Articles of the Week – 3/21-3/27

Sunday March 22:

Khalid Batarfi and the Future of AQAP – Gregory D. Johnsen, Lawfare: https://bit.ly/2WPd7cy

How Islamist is the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)? An ideological assessment – Christoph Schuck, Asian Security: https://bit.ly/2UEuHxe

Monday March 23:

Broken, but Not Defeated: An Examination of State-led Operations against Islamic State Khorasan in Afghanistan and Pakistan (2015-2018) – Amira Jadoon and Andrew Mines, Combating Terrorism Center: https://bit.ly/2UoQb2g

Tuesday March 24: 

The Pensacola Terrorist Attack: The Enduring Influence of al-Qa`ida and its Affiliates – Colin Clarke, CTC Sentinel: https://bit.ly/33QNF7O

Dollars for Daesh: The Small Financial Footprint of the Islamic State’s American Supporters – Lorenzo Vidino, Jon Lewis, and Andrew Mines, CTC Sentinel: https://bit.ly/3dB8R6o

Addressing the Enemy: Al-Shabaab’s PSYOPS Media Warfare – Christopher Anzalone, CTC Sentinel: https://bit.ly/3bwS56E

Wednesday March 25:

A Year Since Baghuz, the Islamic State Is Neither Defeated nor Resurging (Yet) – Aaron Y. Zelin, Washington Institute for Near East Policy: bit.ly/2xtFDFJ

Thursday March 26:

Framing the Narrative: Female Fighters, External Audience Attitudes, and Transnational Support for Armed Rebellions – Devorah Manekin and Reed M. Wood, Journal of Conflict Resolution: https://bit.ly/2UF5Klg

Friday March 27:

Radicalisation and travelling to Syria among delinquent youths: A case study from the Netherlands – Rudie J.M. Neve, Frank M. Weerman, Suzan Eris, and Jan Willem van Prooijen, Journal for Dereadicalization: bit.ly/3dwYGj6

‘Muhajirun’ from Austria. Why they left to join ISIS and why they don’t return. – Veronika Hofinger and Thomas Schmidinger, Journal for Dereadicalization: bit.ly/2y8Iapb

What About the Camp Followers – and their Children? – Ian MacVicar, Journal for Dereadicalization: bit.ly/3bpgvia

An Assessment of Returning Foreign Terrorist Fighters’ Commitment to Reintegrate: A Case Study of Kwale County, Kenya – Tina Mykkänen, Journal for Dereadicalization: bit.ly/2UIRIyL

Vicarious Trauma From Online Extremism Research – A Call to Action – Michael Krona, GNET: https://bit.ly/3dRr67I

Articles of the Week – 9/7-9/13

Monday September 9:

Assessing success of the Global War on Terror: terrorist attack frequency and the backlash effect – Kyle T. Kattelman, Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflict: https://bit.ly/2kg8rLK

Towards a typology of non-state actors in ‘hybrid warfare’: proxy, auxiliary, surrogate and affiliated forces – Vladimir Rauta, Cambridge Review of International Affairs: https://bit.ly/2kN2ZjE

Framing British ‘Jihadi Brides’: Metaphor and the Social Construction of I.S. Women – Leonie B. Jackson, Terrorism and Political Violence: https://bit.ly/2kKAFyx

Tuesday September 10:

The Development of Tunisia’s Domestic Counter-Terrorism Finance Capability – Aaron Y. Zelin and Katherine Bauer, CTC Sentinel: https://bit.ly/2kNNurV

Relatives, Redemption, and Rice: Motivations for Joining the Maute Group – Julie Chernov Hwang, CTC Sentinel: https://bit.ly/2lNqObn

Taking Aim: Islamic State Khorasan’s Leadership Losses – Amira Jadoon and Andrew Mines, CTC Sentinel: https://bit.ly/2mhyhzM

Wednesday September 11:

It’s Hard to Commemorate 9/11 If You Don’t Understand It. – Daniel Byman, Foreign Policy: https://bit.ly/2ktMGs9

The Ghosts of Past Wars Live on in a Critical Archive – Bruce P. Montgomery and Michael P. Brill, War on the Rocks: https://bit.ly/2mh2XRF

Not Whether, But When? Governments’ Use of Militias in War – Caitlin Ambrozik, Security Studies: https://bit.ly/2kN3fPE

Preventing violent extremism in East Africa: lessons from Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda – Isel van Zyl and Maram Mahdi, Institute for Security Studies: https://bit.ly/2msPIxv

Thursday September 12:

