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.)
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EXCLUSIVE: Takfiris, Kharijites, And Apostates: Jihadists In Syria Justify War Against Each Other
By R. Green*
Introduction
Since the beginning of 2014, internal fighting has been raging between Islamist rebels in Syria, with a coalition of Islamist groups turning against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), an organization affiliated with global jihad. This fighting escalated to the point that even the Al-Qaeda branch in Syria, Jabhat Al-Nusra (JN), is embroiled in combat with ISIS. Needless to say, attacking fellow Muslims is a very grave matter for Islamists requiring religious approval from jurisprudents. The current infighting is backed and accompanied by an exchange of edicts and opinions from scholars who delegitimize and excommunicate the other side in order to justify all-out war against it.
During the weeks and months of buildup toward the conflict, Syrian clerics issued fatwas ruling that ISIS and its members are Kharijites (khawarij), castigating them as extremists (ghulat) and takfiris. The term takfiri refers to Muslims who rush to proclaim other Muslims apostates. . These edicts echoed the messages that emanated from the leaders of Islamist rebel groups, which used similar terms to attack ISIS. On the other hand, clerics affiliated with ISIS rushed to defend its religious legitimacy by issuing opinions of their own, depicting its rivals as a new Awakening Movement (sahawat), as renegades or even as apostates.
The following report will review the reciprocal accusations, and discuss the question of ISIS's character as a takfiri group.
Videos Allegedly Show Former Arsenal Player Fighting Jihad In Syria
On April 1, 2014, the website FiSyria.com posted two videos showing an individual identified as Abu 'Issa Al-Andalusi ("Abu Issa from Andalusia"), who is said to be a former Arsenal soccer player currently fighting with a jihad group in Syria. The website claims that the player is of Portuguese origin, and that he "grew up with Ronaldo, played for Arsenal, and [then] left football, money and the European way of life for the sake of Allah… He played for Arsenal in London, [but] realized that [kind of] life was not for him, [so] he left everything and set out for jihad two years ago." Abu 'Issa was filmed on a bank of a river, likely the Euphrates.
Images Supporting ISIS Posted Online From France, Italy
A group of online jihad activists calling itself "The International Islamic Foundation For Resistance" has published a series of images, under the title "French Support For The Islamic State Of Iraq And Sham." The images show a handwritten sign stating "The Islamic State [of Iraq and Syria] will remain forever and spread" being held up in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. A similar image with a sign being held up in front of the Coliseum in Rome is currently circulating on social media.
Belgian Jihadist Fighting With ISIS In Syria: It's Nice To See Infidel Blood From Time To Time
Belgian jihadists fighting with ISIS in Syria, posted to the Internet in March 2014.
Click here to view this clip on MEMRI TV
On April 3, 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) released an audio-recorded message by the group's spokesman, Abu Muhammad Al-'Adnani. The message focuses on the Iraqi scene, and touches primarily on three matters: the ongoing battle between Sunnis and Shi'ites in Iraq, the Iraqi parliamentary elections, and ISIS's return to cities and regions that it previously withdrew from.
During the past several days, pro-Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) elements have been circulating an audio-recorded message that is being attributed to Abu Al-Huda Al-Sudani, a member of Al-Qaeda and a veteran of the jihad in Afghanistan since the 1980s. Al-Sudani's message, which was recorded from a call that he made supposedly from Khurasan (i.e. Afghanistan) to some mujahideen in Syria, includes clear support for ISIS and its leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi. In his message, Al-Sudani calls upon the mujahideen in Syria, most notably those who had been in Afghanistan in the past, to waste no time and pledge allegiance to Al-Baghdadi immediately. Al-Sudani also urges ISIS to remain steadfast in facing the ongoing campaign waged against it. He describes those fighting ISIS as apostates, whom ISIS should purge from the land.
In Leaked Video, American Al-Qaeda Operative Adam Gadahn Brands ISIS Liars, Extremists, And Tyrants
On March 29, 2014, a leaked video featuring American Al-Qaeda operative Adam Gadahn was released online via Twitter. In the 8-minute video, Gadahn addresses the killing of Ayman Al-Zawahiri's emissary to Syria, Abu Khalid Al-Suri, that has been ascribed to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Gadahn, who knew Al-Suri personally, claims that he and others were saddened by his death and urges a comprehensive investigation to find and punish his killers. He calls ISIS an extremist and tyrannical group, and blames it for the infighting between the jihadi groups in Syria.
Senior Al-Qaeda Figures Break With Al-Zawahiri, Pledge Loyalty To ISIS
On April 1, 2014, online jihad activists distributed a statement issued by nine senior figures in Al-Qaeda’s leadership in Afghanistan-Pakistan pledging loyalty to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and its leader, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi. The nine harshly criticized current Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri on ideological grounds and for the position he adopted towards the Arab Spring. The statement was published several days following the distribution of an audio recording praising ISIS made by Abu Huda Al-Sudani, a member of the group. See Pro-ISIS Elements Circulating Audio Message Attributed To Al-Qaeda Member In Afghanistan Who Expresses Support For ISIS, Its Leader Al-Baghdadi.
