many of the fighters did not express an interest in religion before they left Tajikistan. After a video of Islamic State fighter Akhtam Olimov appeared online in September 2014, his family were in shock. Neighbours commented that he was never particularly pious when growing up. “He never wore a beard” before he went to Russia, his mother told reporters. After Bobojon Kurbonov was killed in August 2014, his brother told the media that “Bobodjon was not a religious man, and we do not understand how he was persuaded to go to war.” Like many young Muslims who join extremist groups, the Tajik recruits appear to lack knowledge of the Qu’ran, Sunnah, Sharia, or hadith.
The case of twenty six year old Bakhtiyor Sherov – also known as Abu Akhmad Tajiki – is typical. Born in Kulob in the south of Tajikistan, like many of his countrymen he left for Russia in 2011. After sending money back to his family for a few months, he disappeared. The next thing his family knew he was dead. Sherov was killed fighting with al-Nusra in March 2014.
The Role of Tajik Jihadists in Syria and Iraq
Recently, users uploaded twenty videos showing Tajiks fighting with the Islamic State to Russian social networking site Odnoklassniki (Classmates). Ranging from scenes of jihadists eating dinner, joking in a public square, and warnings to the Tajik government, the videos shed some light on the lives of foreign fighters in al-Sham. In one video, a man who identifies himself as Abu Umariyon can be seen at the checkpoint on the edge of an Iraqi town. He stops a car and, speaking in broken Arabic, checks that the driver is not carrying contraband cigarettes.
It is clear that the Tajiks have connections with fellow Russian speaking jihadists from the North Caucasus, Russia, and the other Central Asian republics. In September 2014, Iraqi TV showed an interview with twenty five year old Tajik national Olim Yusuf who had been arrested on the border with Syria. Although he admitted to working for the Islamic State, he said he was only a driver. His interrogation, however, suggested links with fellow Russian speaking fighters. According to Yusuf, “I went to Raqqa, to a town called Sadaashri. We spent 14 days there. The camp was commanded by Umar Shishani [IS Chechen leader]. There were 18 or 20 people there. Some were Arabs and others were Chechens.” In the interview Yusuf claims that he did not participate in the hostilities.
The Government’s Repressive Response
The Tajik government has frequently highlighted the potential threat posed by violent radicalisation. President Rahmon has referred to IS as “the plague of the new century and a global threat” and warned Tajiks not to underestimate the “negative role in Tajikistan” of the militant group. Evidence of the threat posed by returnees has been deployed by the regime. In October 2014 the government foiled a terrorist plot to blow up two major tunnels in the north of the country; the group, it claimed, had links with Syria. In response to the foreign fighter problem, Tajik legislators amended to Criminal Code in May 2014 so that it now covers fighting abroad; those found guilty will be jailed for twenty years. The country’s clerical council has also issued a fatwa against travelling abroad to fight, calling it a “great sin.”
Although the government has frequently announced that it will amnesty any fighters who return and even paraded one reformed “returnee” on national TV, the evidence on the ground indicates a less tolerant policy. The spectre of the Islamic State has been used to legitimise a crackdown on “foreign” forms of Islam. The first Tajik citizens with links to Syria were imprisoned in December 2013. By the end of 2014, one hundred and sixteen citizens had been arrested on charges of “extremism,” almost twice as many as in previous years. A witch hunt is well and truly under way. The walls of local police
Category: Tajikistan
New video message from Jamā’at Anṣār Allah Tājīkistān: "Urging Tājīks to Participate in Jihād"
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New statement from Jamā'at Anṣār Allah Tājīkistān: "On the Martyrdom of Amīr Mullo Abdullo"
English:
We, the Mujahideen of Tajikistan, address to the Muslims of Tajikistan in regard to the martyrdom of Mullo Abdullo. First of all, we want to tell our believing brothers and sisters not to grieve.