Dissent in the Islamic State: Secret Advice Sent to Islamic State Leaders – Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi: https://bit.ly/2mhz3ga

Three Constitutional Thickets: Why Regulating Online Violent Extremism is Hard – Daphne Keller, Program on Extremism: https://bit.ly/2AhfQim

Leading with a Fist: A History of the Salafi Beard in the 20th-Century Middle East – Aaron Rock-Singer, Islamic Law and Society: https://bit.ly/2m168N8

Friday September 13:

Social Media, Terrorist Content Prohibitions and the Rule of Law – Stuart Macdonald, Program on Extremism: https://bit.ly/2Q7kKcp

Disinformation in Terrorist Content Online – Nina Jankowicz, Program on Extremism: https://bit.ly/2Q9bHYG

Unraveling the Impact of Social Media on Extremism – Anjana Susarla, Program on Extremism: https://bit.ly/2AgDv2r

The Internet Police – Jeff Breinholt, Program on Extremism: https://bit.ly/2QoQ1bd

Russia in the Eyes of Islamic State: An Analysis of the Content of Dabiq and Rumiyah Magazines and Russia’s Involvement in the Fight against the Islamic State – Marta Sara Stempień, Terrorism and Political Violence: https://bit.ly/2klr3dq

International Jihadism’s Connections to Sri Lanka

This post has since been updated with the latest information at the bottom.

In light of yesterday’s horrific attacks in Sri Lanka, similar to my recent post on the DRC, I thought I’d add some information to better help understand connective tissues to what occurred. While there is not much history of Sri Lankan involvement in global jihadism, there have been some small connections. To stay up to date on the latest, I would first recommend following Amarnath Amarasingam on Twitter, not only for his incisive thread on this, but also because he is best placed speak on the topic as a researcher and with a personal connection.

It is quite possible that if this does end up become something Islamic State-related we might be seeing a new tactic to garner more media attention: attacking locales with foreign fighter networks, yet do not have robust security and counterterrorism measures. Making the chance of spectacular attacks more possible since it is easier to pull off than countries that have histories of dealing with terrorism of this nature. There are even reports that the police chief was warned about the attacks ahead of time yet not much was done to prevent it due to internal political squabbles. Based on my above analysis regarding the post-territorial control IS, I will start a new ‘backgrounder’ series on Jihadology, similar to the Attack and Plot Dossier, but this will be for when something occurs in a locale that does not have much history of jihadi activity and everyone is attempting to gain a better grasp on the situation.

If anyone wants to add anything to the following dossier let me know and I will post it so there is a fuller picture. From oldest to most recent.

August 21, 2014:

The Rise of Ideological Jihadists – OPEN Magazine

November 21, 2014:

The Maldives-Syria Connection: Jihad in Paradise? – The Jamestown Foundation

May 15, 2015:

Wanted: Western Professionals To Join The Islamic State (ISIS)

July 19, 2015:

Abu Shuraih Seylani (Sharfaz Nilam Muhsin), from Sri Lanka, died from airstrike on July 12th. #LKA #Tamil #IS #Syria

July 21, 2015:

Sri Lanka probes first Lankan ISIS man after death

August 30, 2015:

Police probe case of couple who left for “war” with two kids – HaveeruOnline

December 2, 2015:

Islamic State’s Sri Lankan Outreach – The Jamestown Foundation

January 4, 2016:

36 Sri Lankans gone to Syria; some to join ISIS: Def. Secy. – Dailymirror

April 1, 2016:

Facebook and Twitter facilitated ISIS recruits moving to Syria: leaked data – Zaman Alwsl

May 13, 2016:

Malaysia deports three foreign suspected militants – Reuters

July 25, 2016:

Looking for God’s own country – The Indian Express

August 27, 2016:

Al Qaeda goes local, uses Tamil and Malayalam for recruitment in South India

November 18, 2016

Sri Lanka says 32 ‘elite’ Muslims have joined IS in Syria – Reuters

November 29, 2016:

How Isis recruiters found fertile ground in Kerala, India’s tourist gem – The Guardian

March 26, 2017:

Drone Strike Kills Planner of 2008 Islamabad Hotel Bombing, U.S

June 16, 2017:

Tech Savvy ISIS Chief Recruiter In India Named Global Terrorist By US

November 17, 2017:

AQIS goes vernacular with Tamil, Hindi, Bengali texts online – The Indian Express

April 21, 2018:

Where Countries Are Tinderboxes and Facebook Is a Match – The New York Times

September 26, 2018:

