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On August 16, 2023, the anti-ISIS channel on the Al-Qaeda-operated Rocket.Chat server, "The Channel To Expose The Worshippers Of Al-Baghdadi And Al-Hashemi," published what it claimed to be an internal circular issued by the Al-Karrar Office, which is part of the Islamic State (ISIS) General Directorate of Provinces.[1]
The document, which dates to January 9, 2022, was acknowledged by a pro-ISIS Telegram outlet and indicates that ISIS fighters in Mozambique are contracting AIDS from their wives and slaves.
From Al-Karrar Office To Mozambique Governor
Addressing the Wali ("Governor") of the Islamic State Mozambique Province, the Arabic document features responses from ISIS leadership to religious questions sent by the wali and were originally sent to ISIS leadership in non-Arabic language. It reads: "To: the honorable Sheikh Al-Fadil, Wali of the State of Mozambique, may Allah Almighty protect him.
"Subject: Responses.
"May the peace, blessings, and mercy of Allah be upon you.
"We praise Allah, besides Whom there is no god, and we ask Him Almighty that you are well, healthy, and pleased with Him, Glory be to Him.
"We tried to translate your questions into Arabic, and we wrote the translation for you here so that you do not misunderstand, and if we make a mistake, [please] clarify it to us.
"The first question: 'What is the ruling on wild boar and is there a difference between it and [the ruling on] domestic pigs?" reads the first part of the first page.
The rest of the page was digitally blurred to hide the answer to the question.
AIDS Prevalence Among ISIS Members
Another page of the circular indicates that some ISIS fighters in Mozambique and their wives have contracted the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS/HIV). The document further indicates the group in Mozambique is enslaving women and give them away to fighters as a reward.
Discussing the measures taken by the Mozambique Province to deal with AIDS cases among its fighters and residents within the territory it controls, the document reads: "We conducted [medical] tests on people and found out that some have AIDS. The [ISIS] court decided that if AIDS is found in one of the spouses, then it must be found in the other. So, the court decided to separate the spouses for a period of three months before taking the test again. If the [new] test gives a positive result for one of the spouses, the marriage then is invalidated. [However] the woman should still observe the three-month waiting period [that follows divorce according to Islamic laws]. After that she can remarry someone else who has contracted the disease."
The wali pointed out in his question that the above ruling has not yet been put into implementation and that he is waiting for a reply from the ISIS leadership.
Discussing slaves suffering from AIDS, he said: "Likewise, we are waiting for the [medical] tests for female slaves, therefore we have not divided them up among the brothers yet."
Everyone Should Take AIDS Tests
In its response, the ISIS leadership explained: "It seems, and Allah knows best, that this disease has come to you through the women you enslave, so it is necessary to examine them before dividing them up among the brothers. [The tests] should also apply to immigrant brothers, sisters if you are able to do so, and the division of slaves should be delayed until you are completely sure that they are free of these diseases."
"Slaves With AIDS Should Be Offered For Ransom Or Killed If They Refuse To Become Muslims"
The response further explains that the enslaved women should be asked to convert to Islam, and if they refuse "they should be killed."
"Those who convert to Islam and are confirmed free of the disease can be given [to ISIS members]."
It also said that female slaves who contracted AIDS and agreed to convert to Islam can be let free in return for a ransom.
As for female slaves who have the disease, who refuse to convert to Islam, and no ransom is paid for them, the directive from the ISIS leadership said that "they should be killed."
It noted non-virgin women should all take tests before they are given away as slaves to ISIS members.
"As for virgins, their matter is different, and there is nothing wrong with marrying them and owning them," it said.
The final page of the document shows the seal of General Directorate of Provinces Al-Karrar office.
Pro-ISIS Outlet Confirms Authenticity Of Circular
On August 17, Bariqah News Agency posted on Telegram a screenshot of the first page of the circular.[2]
The pro-ISIS Telegram out did not discuss the content of the circular but said that it was obtained from the recent raid that led to the killing of the fourth ISIS Caliph, Abu Al-Husayn Al-Husayni Al-Qurashi, in a battle with Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) in Idlib, according to an audio message given by the group spokesman, Abu Hudhayfa Al-Ansari on August 3. The spokesman also said that HTS captured classified documents during the raid:[3]
The channel wrote: "An internal circular about religious inquiries dated to mid past year 1444 AH. That is, about seven months ago. From where did HTS get it?! From what archive?! From which house it raided after the killing of its owner?! From which family of the sheikhs who were assassinated by the Crusader coalition or its Turkish and HTS agents?!"
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