ISIS Supporters Express Joy Over Paris Attacks On Social Media

The following report is a complimentary offering from MEMRI's Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM). For JTTM subscription information, click here.

The simultaneous terrorist attacks that struck Paris on the evening of November 13, 2015, triggered widespread expressions of support and joy among online ISIS supporters. Even before ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack in the early hours of November 14, 2015,[1] several hashtags were launched dealing with the attack. It should be mentioned that while initially, the hashtags mostly featured tweets expressing joy at the attacks, as hours went by they also included many tweets criticizing and condemning them.

Shortly after the start of the attacks, the hashtag "France In Flames," which was active during the January attacks in the city, was revived. Twitter user @samalQ_90 wrote: "Allah akbar, Allah akbar, [you were attacked] in the heart of your home, o infidels."[2] User @obayd_is7 mocked the French, tweeting: "Please remember that alongside the attacks on France, there was also a soccer match between France and Germany, with the president [Hollande] in attendance. The game ended with a victory by ISIS..."

Another hashtag launched after the start of the attacks was "Paris in Flames." User @_mi_sk_ tweeted: "The infidel [Francois] Hollande has been terrorized. Infidels were taken hostage. Paris is in chaos. France has learned its lesson."[3]

The hashtag "Paris Attacks" featured a tweet by user @alhilalso, who wrote: "This is what the accursed [French] dogs deserve. They occupied and pillaged countries. Algeria is the best example of this."[4]

Using the hashtag "France Isn't Safe," user @ibraheemajmi tweeted: "[Francois] Hollande thought that sponsoring terrorism in Syria will have no consequence for his country. Is France not on the Earth?! Or is it on Mars?!"[5]

Another revived hashtag was "We Will Not Apologize To France," which included tweets stating that there was no need to apologize for the France attacks due to the crimes committed by France against Muslims throughout history. User @ajosh_ wrote: "Of course I will not apologize to those who blamed Islam, wherever it is."[6]

Channels on the messaging app Telegram also featured responses to the attacks. The Dolabo channel[7] featured a series of images from the era of French rule in Algeria showing French crimes against Muslims and the Arabic caption: "France has killed one million Muslims and has not apologized for it."

The Twitter page @eng_batt ("Prophet's Khilafa") posted several banners related to the Paris attacks. One included a picture of a darkened Eiffel Tower and the tweet: "Get used to seeing [the Eiffel Tower darkened] like this." The image caption reads: "Lights out at the devil's tower, in mourning for their dead."

The account also posted an image responding to the slogan "Je Suis Paris" with the slogan "Je Suis Islamic State."

Another tweet from the account featured a play on the famous Guy Fawkes Night ditty: "Remember, remember, the 14th of November, #Paris. They will never forget this day, same as 11 September to the Americans." [8]

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