Life Sentence for Terrorism – Daily News

January 19, 2019:

Sri Lanka seize explosives from local Islamist radicals – Dhaka Tribune

April 21, 2019:

Sri Lanka Blasts: Here’s What We Know So Far About the Decade’s Worst Terror Attack

Twitter thread on one of the potential bombers and a pro-IS support from Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka attacks: More than 200 killed as churches and hotels targeted – BBC News

Sri Lankans see hand of global jihadis in Easter Sunday atrocity – Financial Times

April 22, 2019:

7 suicide bombers from local terrorist group behind Sri Lanka blasts, investigator says – Daily Sabah

Sri Lanka bombings carried out by Islamist group National Thowheed Jama’ath, minister says – The Independent

Sri Lanka attacks: ‘International network’ linked to bombings – BBC News

Sri Lanka Blames Radical Islamist Group for Easter Bombings – The New York Times

Sri Lanka’s bloody Easter puts spotlight on a new terror threat – The Washington Post

A Scholar of Extremism on How Religious Conflict Shapes Sri Lanka – The New Yorker

Sri Lanka Muslims Had Warned Officials About Group Behind Attack – Bloomberg

Sri Lankan Group Suspected of Easter Attacks Has Ties to Local Charity – Kharon

‘These Attacks Could Target Catholic Churches’: The Warning That Sri Lankan Officials Failed to Heed – The New York Times

April 23, 2019:

U.S., India Warned Sri Lanka Weeks Before Easter Terror Attacks – WSJ

Sri Lankan Official Says Bombings Are Retaliation For New Zealand Massacre – NPR

ISIS suspect gave advance warning of Sri Lanka bombings, source says – CNN

Sri Lanka Bombings: A Lesson in Radicalization for Asian Neighbors

Sri Lanka was warned of threat hours before suicide attacks – sources – Reuters

Asia Times – ‘Mother of Satan’ explosive used in Sri Lanka bombings

Asia Times – ‘IS-KP’ suspected of Sri Lanka involvement

April 24, 2019:

Sri Lanka blasts: Two Colombo suicide bombers identified as millionaire businessman’s sons, say intel sources – Firstpost

Sri Lanka suicide bomber studied in Australia, minister says – The Guardian

Sri Lanka deputy defense minister one of nine bombers was a woman – Reuters

Sri Lanka attack planned for ‘months’ – The Independent

Sri Lanka blasts: Fatima Ibrahim identified as one of the suicide bombers; wife of SL millionaire blew self up with unborn child – Firstpost

Sri Lanka told of extremist network months before blasts – sources – The Guardian

Islamic State video throws spotlight on suspected ringleader of Sri Lanka bombings – Reuters

Sri Lanka Calls Bombers ‘Well Educated’ and Warns of Ongoing Threat – The New York Times

Zahran Hashim: radical Islamist linked to Sri Lanka blasts

April 25, 2019:

The Sri Lanka Attacks and Islamic State Logic: A Look at al-Naba’ – Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi

Sri Lanka bombing suspects may still be on the run, police warn – CNN

Two Islamic State men linked to Sri Lanka Easter blasts – The Hindu

Sri Lankan Accused of Leading Attacks Preached Slaughter. Many Dismissed Him. – The New York Times

How a legal blind spot could have kept Sri Lanka from arresting returning ISIS members – The Washington Post

April 26, 2019:

Sri Lanka Bombings Put Focus on Islamist Preacher Long on the Radar – WSJ

Sri Lanka bombings ringleader died in hotel attack, president says – BBC News

Sri Lanka bombing: Terrorist Abdul Lathief Jameel Mohamed ‘radicalised in Australia’

Sri Lanka attacks: Australian police investigated bomber five years ago – The Times

‘Black sheep’ – The mastermind of Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday bombs – Reuters

Sri Lanka raids prompt authorities to impose extended curfew – CNN

Sri Lanka gun battle with militants kills 15, U.S. pulls citizens out – Reuters

Security Officials Were ‘Stunned’ by the Sophistication of the Sri Lanka Attack

Kattankudy, the remote Sri Lankan enclave that produced the Easter bombing mastermind – The Washington Post

April 27, 2019:

The Western-educated bomber who botched Sri Lanka hotel attack – Reuters

The British connection: Jihadi John was mentor to Easter bombings ringleader Abdul Lathief Jameel Mohamed in Raqqa – The Times

Indian police uncovered an attack plot, but Sri Lanka didn’t act

Islamic State claims attack on east coast city of Sri Lanka – Reuters

Articles of the Week – 1/5-1/11

Monday January 7:

