UPDATE 6/16/14 9:37 PM: Here is an English translation of the below Arabic video message and transcription:
Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: Jalāl al-Marqishī (Ḥamzah al-Zinjubārī) — “Comment On the American Bombing Of Yemen” (En)
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UPDATE 5/27/14 9:15 PM: Here is an Arabic transcription of the below video message:
Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: Jalāl al-Marqishī (Ḥamzah al-Zinjubārī) — “Comment On the American Bombing Of Yemen” (Ar)
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Category: United States
Hizballah Cavalcade: Bahrain’s Saraya al-Muqawama al-Sha’biya: Militants of the February 14 Youth Coalition
NOTE: For prior parts in the Hizballah Cavalcade series you can view an archive of it all here.
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Bahrain’s Saraya al-Muqawama al-Sha’biya: Militants of the February 14 Youth Coalition
By Phillip Smyth
Figure 1: Saraya al-Muqawama al-Sha’biya’s logo.
Saraya al-Muqawama al-Sha’biya (The Popular Resistance Brigades or SMS), sometimes also called Saraya al-Muqawama (The Resistance Brigades), was listed by the government of Bahrain as a terrorist organization following the deadly March 3, 2014 bombing. The group, along with fellow militant group Saraya al-Ashtar, claimed responsibility for the attack. SMS has been operationally active and publishing its activities online since April 2012. Importantly, Saraya al-Muqawama al-Sha’biya does not hide that they are affiliated with one of the main anti-government protest groups, the February 14 Youth Coalition (which was also listed as a terrorist organization by the government of Bahrain). This is hardly a minor connection, since, both the February 14 Youth Coalition and SMS have also distributed images sharing one another’s logos, organized events (such as protests) together, and share a similar narrative. Other militant groups—namely Saraya al-Ashtar and Saraya al-Mukhtar—have only vaguely claimed to represent links to protestors, let alone main protest organizations.
In June 2013, the Bahraini government accused the February 14 Youth Coalition of having a “spiritual leader” based in Karbala, Iraq and of, “frequently travel[ing] between Iran, Iraq and Lebanon to obtain financial and moral support as well as weapons training.” However, Bahraini authorities provided little substantiating evidence dealing with claims of Iranian or Iranian proxy involvement. Nevertheless, according to Iranian reports, February 14 Youth Coalition representatives have thanked Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for his comments supportive of their activities. Iranian media has also expressed their support for the “revolutionary activities” of the Bahraini group. Despite these pronouncements, the actual relationship between Iran and the February 14 Youth Coalition, particularly dealing with any attempts at training or equipping militant elements attached to the organization, is still unknown.
Figure 2: Both the February 14 Youth Coalition and Saraya al-Muqawama al-Sha’biya’s logos on a promotional image released onto multiple February 14 Youth Coalition pages.
Figure 3: SMS supporters carry the group’s flag during a march.
Figure 4: SMS and February 14 Youth Coalition supporters march together and carry February 14 Youth Coalition flags.
Initially, the February 14 Youth Coalition did not embrace violence. However, after publishing a series of “warnings” to the Bahraini government, Gulf Arab states (namely, Saudi Arabia and the UAE) which have deployed forces to Bahrain, and foreigners recruited into the Bahrain’s internal security forces (often referred to by the group and other Bahraini militants as, “mercenaries”), the coalition issued communiques demonstrating they would choose a more militant path of “resistance.” In a January 27, 2012 English-language statement made by a February 14 Youth Coalition affiliated page, the group issued a statement reading:
“We have so far preserved our right to use force for self-defense, hoping that would make you hesitant from attacking peaceful protestors, women and children. However, common sense and human logic do not seem to work on you…Our people have decided to bring an end to the illegitimate regime…We shall take no responsibility for whatever might happen to the mercenaries after this final warning.”
Three months after this announcement, SMS pushed for a response to the holding of the controversial 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix Formula 1 race. The group released images urging protestors to throw the gas (the group claimed it was poisonous) used by Bahraini police at the race cars. However, no armed action was taken against the race by SMS. It is likely that in such an early stage of development and combined with Bahraini government crackdowns, the group was unable to act.
Figure 5: One of SMS’s English language posters calling for action against the 2012 Grand Prix race.
