In recent months, the Twitter account @Wahabism has tweeted a series of satirical comments about the meaning of Wahabism, or Wahhabism, explaining how the Wahhabi ideology has become a source of bloodshed across the Islamic world, especially when followed by Sunni jihadi organizations. This tweeter is also active on Facebook under the handle "/shia.pen" and its posts also link to Urdu-language content.
The Twitter account links to Shiapen.com, a website registered by someone in London, according to domain registration details obtained from Whois.ws.[1] From the website pages, it emerges that Shiapen.com functioned previously as Answering-Ansar.org.[2] On its "About Us" page, it notes: "Shia Pen is a volunteer project, which is undertaken by members from around the world. Our sole goal is to refute the false propaganda against Shia and the teachings of Islam."[3] There has been war of words between Shiapen.com aka Answering-Ansar.org by Sunni group Sunnidefense.com, with the former being accused of "deceptively propagating" Shia beliefs.[4]
The Twitter account @Wahabism symbolically lists Saqifah in Saudi Arabia as its location. As per Shia understanding, the tribal chiefs of Madina met at Saqifah after the Prophet Muhammad's death and selected Abu Bakr as the first caliph of Islam, thereby denying the position to Ali ibn Abi Talib who is seen as the rightful claimant. This issue of succession is the main source of conflict between Shia and Sunni branches of Islam.
Following are a selection of tweets by @Wahabism that appeared under a series called "I am Wahabism." The tweets are unedited and are published along with their dates. The English-language tweets have been lightly edited for clarity.
"I Am Wahabism And Under The Banner Of 'Defending The Prophet's Companions' I Will Ruin Countries, Destroy Homes And Spill Innocent Blood"
November 30: I am Wahabism & under the deceptive slogan of 'strictly Quran & Sunnah' I will claim to have the most transparent route to Islam.
November 30: I am Wahabism. Without fail I will find the suitable out of context, misinterpreted verses in support of the oppressive acts by Saudi royals.
November 30: I am Wahabism & your petrodollar funded mosques have little choice in propagating the holiness of Saudi ideology and its foreign policy.
November 28: I am Wahabism & our tyrannical methodology is derived from the acts of glorified companions that very often corrected the Prophet himself.
November 27: I am Wahabism. Do not make use of your intellect; let your animalistic instincts react to the opposing beliefs of others.
November 24: I am Wahabism. Over the lives of my tyrannical forefathers I fantasize; their bloody actions I will justify, glorify & imitate upon you
October 26: My ideology appeals to the uneducated by surprising them with concepts easy to understand & depriving them aggressively from difficult ones.
October 26: I am Wahabism & instead of seeking an intellectual solution to my ideological differences with you I will bring bloodshed to your doorstep.
October 26: I am Wahabism & as a principle you must obey the ruler even if they were oppressive. Do not question; Obey & endure.
October 23: I am Wahabism & I use phrases like 'protect the Sunnah' to attract, brainwash and control my followers into my political agendas.
October 23: I am Wahabism. We preach to the world the glorification & blind-following of our forefathers and the imitation of their oppressive actions.
October 23: I am Wahabism & to export this ideology you must use Saudi $ to leave behind trails of murdered corpses, desecrated shrines & pools of blood.
October 23: I am Wahabism and my hatred for the Prophet's progeny [who are especially followed by Shias] is reflected in my hatred towards their followers.
October 22: I am Wahabism and from behind our pulpits I will be able to tear apart the fabric of your society & the calmness of your home.
October 22: I am Wahabism and under the banner of 'defending the prophet's companions' I will ruin countries, destroy homes and spill innocent blood.
"I Am Wahabism; The Intolerance & Destruction You Witness From Me Is Nothing But A Desperate & Immoral Survival Strategy For A Dying Ideology"
October 21: I am Wahabism & my forefathers have formed the link between beliefs we disagree with and the blood spilling of innocent human beings.
October 21: I am Wahabism & the last thing I want in a debate is to prove my position; this is why I am always on offensive mode not defensive mode.
October 20: I am Wahabism & I have given your society a brutal ideology that is easily absorbed by the uneducated and insecure.
October 20: I am Wahabism & I am not about changing your views; I am about removing you from existence. So stop trying to convince & debate with me.
October 20: I am Wahabism & our way of life is based upon intolerance, glorification of fallibles, tribalism, brainwashing & quotes out of context.
October 15: I am Wahabism & a peaceful mind is my enemy. Peaceful minds lead to truth; truth leads to progression; progression contradicts my foundation.
October 6: I am Wahabism & we give Islamophobes an excuse to generalize Muslims by providing them the monstrous image to distribute around the world.
October 5: I am Wahabism and Islamophobia is fuelled by the aggressive nature of my intolerant tribal ideology.
September 24: I am Wahabism & the theological framework to terrorism is one my forefathers built and funded today by Saudi royals & their petrodollars
September 24: I am Wahabism. The intolerance & destruction you witness from me is nothing but a desperate & immoral survival strategy for a dying ideology.
September 21: I am Wahabism & our tyrannical methodology is derived from the acts of glorified companions that very often corrected the Prophet himself.
September 21: I am Wahabism & through a series of fast moving visual images I will broadcast to you a film explaining why photography is Haram/forbidden.
August 30: I am Wahabism & my ideology impresses the insecure by giving them a false sense of empowerment when 'purifying' their religion from heresy.
August 28: I am Wahabism & I altered the meaning of the Quran in order to brainwash my followers into thinking intolerance and bloodshed is pleasing.
August 24: I am Wahabism & I justify intolerance, violence & murder by preaching Quranic verses out of context.
"I Am Wahabism & My Goal Is To Empower Intolerance Over Peaceful Coexistence, Aggression Over Dialogue & Tyranny Over Humanity"
August 22: I am Wahabism. Look how pious you are! Especially when you preach hatred towards the Shia.
August 21: I am Wahabism & I have given your society a brutal ideology that is easily absorbed by the uneducated and insecure.
August 10: I am Wahabism & I am a dying tribal ideology which desperately yearns to survive by spilling violent energy over sound Islamic principles.
August 7: I am Wahabism. Our lack of intellectual bravery turns the battle of opinions into a real-life battle between the oppressors & oppressed.
July 30: I am Wahabism & the theological framework to terrorism is one my forefathers built and supported today by Saudi royals & their petrodollars.
July 24: I am Wahabism & I use phrases like 'protect the Sunnah' to attract, brainwash and control my followers into my political agendas.
July 19: I am Wahabism & my agenda is to empower violence over peaceful coexistence, aggression over dialogue & tyranny over humanity.
July 12: I am Wahabism & the last thing I want in a debate is to prove my position; this is why I am always on offensive mode not defensive mode.
July 7: I am Wahabism & recent Arab uprisings are a result of people who despair from our teachings that oblige you to obey rulers even if tyrants.
May 16: I am Wahabism & I am reluctant to understand the opposing view. Do not seek to solve differences through dialogue. Live & impose.
May 5: I am Wahabism & my goal is to empower intolerance over peaceful coexistence, aggression over dialogue & tyranny over humanity.