Fluidity of the Fringes: Prior Extremist Involvement as a Radicalization Pathway – Daveed Gartenstein-Ross and Madeleine Blackman, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism: https://bit.ly/2H9umPm

Intra-Jihadist Conflict and Cooperation: Islamic State–Khorasan Province and the Taliban in Afghanistan – Niamatullah Ibrahimi and Shahram Akbarzadeh, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism: https://bit.ly/2RrWqT6

Tuesday January 8:

Terrorists and the Southern Border: Myth and Reality – Nicholas Rasmussen, Just Security: https://bit.ly/2SKqhT1

Turki Binali’s Critique of The ‘Theory of Balance’: Translation and Analysis – Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi: https://bit.ly/2FrCyYJ

Articles of the Week – 12/1-12/7

Saturday December 1:

More Data, New Problems: Audiences, Ahistoricity, and Selection Bias in Terrorism and Insurgency Research – Charles W Mahoney, International Studies Review: https://bit.ly/2ElFfdS

Monday December 3:

Allied & Lethal: Islamic State Khorasan’s Network and Organizational Capacity in Afghanistan and Pakistan – Amira Jadoon, Combating Terrorism Center:

Sexual Suppression and Political Agency: Evoking a Woman’s Support for the Islamic State – Nadia Al-Dayel, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism: https://bit.ly/2BXBdqD

Peripheral and embedded: relational patterns of lone-actor terrorist radicalization – Lasse Lindekilde, Stefan Malthaner & Francis O’Connor, Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflict: https://bit.ly/2RHki0K

Tuesday December 4:

The Islamic State Research Office’s Self-History – Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi: https://bit.ly/2zK8DYg

Wednesday December 5:

Trends in Islamic State’s Online Propaganda: Shorter Longevity, Wider Dissemination of Content – Laurence Bindner and Raphael Gluck, ICCT: https://bit.ly/2PoDy1m

The Hamas-Islamic State Sinai Relationship: Translation and Analysis -Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi: https://bit.ly/2SAnwDh

Thursday December 6:

Understating Zarqawi – Cole Bunzel, Jihadica: https://bit.ly/2B23BWG

One Land, Two Rules (1): Service delivery in insurgent-affected areas, an introduction – Jelena Bjelica and Kate Clark, Afghanistan Analysts Network: https://bit.ly/2QXuy7Y

Friday December 7:

Jihadists from Ex-Soviet Central Asia: Where Are They? Why Did They Radicalize? What Next? – Edward Lemon, Vera Mironova, and William Tobey, Russia Matters: https://bit.ly/2LfLT6V

The “Ulema” of the Jihadi Movement- Discourse, Role and Future – Chafic Choucair, Sharq Forum: https://bit.ly/2QwqkoK

New statement from the Teḥrīk-ī-Ṭālibān Pākistān: "A Great Personality Who Forced Two Superpowers To Bend Their Knees: The Commander Mawlānā Jalāl al-Dīn al-Haqqānī"


نحمدہ و نصلی علی رسولہ الکریم اما بعد
فاعوذ باللہ من الشیطن الرجیم
بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
اذا جاءاجلھم فلا یستاخرون ساعة ولا یستقدمون۔۔۔الخ۔۔
وقال النبی ﷺ ان للہ مااخذ ولہ ما اعطی و کل شٸ ٕ عندہ باجل مسمی فلتصبر ولتحتسب۔۔۔۔رواہ البخاری۔۔۔۔
The wound of separation of the great personality of Jihad Pakistan, Maulana Fazlullah Khorasani, was just fresh that we received the news of the departing of Jihad Afghanistan’s supreme commander, The Grand Teacher, Maulana Jalaluddin Haqqani.
انا للہ و انا الیہ راجعون۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔
Shaykh-ul-jihad Maulana Jalaluddin Haqqani (may Allah have mercy on him) was definitely a great jihadist leader of the present. If you are called Khalid bin Valeed of the time, it will not be wrong because Shaykh was the person with the forty fabulous years of jihadist characters who had encountered every infidel invasion with great humility, dignity and bravery during this period.
Trials and temptations are part of the jihadist path and Shaykh got fair share of these two blessings.
Victory of such magnitude as seeing the Soviet Union scattered with their hands and tests also come to mind that four of his sons, including other family members, were sacrificed in this sacred way.
But everything could not make this righteous man bend or tire and he became as described in verse of Quran:
فماوھنوالمااصابھم فی سبیل اللہ وماضعفواومااستکانوا
Finally, he lived like a victorious person in time and departed like same from this mortal world
This world is a testing place and the test is done only for specific time, after tests comes reward and return. Also, Sheikh Haqqani after enjoying a successful jihadist life, taking a lot of fatigue in the way of Allah, has now gone to get those rewards of fatigues.
We, on this occasion of sadness, offer our condolences to all Mujahidin Islam, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, and especially relatives of Hazrat Maulana Sirajuddin Haqqani and call for patience and control while offering blessed words of Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
ان للہ مااخذ ولہ ما اعطی و کل شٸ ٕ عندہ باجل مسمی فلتصبر ولتحتسب۔۔
Whatever Allah takes away or gives, belongs to Him, and everything with Him has a limited fixed term (in this world), and so one should be patient and anticipate Allah’s reward.
____________