Narrative Structure
SMS considers its fighters to be “jihadists,” refer to their attacks as “jihadist operations,” and believe they are fighting a “jihad against the infidel Khalifas [Bahrain’s ruling royal family].” While the message of jihad is repeated in many SMS statements, these statements do not share the same level of more complicated religious and ideological messaging found with other non-Bahraini Shia jihadist elements.
SMS also lacks a specific goal for what type of government will rule in Bahrain following a theoretical collapse of the currently ruling Khalifa royal family. Still, this has not stopped the group from constructing complex narratives via militant activity for their enemies.
Following Saraya al-Ashtar’s and SMS’s claim of responsibility for the March 3, 2014 bombing (which killed two Bahraini police officers and a police officer sent by the United Arab Emirates [UAE] to Bahrain), SMS used the opportunity to criticize government claims that forces of the Peninsula Shield Force were being used in conjunction with local Bahraini police forces to counter protests and riots.
Sent to Bahrain in 2011, the Peninsula Shield Force included hundreds from the Saudi military and the UAE’s police force. Officially, these units claimed they were not involved in internal matters in Bahrain and were only interested in securing strategic bases and locations from “external influence.” Regardless, the death of a UAE police officer attached to Bahraini police served as a propaganda coup for SMS.
The timing of the SMS’s bombing claim and messages which proceeded it also fit into a broader message dealing with the Peninsula Shield Force and particularly Saudi Arabia. SMS has demonstrated a specific ire for the Saudis. The organization’s communiques have called Saudi Arabia the “usurper of land,” “occupiers,” and have stated their operations are to “purge the land of its Saudi and Khalifa occupiers.”
In part, this may tie back to February 14 Youth Coalition links to Saudi Shia activists. Researcher Fredric M. Wehrey noted that an “important attribute of the February 14 Youth Coalition is its strong affinity with Shi’a activists in neighboring Saudi Arabia.” Wehrey went on to explain how coordinated protests were conducted by Bahraini and Saudi groups out of solidarity. The February 14 Youth Coalition’s and SMS’s links to the Saudi Shia is also important when viewed in context with announcements by fellow militant organization, Saraya al-Mukhtar. Saraya al-Mukhtar has issued a number of announcements saying they share the cause of the “people of the [Saudi] Eastern Region” –an area heavily populated by Saudi Shia. The shared narrative may demonstrate deeper links between Saraya al-Mukhtar, SMS, and the February 14 Youth Coalition.
Figure 6: A poster released by the February 14 Youth Coalition asking, “Who are the terrorists?” The photo shows Saudi forces crossing the King Fahd Causeway which links Bahrain to Saudi Arabia.
As part of the view casting the Saudis as foreign occupiers, activists from SMS and the February 14 Youth Coalition have drawn parallels between Israel and Saudi Arabia; accusing both counties of using the same techniques of occupation. Prior to a series of March 2014 protests against “Saudi occupation”, the February 14 Youth Coalition and SMS circulated images attempting to link Saudi Arabia and Israel as fellow occupying states. This also extended into the realm of February 14 Youth Coalition partisans attempting to directly link the causes of Palestinian and Bahraini demonstrators.
Figure 7: The Israeli flag flies behind Jerusalem’s Dome of the Rock (left) while a bulldozer is shown destroying the 400 year old Amir Mohammed Braighi Mosque with a Saudi flag behind it (right). The latter incident occurred in 2011 along with the Bahraini government destruction of other Shia mosques. This picture was used as a tool to organize activists for protests and events against the “Saudi occupation.”
Figure 8: A poster showing a Bahraini protester (with February 14 Youth Coalition) and a Palestinian activist. The former looks to the now demolished Pearl Roundabout statue, the latter looks to the Dome of the Rock. The picture attempts to show a unity of purpose and cause between Palestinian and Bahraini demonstrators.
Symbols of the “Popular Resistance”
Figure 9: SMS protesters at a February 14 Youth Coalition event demonstrating against “The Saudi Occupation.”
