In a June 14, 2014 statement, Abu Iyadh Al-Tunsi, the leader of Ansar Al-Shari'a in Tunisia, congratulates the Muslim nation on the recent victories of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Iraq, and calls to use these victories to unite the global jihad movement. More specifically, he urges Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri and Jabhat Al-Nusra leader Abu Muhammad Al-Joulani to publicly congratulate ISIS on its achievements in order to end the internal fighting among the jihad fighters in Syria.
The following are excerpts from the statement:
Abu Iyadh Al-Tunsi
"While I congratulate our nation – and the mujahideen in the land of Iraq, [who are] the crown upon our heads – for the victories in the Land of Two Rivers [Iraq], I wish to use this blessed opportunity to to turn to our commanders and sheikhs, may Allah preserve them, wherever they are, in the prisons or anywhere else, [and address them] with these words:…
"We must take advantage of these victories that Allah granted the Islamic nation, and use them to unite all the jihadi factions that are struggling to raise the banner of monotheism and striving to enact the Islamic shari’a in the land. We must convene all the brothers, and review the policy of jihad in Syria in light of the regional developments, in accordance with [Allah’s] words: 'Allah loves those who fight for his cause in ranks as firm as a mighty edifice [Koran 61:4].' All the mujahideen must renew their intentions and sit together in order to revive the custom of consultation [shura] and dialogue, which disappeared from the arena several months ago, and reconcile, which will enrage the enemies…
"Our brothers the mujahideen, as well as the sheikhs and the preachers, must cloak themselves in supreme courage… and rush to bring about reconciliation among all parties, which will lead to rebuilding [the jihadi enterprise]. I recommend that the two sheikhs, Ayman Al-Zawahiri… and Abu Muhammad Al-Joulani, rush to congratulate [ISIS on] these victories... This may lead the leaders of the organizations that are fighting each other to put an end to the battle and the struggle between them…
"Likewise, I call upon Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi… to hurry and respond to the calls [for reconciliation issued] by the honorable commanders and clerics who asked him, publicly and in secret, to revive the custom of his forefather [Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, from whom Al-Baghdadi is claimed to be a descended]. Let this year’s Ramadan be a festival of unity and a celebration of the collapse of the global projects of unbelief in the region.
"I wish to remind my brothers, the ISIS fighters and the Sunni tribesmen, to whom Allah has granted victory, that they must not forget Allah’s grace, and that they must be mindful of the laws of victory, [which involve] humility towards Allah and mercy toward people. I beseech Allah to accept [their efforts], elevate their status and reward them with the best of rewards on behalf of our nation, and let them be an instrument for the return of the promised Caliphate that follows the path of the Prophet.”
