The following are some of this week's reports from the MEMRI Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) Project, which translates and analyzes content from sources monitored around the clock, among them the most important jihadi websites and blogs. (To view these reports in full, you must be a paying member of the JTTM; for membership information, send an email to jttmsubs@memri.org with "Membership" in the subject line.)
Note to media and government: For a full copy of these reports, send an email with the title of the report in the subject line to media@memri.org. Please include your name, title, and organization in your email.
EXCLUSIVE: ISIS Video: Libya Will Be Departure Base For Raid On Rome, Andalusia
On January 21, 2016, the Al-Battar media company, identified with the Islamic State (ISIS), released a video, about 4:30 minutes long, titled "Libya of Al-Mukhtar Swears Loyalty to the Valiant Caliph." The video, which as distributed via Telegram and incorporates segments from previous videos by ISIS' "Libya Province," describes the organization's expansion in Libya and its victories over the "apostates" - primarily the militias of General Khalifa Haftar. The narrator boasts that Muslims living in ISIS-controlled areas enjoy prosperity, peace and security under shari'a law.
On January 19, 2016, the Islamic State (ISIS) and its supporters on Twitter launched a social media campaign urging Muslims living in North Africa countries, specially Tunisia, Morocco, Mali, Algeria, Libya and Mauritania, as well as members of groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda, to join the ranks of ISIS and target government officials, soldiers and security officers.
Using the Hashtag "The Islamic Maghreb" on Twitter, the campaign, which consists of videos, mostly featuring ISIS fighters from North African countries, intends to persuade Muslims, jihadis and member of Al-Qaeda to join local ISIS branches in Libya, Algeria and Mali.
EXCLUSIVE: Jaysh-Al Fath Video Attacks Shi'ites, Says That The Russians 'Will Return Without Heads'
On January 21, 2016, the Al-Muhajirun media group, which is affiliated with the Jaysh-Al Fath coalition of Islamist militias in Syria, released an eight-and-a-half-minute video that attacked Shi'ite and Russian intervention in Syria. The video was shared via the group's Twitter and Facebook accounts. Titled "Yes, Yes Umar, Al Qaqaa Al-Misri," it features an Egyptian fighter delivering the message.
Opening Images
The video commences with images of Iranian troops marching, and shows Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. After that appear Russian soldiers carrying coffins. This imagery alludes to the content that follows.
EXCLUSIVE: American Female ISIS Member Brags: 'Finally Got My Hizam [Suicide Belt] Today'
On January 19, 2016, an American woman who posted a photo and message on her Telegram channel about possessing a suicide belt. Expressing her desire to use it in a suicide operation, she wrote: "Alhamdulilah finally got my Hizam [belt, i.e. suicide belt] today. May Allah Subhana wa ta'ala grant me the opportunity to use it soon, to grant me the honor to sacrifice myself for Him, for His deen [religion] (To kill the kuffars) [infidels]. May Allah subhana wa ta'ala grant us all shahadah [martyrdom] Ameen." At the time of this writing, her Telegram channel has 451 members.
On January 15, 2016, an American woman created her own Telegram channel. She is married to Abu Isa Amriki, a prominent ISIS contact who assists those interested in financing ISIS fighters or in immigrating to the Islamic State. Both were previously mentioned as such contacts by Omar Hussain before he launched his Telegram channel, and on his Tumblr blog; Hussain was recently ordered to shut down his Telegram channel by the ISIS media team. At the time of this writing, her Telegram channel had 157 members.
Report: ISIS Cuts Fighters' Salaries By Half
On January 19, 2016, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) posted a photo of an Islamic State (ISIS) document notifying ISIS fighters that their salaries are about to be cut by 50 percent. The notice, issued by ISIS's treasury in Al-Raqqa, states that the move is due to "extraordinary circumstances" and stressed that "jihad by means of money" is more important even than jihad on the battlefield.
ISIS In Furat Province Executes Man For Homosexuality (Warning: Graphic Images)
On January 16, 2016, the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq's Al-Furat province released a number of photos documenting the execution in the city of Rawa of a man convicted of engaging in homosexual relations. The photos, posted on the jihadi forum Al-Shomoukh (shamikh1.info) and elsewhere, show the victim being taken to the rooftop by ISIS executioners and then being cast to his death while a crowd of onlookers watches from below.
Female Malaysian ISIS Member Seeks Co-Wife Via Twitter
On January 14, 2016, Malaysian ISIS member Shams sent a series of Tweets explaining that she had changed her mind on the topic of polygamy, and would now like a co-wife. Shams, who was widowed during the summer of 2015 and has a young son, is a physician by training. She appears to be currently married to a Swedish fighter who calls himself Abu Layth Tamimi on Twitter. Tamimi is very active on Twitter, and once tweeted a photo from what he said was a bomb-making class in the Islamic State.