Shia symbolism is heavily featured in the group’s logo. The most prominent image is the symbolic hand of Shia leader Abbas Ibn Ali; son of the first Shia imam and loyal aid and military leader for the third Shia imam, Husayn ibn Ali. Serving as Husayn’s flag bearer during the historic Battle of Karbala, Abbas’s hand was cut off by one of the forces of Yazid, the reviled leader of the Umayyads, as Abbas went alone to collect water for Husayn’s dehydrated camp. Abbas went on to fight singlehandedly until his other arm was cut off by sword strikes from Yazid’s forces and was then killed. Abbas’s loyalty and steadfastness until being cut down remains an important message for many Shia Muslims.
Another unique feature from the logo is that “The Sacred Defense” is written within the symbolic hand of Abbas. This helps convey that the group’s conflict with the government is viewed as both a defensive and religiously justified action. Intriguingly, the Shia jihad in Syria and the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) have (by Shia actors) both been described as “The Sacred Defense.”
Behind the
al-Qā’idah in the Arabian Peninsula’s al-Malāḥim Media releases Inspire Magazine Issue #12
New statement from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's Zabīhullah Mujāhid: "The Blacklisting of Our Mujāhidīn Signifies American Military Failure"
The American invaders announced on Wednesday the blacklisting of three Mujahideen of Islamic Emirate namely Yahya (Haqqani), Maulawi Sayedullah and Muhammad Omar (Zadran).
We condemn this ineffective and theatrical blacklisting by America on top of which we also believe it to be an illustration of the abject failure and defeat of America as it is absolutely obvious that no Mujahideen of Islamic Emirate either have trade relationships with America nor any accounts in their interest plagued banks which could be effected by these superficial seizures.
The reality is that America has lost militarily in Afghanistan and now wants to atone this military defeat with petty propaganda war.
The defeated Americans must realize that the Mujahideen of Islamic Emirate take pride in having their names included in such blacklists while those Mujahideen who were blacklisted by America a few years ago have been at the forefront of fighting the invaders and have dealt them a heavy blow militarily.
We can confidently say that such blacklistings do not affect the Jihadi moral and activities of our Mujahideen in the slightest but works paradoxically by strengthening their Jihadi resolves.
To end we must state that all three of the named Mujahideen are from Khost and Paktika provinces of Afghanistan and reports which allege that some are Pakistani nationals are completely baseless.
Spokesman of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
Zabihullah Mujahid
06/04/1435 Hijri Lunar
17/11/1392 Hijri Solar 06/02/2014 Gregorian
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‘Umar Studio presents a new statement from the Teḥrīk-ī-Ṭālibān Pākistān: "Not the Mujāhidīn, But the Government Policy of Deception Through the Exploitation of the Negotiations for an Extension of the American War in Parts of the Country"
بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
تحریک طالبان پاکستان ایک نظریاتی، عسکری جماعت ہے جو جھوٹ اور دھوکے کی سیاست پر یقین نہیں رکھتی ، سیاسی بیان بازیاں سیکولرسیاسی جماعتوں کو ہی زیب دیتی ہے،جنگ اور مذاکرات کے حوالے سے ہمارا موقف اب کھلی کتاب بن چکا ہے اور حکومت کی غیر سنجیدگی بھی عیاں ہوچکی ہے،تمام سنجیدہ طبقےحکومتی رویے سے سخت نالاں ہیں کہ نہ جانے حکومت کن خفیہ قوتوں کے ہاتھوں یرغمال بن کر ملک کو داؤ پہ لگانے پر تلی ہوئی ہے۔۔۔۔۔؟؟
بازاروں اور مساجد میں دھماکے اسلام دشمنوں کی کاروائیاں ہیں جس میں حکومتی ایجنسیاں بھی ملوث ہیں، ہم نے ایسے واقعات سے ہمیشہ اظہار براءت کیا ہے۔ ہم مسلمانوں کی جان و مال کے محافظ ہیں۔ ایسے سرکاری اہداف کو نشانہ بنانے میں بھی احتیاط کرتے ہیں جن میں عام مسلمانوں کے نقصان کا زیادہ اندیشہ ہو۔
حکومت مذاکرات کی آڑ میں سکیورٹی فورسز کو بے گناہ مسلمانوں کےخلاف پورے ملک میں کاروائیوں کا حکم دے چکی ہے ، بیسیوں لوگوں کو ایک ہی حملے میں مار دیا جاتا ہے، خفیہ ایجنسیاں مسلسل لاپتہ افراد کی لاشیں پھینک رہی ہیں ، اب تو اس انسانیت سوز حرکت کو قانون کا درجہ دے دیا گیا ہے،ایسی صورتحال میں ہم پر حملے جاری رکھنے کا اعتراض بلکل بیجا ہے۔
موجودہ حکومت بھی ماضی کی حکومتوں کی روش پر چل پڑی ہے ، جنہوں نے ہمیشہ مذاکرات کو سیاسی اور جنگی ہتھیار کے طور پر استعمال کیا ، طالبان کو ہٹ دھرم اور ضدی ثابت کرکے انکے خلاف جنگ کی امریکی خواہش پوری کی اور بدلے میں چند ڈالر لےکر اسلام اور ملک و قوم کا سودا کیا ،اگر حکمرانوں کو ڈالروں کی چمک اندھا نہ کرتی اور وہ اس ملک سے مخلص ہوتے تو یہ جنگ شروع ہی نہ ہوتی۔۔۔۔امریکہ کی خواہش پر امریکی ڈالروں کے لئے شروع ہونے والی جنگ امریکی خواہش پر آج تک جاری ہے۔۔۔۔۔!!