The Archivist: Media Fitna in the Islamic State

NOTE: For prior parts in The Archivist series you can view an archive of it all here. And for his older series see: Musings of an Iraqi Brasenostril on Jihad.

Media Fitna in the Islamic State
By Aymenn al-Tamimi
The Islamic State has two main types of media departments that come under its media administration: central media institutions such as al-Furqan Media and al-Hayat Media, and the provincial media offices.The latter category includes areas of formally declared ‘provinces’ (e.g. Raqqa province in Syria and Diyala province in Iraq) and areas where the Islamic State operates on the ground but has not declared a ‘province’ (e.g. Somalia). In addition to these institutions, we have Amaq News Agency, which covers services provision and civilian life in Islamic State territories, military operations and even Islamic State terrorist attacks around the world, but has not been formally acknowledged to be a part of the Islamic State’s media apparatus. In origin, Amaq News Agency is the foremost example of what was envisioned as an ‘auxiliary’ media agency for the Islamic State.
The internal documents I have obtained concern problems in media production in Raqqa province and disagreements between media departments. For example, in the first document, the Delegated Committee (the higher governing body of the Islamic State) reprimands the wali (provincial governor) of Raqqa for supposed shortcomings in media coverage of events. The Delegated Committee also asks the wali to get on with the issuing of Mawkab al-Nur (‘Procession [/Convoy] of Light’).
Those who track Islamic State propaganda will recognize Mawkab al-Nur as the name of a nasheed released by Ajnad Media and the name of a series embodied in two videos from the Ninawa provincial media office, the first released in January of this year and the second in April. The first issue displays operations against Iraqi forces in the battle for Mosul, including multiple suicide bombings from an aerial point of view and armed clashes. The second issue is similar in nature, and touches on themes like fathers following their sons in the path of carrying out ‘martyrdom’ operations (suicide bombings): for instance, one father who ends up becoming a suicide bomber in the Mosul operations narrates how two of his sons had previously carried out suicide bombings in Baghdad.
Despite the letter from the Delegated Committee on 22 April, the fourth document in this post illustrates that the matter of issuing Mawkab al-Nur for Raqqa province remained an unresolved problem as of 5 May, with the document noting the existence of an ongoing dispute as of that date between al-Furqan Media and Amaq News Agency in Raqqa province. In fact, to date, no video has come out from Raqqa province under the title of Mawkab al-Nur, though there have been other video series issued from Raqqa province in recent months like “The Fertile Nation” and “Dust of The War.”
Many of the problems discussed in these documents seem to be traced to the appointment of Abu al-Hassan al-Iraqi as head of the Raqqa province media office, but three media workers in the province- all Syrian in origin- are named for having produced suspect video clips that show sensitive military positions, with requests made to the relevant parties to subject the three men to verification procedures. Unfortunately, I have no further documentation to shed light on the ultimate fate of the three media workers.
Two other points of interest stand out in the documents. First, the fourth document in this post is the only internal one I know of so far that mentions Amaq News Agency by name. Second, the third and fourth documents mention a certain Rayan Mash’al (aka Bara’ Kadek). His name came to prominence at the end of May 2017 when his brother announced on Facebook that he had been killed in a coalition airstrike on al-Mayadeen in Deir az-Zor province. Originally from Aleppo, Rayan Mash’al was said to have been one of the founders of Amaq News Agency, having previously been involved with Aleppo News Network.

Old photo of Rayan Mash’al posted by his brother.

Rayan Mash’al in a clip posted by Aleppo News Network in September 2013.
Below are the documents translated, with any small explanatory clarifications in square brackets.