Our brother Emir Mullo Abdullo has fought against the enemies of Allah for 19 full years, and now Allah returned him to Himself. We ask Allah to accept his martyrdom and to put him into the gardens of paradise.
We would also like to address to non-believers and hypocrites and to tell them that they should not rejoice about the capture of Ali Bedaki or the martyrdom of Mullo Abdullo. In our ranks, there are many more brothers prepared to sacrifice their lives for the sake of Allah, Allah willing, and you will soon feel their force through your slave’s clothing.
It is time for the Muslims to stand up and throw off the chains of Emomali Rakhmonov and his wretched inner circle.
How long can the Muslims endure injustice and humiliation?
The Muslims have been blatantly robbed of their money for the construction of the Rogun hydroelectric power station (even children and teenagers in schools and similar institutions). Even if the hydroelectric power station is ever built, it will only benefit the family of Rakhmonov and nobody will see anything good from it.
The Rogun hydroelectric power station will cost around 1,5 billion dollars. Emomali could have built, not just one, but several Rogun hydroelectric power stations with the money he stole from the people and international organizations.
The “caring government” builds toll roads for the people, robbing the drivers even from nearby villages. The company which collects toll money (registered abroad) is also owned by Rakhmonov.
During the winter, electricity is sold abroad or goes straight to the aluminum factory from which profits go directly to Rakhmonov. And Muslims witnessed that during an exceptionally harsh winter of 2008, hundred of children died in hospitals and villages from the cold.
Rakhmonov’s Tajikistan is a state parasite, headed by a stupid, greedy leader who has not honor or dignity.
Emomali does nothing but only travels around the world with an outstretched hand, not hesitating to beg for pennies under various pretexts, such as help with natural disasters etc.
The people of Tajikistan are the people of “self-reliance.” Who lives among the people of Tajikistan on his salary from the government?
Almost everyone has a relative who went to infidels of Russia to work as a farm hand. The little pittance they earn, they can send back to their relatives, and that is the money that they live on.
The main source of income of this country is the money sent by guest workers and the money from narco-trafficking that thrives in our country.
An army of mindless government officials from the cities, regions and local authorities as well as hordes of cops from the Interior Ministry gang, which hand in hand scalp the people and rob from them their there last penny, so they are left destitute, also need to be mentioned.
At the airports in Tajikistan, every crooked cop, customs agent and border guard thinks that his duty is to snatch up and rob every last cent from young men who go to work as farm hands in Russia.
Muslims abandoned Jihad, so Allah will humiliate Muslims worse than the apostates in Tajikistan or the non-believers in Russia do.
Tajiks in Russia are constantly drunk. Russian infidels (who get drunk and fall asleep in their own urine) have filmed a TV series called “Ravshan and Dzhamshuda.” Is it not a disgrace when the people, who gave to the Umma such scholars as Imam Al-Bukhari, Imam Al-Tirmizi, Imam Darimi Al-Smarkandi and many others, make such TV serials?
Now this greedy little pharaoh Emamali, seeing such “patience” among the Muslims went even further. He wants take away the last thing that remains – the ruminants of the religion.
He banned our sisters, daughters and mothers to wear the hijab, because, being a servant of Satan, he hates the hijab.
In his efforts to build a “civilized” state based on Western model, he decided to force Muslim women to undress. This monster believes that openness and accessibility of Muslim women is a sign of “civilization and progress.”
The devil’s whispers led to a decision by the tyrant Emamali to ban children aged less than 18 years to attend the mosques. They allegedly skip school lessons because of the prayers. Although, the only prayer time that coincides with school classes is the Zuhur prayer, held when they all have lunch.
Then why didn’t he ban children from going to gaming arcades and dens of inequity, where kids sit for hours all days long? He does not hide his hostility to the religion of Allah at all, he threatened parents of those who are studying at Islamic schools abroad with jail sentences or fines of up to 35 thousand dollars.
