Islamist Websites Monitor Website – Statement of Purpose

Project Description

The purpose of MEMRI's Islamist Websites Monitor Project, launched by MEMRI in 2006 as part of the Jihad & Terrorism Studies project, is to keep Western audiences informed about the steadily growing phenomenon of jihadist sites on the Internet, which are used by terrorist organizations and their supporters to spread their extremist message and to raise funds and recruit activists.

MEMRI's Islamist Websites Monitor Project monitors a wide range of jihadist websites on a daily basis, and publishes the most important items posted on them. In addition, it analyzes the materials on these sites with the aim of identifying crucial developments in the world of jihad, such as disagreements among jihad groups or the emergence of new ideological trends and operational strategies.

Finally, the project exposes the Internet service providers (ISPs) that host the jihadist websites, particularly ISPs in Western countries, with the aim of encouraging these companies to remove jihadist websites from their servers.

Please note that MEMRI's Islamist Websites Monitor Project is the largest open archive of translated material from Islamist websites.

What You Will Find on MEMRI's Islamist Websites Monitor Website

• Updated information on the current status of ISPs hosted in the West. Viewers can see information on the current status of leading jihadi websites, whether they are active, and who is hosting them.
• Exposing Jihadists' Use of Western ISPs reports:
• "Jihadist/Islamist Websites and Their Hosts (List III): Websites Supporting Jihad in Iraq – Hosted in the West," No. 1741, October 16, 2007, http://www.memriiwmp.org/content/en/report.htm?report=2423
• "Islamist Websites and their Hosts Part II: Clerics," No. 35, November 11, 2004, http://memriiwmp.org/content/en/report.htm?report=2246
• "Islamist Websites and Their Hosts Part I: Islamist Terror Organizations," No. 31, July 16, 2004, http://www.memriiwmp.org/content/en/report.htm?report=1174
• Inquiry and Analysis reports:
• "'The Battle... Is Economic Rather than Military' – An Economically Oriented Concept of Jihad Emerges in Islamist Discourse," No. 387, September 11, 2007, http://www.memriiwmp.org/content/en/report.htm?report=2371
• "The Enemy Within: Where Are the Islamist/Jihadist Websites Hosted, and What Can Be Done About It?" No. 374, July 19, 2007, http://www.memriiwmp.org/content/en/report.htm?report=2300
• "Cyberspace as a Combat Zone: The Phenomenon of Electronic Jihad," No. 329, February 27, 2007, http://www.memriiwmp.org/content/en/report.htm?report=1822
• Special Dispatch reports:
• "Jihadist/Islamist Websites and Their Hosts (List III): Websites Supporting Jihad in Iraq – Hosted in the West," No. 1741, October 16, 2007, http://www.memriiwmp.org/content/en/report.htm?report=2423
• "Osama Bin Laden's Video Message to the American People," No. 1709, September 10, 2007, http://www.memriiwmp.org/content/en/report.htm?report=2364
• "Islamist Website Hosted in Minnesota Features Discussion on How to Attack U.S. Military Bases," No. 1705, September 5, 2007, http://www.memriiwmp.org/content/en/report.htm?report=2361
• "Islamist Websites Hosted in Minnesota On How to Join Al-Qaeda, Form a Jihad Cell, and Select a Western Target – '[Is] Assassinating the American Ambassador... Difficult For Someone Who Has Already Crushed America in Her Own Home?'" No. 1702, August 31, 2007, http://www.memriiwmp.org/content/en/report.htm?report=2359
• Daily News Items from The Islamist Websites Monitor:
• "Iraqi Jihad Groups Opposing Al-Qaeda Form New Alliance – 'Political Council of Iraqi Resistance,'" October 17, 2007, http://www.memriiwmp.org/content/en/blog_personal.htm?id=320
• "ISI Claims Responsibility for the Killing of Salah Al-Din Salvation Council Head, October 12, 2007, http://www.memriiwmp.org/content/en/blog_personal.htm?id=319
• "ISI Video Shows Launching of 'Al-Zarqawi-2' Missiles," October 9, 2007, http://www.memriiwmp.org/content/en/blog_personal.htm?id=318
• "Islamist Website Posts Two Messages From ISI War Minister To His Soldiers," September 25, 2007, http://www.memriiwmp.org/content/en/blog_personal.htm?id=317
• "GIMF Denies Connection to Individuals Arrested for Circulating Video Threatening Austria and Germany," September 25, 2007, http://www.memriiwmp.org/content/en/blog_personal.htm?id=316
• Visit often for new developments including pages devoted to:
• Terrorist groups
• Terrorist leaders
• Regional focuses, including North Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the West
• Internet jihad
• Much more.