Islamic State
Delegated Committee

No. N 12/72
Date: 25 Rajab 1438 AH/22 April 2017 CE
In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
The brother, the wali of Raqqa (may God protect him):
Please highlight the ongoing battles in the north of the wilaya and comply with the issuing of Mawkab al-Nur that your media was obliged to produce in its series in cooperation with the other media centres in the Islamic State.
We have seen a shortcoming in your offices’ undertaking and neglect in covering the ongoing events in the wilaya, including:
– The battles against the Kurdish apostates.
– The establishment of 7 Shari’i hudud punishments that the brothers in the realm of Hisba carried out.
– An inghimasi operation in Ayn Issa in which the soldiers of the Caliphate killed 40 apostates and took 5 prisoners.
– Initiatives of the Diwan al-Khidamat in Wilayat al-Raqqa for which the Diwan spent a sum of 30,000,000 Syrian pounds [c. $54500-60000].
And this is what has come to us concerning the shortcoming of your offices, and that you consider that there is no equivalence between them and the other offices in the wilayas of Iraq and al-Sham.
And know that we are before a great trust: whoso disdains it, the fruit of his jihad goes in vain. And who so slackens from supporting his brothers in assignments that have been entrusted to him, has betrayed God and His Messenger.
Please deal with the matter quickly and inform us with an outline.
Wa as-salam alaykum wa rahmat Allah

Islamic State
Delegated Committee

——————

Islamic State
Diwan al-Amn al-Aam

Wilayat al-Raqqa
Date: 29 Rajab 1438 AH [26 April 2017 CE]
In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
We in the security office in Wilayat al-Raqqa have briefed the Delegated Committee in a letter in which we clarified that Abu al-Hassan al-Iraqi did not comply with the plans that the office put in place for the course of work of the media office.
And during the display of clips recorded in the wilaya and its countryside areas, it became clear to us that the recorded videos show the first manufacturing factory in the old city and the recording is with you as no. 032.
Some of the clips also showed the boundaries of the old enclosure in Raqqa city on which the fighters of the Islamic State have built fortifications and coverings for snipers within the plan put in place to defend the city.
And during the display of clips to the military commander Abu Muhammad al-Khorasani, the security office with us was entrusted to destroy the clips or delay their issue until the military commander considers it permissible to publish them or use them as photographic material or as an archive for issues.
Therefore, we have confiscated the clip as a ‘trust’ with us, and have issued a summons for three of the correspondents in Wilayat al-Raqqa’s media office, and they are:
– Abu al-Khayr al-Raqqawi
– Abu Safa’ al-Ansari
– al-Hussein al-Shaheed
And we are waiting for the wali’s authorization to undertake a verification process with them and carry out the appropriate procedures in that case.
Abu al-Hikm al-Raqqawi
Security office/Eastern sector for Wilayat al-Raqqa

Islamic State
Diwan al-Amn al-Aam

Islamic State
Amni Aam official- Wilayat al-Raqqa
—————–

Islamic State
Markaz al-Amn al-Aam

Wilayat al-Raqqa
In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
To the brother Abu Ali al-Afari [name suggests he is from Tel Afar] the official for tracking the media offices in the Islamic State:
We ask you for authorization to carry out a verification process with the media workers:
– Abu al-Khayr al-Raqqawi: born in Raqqa in 1399 AH [1978-9 CE], his father is Ali al-Bashir. He joined the Islamic State in 1435 AH after abandoning work with the Sahwat.
– Abu Safa’ al-Ansari: born in Aleppo in 1401 AH [1980-1 CE], his father is Aymenn al-Sayegh.

New article from al-Maqālāt: "The Rampant Eruption: Mass Takfīr by Abū Maysarah al-Shāmī"