ہم واضح کرتے ہیں کہ مذاکرات کے نام پر الزام اور دھوکے کی سیاست کے بجائے سنجیدہ بنیادوں پر اقدامات اٹھائے جائیں، اسلام سے محبت رکھنے والا، محب وطن باشعور طبقہ ہوشیار اور بیدار ہو جائے اور اس ملک کو امریکی غلامی سے نکال کر ایک آزاد اسلامی ریاست کی طرف لیجانے کے لئے مجتمع ہو جائے ورنہ اگر اسی طرح بے گناہ قبائل پر جنگیں مسلط کی جاتی رہیں تو یہ ملک کسی خطرناک بحران سے دوچار ہو سکتا ہے۔۔۔۔!!
شاہد اللہ شاہد
(مرکزی ترجمان تحریک طالبان پاکستان)
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04/04/1435
05/02/2014
الله أكبر
{وَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَكِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لا يَعْلَمُونَ}
=&0=&حركة طالبان باكستان
تحریکِ طالبان پاکستان
المصدر : (مركز صدى الجهاد للإعلام)
مآخذ : (صدى الجہاد میڈیا سینٹر)الجبهة الإعلامية الإسلامية العالمية
عالمی اسلامی میڈیا محاذ
رَصدٌ لأخبَار المُجَاهدِين وَ تَحرِيضٌ للمُؤمِنين
مجاہدین کی خبروں کی مانیٹرنگ کرنا اورمؤمنین کو ترغیب دلان
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To inquire about a translation for this statement for a fee email: [email protected]
New statement from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's Qārī' Yusuf Aḥmadī: "Remarks Regarding the 12th Year of the Inhumane American Prison (Guantánamo)"
The twelfth year of the symbol of American savagery, the infamous Guantanamo prison, arrives as there are still up to 150 innocent Muslims still locked up behind cages and in solitary confinements.
The inmates inside this prison spend their days and nights in hunger, thirst and unimaginable misery. Neither did the America chief Obama take any steps in the closure of this infamous prison which he had talked about in his initial years nor has any self proclaimed Human Right organization heard the voices of the oppressed inmates. The American criminals have committed various types of torture and suppression against the oppressed prisoners for the past twelve years yet no one ever cared about their peaceful hunger strikes and neither did anyone take any practical steps to free them from their depressing condition. We once again call on the Islamic Conference and all other international human right organizations, due to the principal of human sympathy and their own moral obligation, to force the America tyrants to close this notorious prison, release the innocent inmates being held without any criminal charges and prove their slogans of humanitarian concern and human rights are not simply empty rhetoric that Americans preach to other countries but fail to practice themselves.
We believe that the tortuous treatment of the innocent prisoners of Guantanamo has reached its utmost extent. The barbarity of Guantanamo is a blot on moral conscience of the international community. It is time for the international community to compel the closure of this prison and finally put an end to this barbarity which has no equal in human history.