Ajnad Misr Takes Responsibility For Deadly Cairo Attack
The Ajnad Misr group, a previously unknown militant group, has taken responsibility for today's deadly attack outside Cairo University, which killed one policeman and injured several others.
Video Shows Reception Ceremony For AQAP Prisoners Freed From Sana'a Central Prison
On March 27, 2014 the Al-Malahem Media Foundation, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s media organ, released a video titled "The First Rain" documenting the reception ceremony honoring 29 Al- Qaeda prisoners who had escaped from Sana'a Central Prison on February 13.
GIMF Opens Official Account On Twitter
On April 3, 2014, the Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF), a prominent media company that is associated with Al-Qaeda, announced the opening of an official account on Twitter.
In a new jihadi video, Ansar Al-Tawhid leader Abdur Rahman Al-Hindi urges Indian Muslim youth to join the global jihad of Al-Qaeda and migrate to the lands of Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq, and warns Indian intelligence agencies against mistreating Islamic scholars like Maulana Abdul Qavi, who was arrested by Indian police recently.
Omar Khalid Khorasani (middle)
The shura (executive council) of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has failed to agree an extension to the month-long ceasefire against Pakistani security forces that ended on March 31, according to a Pakistani daily.
Afghan Taliban Claim To Have Obtained Police Security Plan For April 5 Elections In Afghanistan
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Taliban's umbrella organization) has claimed to have obtained the Afghan government's security plan for the April 5 presidential and provincial council elections in the country.
The Taliban published a list carrying names of female security personnel to be deployed at polling stations in different Afghan provinces on the voting day on the Islamic Emirate's official website. The website claimed that the Taliban have more such reports in their possession, stating: "With the support of Allah almighty, [the] intelligence organs of the Islamic Emirate have obtained dozens of documents linked to the security of the fake election process."
Report: 25-30 Indian Muslim Youth Joined The Taliban In Pakistan
Tehseen Akhtar, chief of Indian Mujahideen
Tehseen Akhtar aka Monu, a 23-year-old Indian Muslim youth who took over as the chief of the jihadi organization Indian Mujahideen, was arrested by Indian security officials on Tuesday (March 25), according to an Indian media report.
Commander Ghazwan teaching how to make explosives
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has released a video showing the TTP's emir for Chitral district of Pakistan, delivering his message of jihad to the Muslim ummah, threatening Pakistani security forces, and training militants in making improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Afghanistan's Nuristan province.
In the 47-minute Pashtu-language video titled "Ghazwat-ul-Hind 7," militants are seen preparing IEDs and explosive vests. The TTP's emir for Chitral district is known by the single name of Ghazwan. It is not clear when the video was produced, but it may be a few months old.
Reports From Issue V Of Taliban Magazine 'Azan'
- Issue V Of Taliban Jihadi Magazine Azan Questions Basis Of Modern Nation-States And Armies As Set Out By Clausewitz, Says: 'If Muslim Rule Is Again To Be Established Anywhere ... This Corrupt Institution Needs To Be Completely Uprooted'
- Taliban Commander Adnan Rasheed Accuses Pakistan Army Of Deliberately Killing Civilians At Hotel In Waziristan, Says Pakistan Army Guilty Of Massacres In Waziristan, Lahore, Bangladesh, Baluchistan, and Jordan
- In Issue V, Taliban Magazine 'Azan' Publishes Article On 'Counter-Drone Strategy', Seeks Jihadi Engineers Who Can 'Hack Into The Private Encrypted Network Of The Pentagon'
- In Issue V, Taliban Magazine 'Azan' Praises British Bombers, Says: 'One Of The Nations At The Head Of This War Against Islam Is Britain'; 'Muslims… Should Join The Mujahideen' And 'Attack The Kuffar In Britain'
- Issue V Of Taliban Magazine 'Azan' Calls To Free Pakistani Scientist Dr. Aafia Siddiqui From U.S. Prison: 'After... 9/11, She Urged Her Husband To Be A Medic For The Mujahideen Of Afghanistan'
- In Issue V, Taliban Magazine 'Azan' Says Carrying Weapon Is A Tradition Of The Prophet Muhammad, Cites Koranic Verses And Hadiths In Support Of This Claim
- In Issue V Of Taliban Magazine 'Azan,' Al-Qaeda Scholar Cites Koranic Verses To Reject Islamists' Acceptance Of Democracy As Means Of Establishing Islam – And Advocates 'Jihad In The Path Of Allah'
- Issue V Of Taliban Magazine 'Azan' Publishes Encrypted Software Key For Potential Jihadi Youth To Contact Them