Everyone by now has heard or read the recent article filled with excessive Takfir written by the well known ISIS jurist and spokesperson Abu Maysarah Al-Shaami. Abu Maysarah Al-Shaami does not only make Takfir on the Muslim Brotherhood in general, he makes Takfir on the organization in its entirety and all the individuals of this organization, which has more than 100 millions members in the world. Of course this goes for all other Islamic parties who participate in the democratic parliaments, and this goes for all the millions of members of the Muslim Brotherhood who have passed away since its establishment by Hassan Al-Bannah (may Allah have mercy upon him). But he doesn’t stop there, he continues and attacks the leaders of As-Salifiyah Al-Jihadiyah calling them the “Idols of As-Salifayah Al-Jihadiyah.” He begins with making Takfir on Shaykh Ayman Zawahiri, while calling him a fool, he then makes Takfir on Mullah Akhtar Mansour, while calling him a Dajjaal and an agent of the Pakistani secret services, he then makes Takfir on the Taliban, while calling them a nationalistic movement who refuse the Sharia of Allah. He continues and makes Takfir on Shaykh Abu Musab Suri (may Allah hasten his release). But he doesn’t stop there, there is more. He finishes with making Takfir on all the Muslims who vote on democratic parties; 40 millions Muslims vote in Egypt alone, let alone the rest of the dozens of Muslim countries! SubhanAllah, anyone still doubt the fact that ISIS are Khawarij after reading all of this mass-Takfir?
But what about the Muslims who do not make Takfir on the Muslims who vote? Are they apostates too, because they refrain from making Takfir on a Kaafir? Or are they excused due to ignorance? And if they are excused due to ignorance, then why not excuse the voters themselves? Most of the general Muslims do not understand the reality of democracy and legislation. He does not go in to that, he does however excuse his own Caliphate, claiming that they did know the reality of Shaykh Ayman Zawahiri previously, fearing that the bolder extremists in their ranks will eventually make Takfir on ISIS because they did not make Takfir on Shaykh Ayman and the Taliban before. They even praised them, even though the positions on which they now make Takfir are old. Which could create a paradox, as one could make Takfir on ISIS, because ISIS refrained from making Takfir on themselves, while they knew about the so-called Kufr of Shaykh Ayman Zawahiri and the Taliban. And even if they did not know, then they can not be excused for their ignorance. So this article actually gave the extremists a basis for making Takfir on ISIS itself. This is the ridiculous inconsistent idiocy of chain Takfir.
Shaykh Abu Muhammad Al-Maqdisi responded on this and said: “The son that was raised on harming his relatives and neighbors; when he grows up he will also oppose his parents. Remember who you killed when they will make Takfir on you because you refrained from Takfir on the one who is excused. Abu Maysarah Al-Shaami claimed that Zawahiri helps every apostate group against Islam and Muslims, he even calls for his death and prays that Allah will destroy him at the hands of his brothers in the province of Khorasan. This is the caller of extremism: Leave the treacherous Afghan government, the NATO army, the enemies of Islam, and the Idol worshippers, and instead of inciting his followers against them, he incites them to kill the wise one (Shaykh Ayman Zawahiri).”
He contradicts himself as he excuses ISIS for its ignorance about the reality of Shayk Ayman Zawahiri and the Taliban, but he does not excuse the voters for their ignorance. Furthermore he makes Takfir on Shaykh Abu Musab Suri because he excused the Muslim Brotherhood and the voters due to their ignorance about the reality of democracy. He claims that ISIS must be excused because they did not the reality of Shaykh Ayman Zawahiri “because they were too busy waging Jihaad.” While all the points he mentioned to proof his so-called Kufr were also mentioned years ago by Abu Muhammad Al-Adnani in his speeches “This is not our methodology” and “Apologies oh Amir of Al-Qaedah”, and he did not make Takfir on Shaykh Ayman Zawahiri at that time. So he knew about these positions, but he did not make Takfir on the Shaykh because of them.
This should mean that Abu Muhammad Al-Adnani has also fallen in to Kufr according to their own standards. Al-Adnani even said that he will accept the Bayah of Shaykh Ayman Zawahiri if he came to Shaam, how could the Bayah of a disbeliever be accepted? Abu Maysrah Al-Shaami also blamed Abu Musab Suri for refraining from Takfir on voters. While Abu Muhammad Al-Adnani addressed the protesters in Egypt who voted on Mursi as Muslims and people of Ahl Sunnah in his speech “Pacifism is the religion of whom?”, how could he address them as Muslims if they are apostates according to Abu Maysrah Al-Shaami? And what about his previous leader Abu Umar Al-Baghdadi (May Allah have mercy on him) who did not make Takfir on the voters and considered their blood to be sacred according to his own statements?