Spokesman of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
Qari Muhammad Yusuf Ahmadi
19/3/1435 Lunar Hijri
31/11/1392 Solar Hijri 21/1/2014 Gregorian
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New statement from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's Zabīhullah Mujāhid: "Remarks Regarding Demands by America"
After a series of recent attacks against foreign invaders in Afghanistan, the latest of which was a martyrdom operation inside Kabul targeting high ranking American and other foreign invaders in which tens where handed retributive justice for their actions, America was compelled to ask the Islamic Emirate to hold peace talks with the Kabul regime and lay down their arms, also stating that the American invaders are supposedly working for a better future of Afghanistan!!?? While failing to mention anything regards its own recent savagery in Siyah Gerd district!!!
We strongly reject the American demand. America wants to turn a blind eye from a manifest reality and conveniently skip over the primary reason for the problems of Afghanistan. The major factor which has been antagonizing our oppressed nation for the past twelve years is the American invasion and its resultant barbarity. America similarly wants to portray those of its nationals who are the enemies of our land and religion and are working for the aims of the occupation as the friends and rebuilders of our country.
If America truly wants peace and stability for Afghanistan then it should immediately withdraw all its forces from our land and leave the Afghans to their own wills and aspirations.
If America is adamant on war and occupation then it should wait for more deadly attacks. The Islamic Emirate has a responsibility towards its Lord (Allah), people and country and it shall not back away from any kind of sacrifice in the way of its fulfillment.
Until we have completely freed our country of the menace of occupation; until we have established an Islamic government in accordance with the desires of our nation in our country and until we have fulfilled the aspiration of our martyrs from our two great Jihads, do not hope for us to lay down our arms but instead work on changing the course of your own wrong policies and imperialist goals.
The spokesman of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
Zabihullah Mujahid
18/03/1435 Hijri Lunar
29/10/1392 Hijri Solar 19/01/2014 Gregorian
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The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan releases Issue #91-92 of al-Ṣamūd Magazine
NOTE: Previous issues: #90, #89, #88, #87, #86, #85, #84, #83, #82, #81, #80, #79, #78, #77, #76, #75, #74, #73, #72, #71, #70, #69, #68, #67, #66, #65, #64, #63, #62, #61, #60, #59, #58, #57, #56, #53, and #51.
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Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan — Issue #91-92 of al-Ṣamūd Magazine
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To inquire about a translation for this magazine issue for a fee email: [email protected]
New statement from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan: "Guantánamo Prisoners in Critical Condition Due to Hunger Strike"
Inmates inside the notorious American prison of Guantanamo have been on a hunger strike for the past twenty days. According to information, the prisoners have deprived themselves of every basic living need due to their absolute necessity from which some ill inmates are said to be in a life threatening condition. Inmates inside the notorious Guantanamo prison are being held in conditions which violate all international principles and norms. The prison is being run in such a state that the cruelty, savagery, barbarity and tragedies taking place against the inmates inside are being mostly kept secret from the public however latest information by some news outlets and Human Right workers suggest that for the past twenty days, the prisoners are spending time in a very depressing condition and if it continues much longer it can lead to a big humanitarian tragedy.
The inmates began their hunger strike due to the inhumane treatment by their American captors, physical and psychological torture as well as insults towards the sanctities of Muslims. Instead of having respect towards the hunger strike and accepting the legal demands of the inmates, their American captors have done the opposite and are treating them in a manner to try and break their spirits of ever again carrying out such actions in the future therefore it must be stated that this reaction by the American officials violates every humanitarian and established international principle.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan strongly urges the American officials to stop their savage treatment towards the oppressed prisoners, to accept their legitimate demands in order to end this hunger strike and stop a humanitarian disaster from taking place. If they fail to take timely action then we warn them about its harsh retaliatory consequences. The Islamic Emirate also calls upon all the Humanitarian organizations as well as media outlets to raise their voices in defense of these oppressed innocent prisoners and to expose this unparalleled barbarity.
The spokesman of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
Zabihullah Mujahid
29/02/1435 Hijri Lunar
11/10/1392 Hijri Solar 01/01/2014 Gregorian
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As-Saḥāb Media presents a new video message from al-Qā’idah: "A Message From Warren Weinstein to the US President 'Obama,' US Secretary of State 'John Kerry,' the Media, US Public, and His Family"
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