The Islamic State in Iraq Announces Its "Policy and Principles"

On March 15, 2007, the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) published a document titled "Policy and Principles," setting out 19 guiding principles of the ISI. The same 19 points were originally presented in a March 13 audio recording by ISI leader Abu Omar Al-Baghdadi. The following are some of the main principles:

1. Shi'ite Islam is a form of polytheism and apostasy.

2. A Muslim believer who commits a sin is not an apostate.

3. All legal proceedings must be according to shari'a, and must be conducted by a shari'a court.

4. All secular ideologies, such as nationalism and Communism, are a form of heresy, since they replace God's law.

5. Any person who assists the occupation in any way is an infidel who must be targeted.

6. Evading jihad in the present circumstances is the gravest sin after the sin of apostasy.

7. A region ruled according to the laws of the apostates is regarded as the abode of apostasy, even if its population is mostly Muslim. However, this does not mean that all its inhabitants are regarded as apostates.

8. The policemen and soldiers of an apostate country must be fought, and all facilities used as bases by the apostate regime must be destroyed.

9. The "People of the Book" (meaning primarily Christians and Jews) living in Arab countries today are not protected by the dhimma laws (which regulate the status of non-Muslim minorities under Islamic rule), since their conduct violates these laws. If they wish to receive protection, they must enter into a new contract with the ISI, based on the Laws of Omar.[1]

10. The ISI is not bound by any agreement formed by the occupiers with any individual or group in Iraq. The occupiers are therefore warned not to form an agreement with any party in Iraq without the ISI's approval.

The Al-Tawhid Wal-Jihad Brigades in Somalia Claim Responsibility for Mortar Attacks on Somali Presidential Palace and Mogadishu Airport

In a communiqué posted March 16, 2007 on Islamist websites, a group calling itself the "Al-Tawhid Wal-Jihad Brigades in Somalia" claimed responsibility for the March 13, 2007 mortar attack on the Somali presidential palace, and for the March 6, 2007 mortar attack on Mogadishu airport.

The communiqué states that the attack on the palace was a message to Somali president Abdallah Yusuf that his life is in danger as long as he insists on staying in Somalia.

As for the attack on the airport, which took place during a welcoming ceremony for the peacekeeping forces, the message says that it had two purposes: to drive away the foreign invaders, regardless of the nature of their mission, and to avenge the alleged rape of Suban Maalin Ali Hassan, "one of the many Somali women raped by soldiers of the occupying forces." The message then informs Somali women that many men are ready to fight the invaders to the death, and that "many others enlisted for martyrdom attacks after hearing about [the women's] predicament."

Finally, the message calls upon Somalis to fulfill their personal duty of participating in the defensive jihad against the invaders, warning that shirkers will be regarded as apostates: "It will be permissible to kill them, and their property will be given as booty to Muslims." The message also warns the Somalis not to cooperate with the government in any capacity, whether civilian or military.