Where would these poor peasants get that kind of money? Who is the filth that would make such laws?! Even in infidel constitutions of infidel countries such laws do not exist.
In his effort to serve his masters in Russia and America, this dog surpassed many renegades.
Now this regime began demolishing mosque under the pretext that they were built “illegally.” But mosques are the houses of Allah, and everything on Earth belongs to Allah the Most Glorious and High. He gave it to us for use by the Muslims as an imanat, and such an imanat is in dire need by all of us.
Today, it is clear to what the signing of the “peace treaty” in 1997 led. Any agreement with Satan is forbidden. Some emirs were tempted by leather seats of ministerial posts, and the others were promised government posts and abandoned the Jihad.
Where are today the poisoned Said Abdullo Nuri, Merzoi Ziyo and many others? They are either dead or in prison. Punishment awaits in both worlds those who have gone over to the apostates.
Let’s look at those who helped to bring this Dzhanobi Kholi to power: where are Gafur Sedoy, Yakub Salimov and others who brought him to power and without whom this dog would be nothing?
While Muslims may not remove these bloodsuckers and parasites from their own necks, humiliation will not continue. Everybody from us will be asked on the Day of Judgment what he did when Rakhmonov was demolishing the houses of Allah, when he did not allow kids and teenagers to go to the mosques and when their parents were put trial.
Allah will ask, Allah willing, what did we do when the minister of education Abdudzhabbor Rakhmonov called monkeys the mothers of the students that wear the hijabs? We will all be asked this question, Allah willing.
Muslims should stand up for each other and fight the tyrants and their servants who set up their infidel laws and want to force the Muslims to live by those laws.
Attack the cops and the government employees that fight against Islam! And those who do not fight against Islam and consider themselves Muslims – let them leave their doggish jobs.
Dzhanobi Pasti Emamali decided to act against the religion of Allah. Allah willing, he and his dogs will be subjected to even more humiliation in this world. Do not let them demolish the houses of Allah. Demolish their own houses! Remove this filth from around your necks. All power and authority belong only to Allah.
Today, the fighting in the ranks of the Mujahideen is not carried out only the brothers from Rasht and Badakhshan, as it was in the 1990’s. Today, our mujahid ranks include brothers from all the corners of Tajikistan: from Khatlon, from Sugda, from Dushanbe and Gissar.
Today, the Mujahideen, fighting in our ranks, have firm faith, they do not fight for power or positions in the society, they only want to make supreme the world of Allah.
Many of us had good business and a good position in society, but after Allah opened our hearts to the truth, we abandoned this world, and, Allah willing, strive for the appeasement of Allah.
We do not need expensive cars or positions in society, as we already had all of that before, and we left it all for the sake of Allah. We want to raise the world of Allah in our land and liberate the people from slavery and humiliation, which were brought to them by the enemy of the Tajik people, the servant of the infidels – Emamali.
We appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters of Tajikistan! Are you not prepared to leave this world, what do you fear and what are you waiting for?
Rise up, the peoples of Dushanbe, Khatlon and Badakhshan, Sugda and Rasht!
Is there not a single decent man among you who has not bowed his head before the non-entities that is headed by alcoholic Emamali?
Look, where is now the president of Egypt Hosni Mubarak? Where is now the president of Tunisia? What is now happening to the president of Libya? Allah (SWT) is punishing them in this world and humiliating them in front of the whole world.
These “servants of the people” sat on their thrones as long as the good people did not “ask” them to leave, they never even thought about that. Why do you not “ask” Emamali to leave? Is this former director of a collective farm any better than Mubarak or Ben Ali?
Do not be indifferent to the religion of Allah. Believers are forbidden to tolerate disbelief, humiliation and injustice. Allah’s punishment is more severe than police batons and prison cells.
Do not leave for police arbitrariness your friends and families who have decided to stand up against Satan. Do not submit to the apostates who have forbidden your children from going to the mosques and do