It is known that the majority of the Muslims vote in democratic elections in the Muslim countries, and you judge over a people or society according to the majority. So the basis of the Ummah is Kufr according to ISIS, as the majority of the Ummah votes. And if ISIS in addition does not excuse the ones who do not make Takfir on the voters, then we are not left with one single Muslim on the world, except a small Takfiri sect. Takfir is not just a judgment without any practical implications, with Takfir on someone blood and wealth become legal war spoils and women can be taken as slaves. So this is the promise the Caliphate of ISIS has for the Ummah, instead of promising the Muslim Ummah liberation from tyrannical oppression and colonial occupation, ISIS makes Takfir on the Ummah and promises them wars of apostasy. Who needs enemies if we have Takfiri jurists like Abu Maysarah Al-Shaami? His judgment means that we will likely witness random attacks on Muslim public places. As the majority of the Muslims vote, so their basis is Kufr and their blood is legal. We saw another indication of this prelude when we heard that the blood of those who refuse to give Bayah to their Caliphate is legal. We are already witnessing ISIS cold bloodedly executing the Taliban Mujahideen in Afghanistan and labeling them as apostates. Why? Because they did not give their Bayah to ISIS.
Making Takfir on all the voters is not just his own personal opinion, as he claimed that this is the position of ISIS in general. The current ISIS leadership seems to agree because his articles are shared on ISIS media channels, like the magazine Dabiq, and we still haven’t heard of any ISIS leader rejecting his many deviances and published works. Rather his articles are the most shared, translated and published. So this is not just some individual with a personal opinion, he represents ISIS and is an official spokesperson, and his Arabic articles are read by thousands of readers. Many even suggest that he is the official media spokesperson Abu Muhammad Al-Adnani. But Allah knows best. Two years ago ISIS supporters and soldiers said that ISIS does not make Takfir on Shaykh Ayman Zawahiri. Well now ISIS officially makes Takfir on the whole Al-Qaedah leadership and all its branches and soldiers, so will they reject the deviances of ISIS?
Like Shaykh Abu Muhammad Al-Maqdisi said in his response to the recent article of Abu Maysarah Al-Shaami: “If there were any sane people with authority and influence in ISIS they would not allow the likes of Abu Maysarah Al-Shaami to publish and talk, because his Takfir and perversion is like that of Al-Adnani; if it isn’t the same person.”
Abu Maysarah is known for his extremism and shameful articles, which often confirm previous articles written in Dabiq. He wrote an article titled “Inform the wives of the Sahawaat that they are divorced” making Takfir on the members of Jabhat Nusra and other Mujahid factions, and calling their wives fornicators if they did not divorce their husbands, confirming what Umm Sumayah said in the 10th issue of Dabiq. He also wrote an article titled “A response to the sissy pimp” defaming Shaykh Abu Muhammad Al-Maqdisis and Shaykh Abu Qatadah Al-Filistini calling them donkeys of knowledge.
He also made Takfir on the Taliban and called Mullah Akhtar Mansour a Taghut and a Dajjaal in his article titled “Oh youth in Somalia – The foolish sheep gave Bayah to the Tawagheet of the Taliban”. But when the Mujahid youth in Somalia ignored his nonsense and renewed their Bayah to Shaykh Ayman Zawahiri and Mullah Akhtar Mansor, he wrote an article attacking and defaming the Mujahid youth in Somalia, calling them deviant, and he called upon ISIS cells in Somalia to execute suicide operations against Al-Shabaab and its leaders, in his article titled “Surely this is the treachery of Al-Shabaab leaders.” He then wrote an article called “The Jews of Jihad – The Al-Qaedah of Zawahiri” filled with lies, defaming and slandering the Al-Qaedah leadership and Ansar Sharia in Libya. Now this article titled “The obliteration of symbols – Abu Musab As-Suri” confirming the slanders against the Shaykh in the recent edition of Dabiq.
The attack against Shaykh Abu Musab Suri clearly originates from his outspoken statements against the extremist Takfiris he encountered in the Algerian civil war in the early nineties. Which indicates that ISIS shares the same extremism of the Takfiris from the GIA in Algeria. We have never heard ISIS criticize the extremism in the Algerian war, but they do criticize Shaykh Abu Musab who opposed the extremism in Algeria that cost many Muslim lives. His statements about the extremism he encountered in Algeria are also

Jihadology Podcast: The Emergence of the Islamic State in AfPak with Don Rassler (Part 2)

This episode features part 2 of Aaron’s conversation with Don Rassler. If you haven’t heard part 1 you can find it here. This two part series is based on Don’s article, “Situating the Emergence of the Islamic State of Khorasan,” in the CTC Sentinel. This episode covers a variety of topics related to the Islamic State in the AfPak region, including:

  • Important events since Don’s article came out in March
  • The relevance of the Afghan Taliban to younger generations
  • How the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan plays into this situation
  • Al Qaeda’s relevance to, and role in, the region
  • How the presence of the Islamic State could affect the Afghan peace process

This episode also features our #SocialMedia segment, covering postings from July 11th to July 22nd.
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The podcast is produced by Karl Morand. If you have feedback you can email [email protected] or find us on Twitter: @JihadPod.
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