English-Language Taliban Telegram Channels Publish News Updates
Two English-language Taliban channels, Alemarah News and #Breaking Islamic Emirate, were created on Telegram in late 2015. The first went live on October 26, and currently has 1,273 members; the second was created on November 2, 2015 and currently has 71 members. The two channels cover similar news stories, focusing on Taliban battles in Afghanistan and on American activity in the region. They also disseminate photos, audio broadcasts by leaders, and videos of battles. Both the accounts are loyal to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the Taliban shadow government headed by Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor.
On January 17, 2016, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Maghreb (AQIM) issued a comprehensive official communique addressing the January 15, 2016 attack in Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso. Titled "When Muslim Africa Avenges Its Victims," it was released by the AQIM-affiliated media company Al-Andalus and posted on the jihadi forum Al-Fida and elsewhere. It follows a previous message by AQIM on this attack, released on January 16.
The following are its main points:
The communique states that the main target of the attack was the Splendid hotel and some targets near it, and stresses that these targets were deliberately and carefully chosen because they are centers of "global espionage" in West Africa and of deals intended to rob Africa's natural resources. It states further that, following reconnaissance and observation of the targets, three elite soldiers from the organization were dispatched to carry out the operation. They first attacked the Cappuccino caf├®, which is frequented by "the greatest criminals," some of whom were killed. Then they processed to the hotel, where they fought for several hours, killing "crusader arch-criminals" of various nationalities who were staying there.
AQIM Takes Responsibility For Burkina Faso Attack, Threatens More Attacks On French Targets
On January 16, 2016, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) released an audio of an interview with one of its fighters in which he refers to the January 15 attack in the Burkina Faso capital of Ouagadougou. The fighter justifies the attack and threatens that he and his comrades will continue their strikes against France. The audio, some 3:30 minutes long, was released by the AQIM-affiliated Al-Andalus media company and posted on the jihadi forum Al-Fida. Its sound quality is poor; the interviewer's voice is distorted, apparently to prevent identification. The same day, Al-Fida also posted a written communique by AQIM in which the organization states that the attack was perpetrated by its affiliate, Al-Murabitoun.
TIP Video, Nasheed Glorify Martyrdom
On January 15, 2016, the Voice of Islam, a media organization identified with the Uyghur organization Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP), released a four-minute video nasheed titled "Seeking Martyrdom." The video, in Uyghur with Arabic and English subtitles, was disseminated via the Voice of Islam's Twitter account; it shows images of current and fallen fighters and glorifies martyrdom.
Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) Videos Feature Messages From Its Fighters In Syria
The Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP), an Al-Qaeda affiliate comprising mostly Uyghur fighters, has released two short videos featuring messages from its fighters on the frontlines in Syria fighting Syrian regime forces. The videos, each around four minutes long, were titled "A Call From The Frontlines Of Jihad"; the messages from the fighters are in Uyghur.
On January 19, 2016, the Islamic State (ISIS) released the 13th issue of its English-language magazine Dabiq. The 56-page magazine, which is titled "The Rafidah: From Ibn Saba' To the Dajjal," focuses on Shi'ites, but includes articles on other topics as well, such as one about ISIS's executioner Jihadi John, and an article against Saudi Arabia, among other items.
Issue I3 of the Islamic State (ISIS) English-language magazine Dabiq, released January 19, 2016, devotes a two-page article to the organization's iconic media star, the British fighter "Jihadi John," aka Mohammed Emwazi, who famously beheaded hostages including U.S. journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and who was killed in a drone strike in August 2015. The article, "Among the Believers Are Men: Abu Muharib Al-Muhair," refers to him as Abu Muharib Al-Muhajir, and provides details about his family and what it claims are facts about his emigration to Syria despite being under surveillance by MI5. It also recounts some of his experiences as a fighter in Syria.
Issue 13 of the ISIS English-language magazine Dabiq, which was released on January 19, 2016, featured an article titled "Advice on Ihdad [mourning]." The 3-page article includes a number of rules that a widow is expected to observe in the Caliphate. Portions of the advice provided are included below:
The article begins by explaining that certain habits are prohibited during the mourning period: "Ihdad - according to the Shari'a - is for the widow to stop adorning herself with jewelry, perfume, decorative clothing, and anything else meant to beautify oneself. This is an obligation during the 'iddah for all women whose husbands have passed away."
Issue 13 of the Islamic State (ISIS) English-language magazine Dabiq, released January 19, 2016, featured a lengthy interview with Hafiz Saeed Khan, ISIS's Wali (governor) of the organization's Wilayat Khurasan (Khurasan province). According to jihadis, Khurasan covers a vast region including Xinjiang, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, India, and Bangladesh.
Poster Of Paris Terrorists, Featured In 'Dabiq,' Suggests Certain Details About The Attack
The 13th issue of Dabiq, the English-language magazine of the Islamic State (ISIS), which was released on January 19, 2016, features a poster celebrating the ISIS fighters who perpetrated the November 13, 2015 attacks in Paris. The poster (see below) shows the nine terrorists against the background of a panorama of Paris, each with a label giving his name. It is titled "Just Terror" and subtitled: "Let Paris Be a Lesson for Those Nations That Wish to Take Heed"
