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 [email protected] with "Membership" in the subject line.)
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In New Video, Al-Qaeda Calls For Revival Of Islamic Rule In South Asia; Ustad Ahmad Farooq: '[We] Will Have To Cross Another River Of Blood'
Al-Qaeda video shows three areas of India in which the British did not have full control during 1857-1947
In a two-part video titled "Shari'a or Democracy?"Al-Qaeda has called for the revival of Islamic rule in India and Pakistan, arguing that the shari'a system that existed before the 1857 war, the year that Mughal rule was ended by the British, never returned after the British rulers left the Indian sub-continent in 1947.
The video was produced some time in November-December 2012 by as-Sahab, the media arm of Al-Qaeda, and was released in two parts through a jihadi internet forum on February 16 and 18, 2013. Urging viewers to correct their historical knowledge, it opens with scenes of Jama Masjid and Red Fort of Delhi, reminding that the sultanate of the "Islamic India" ended completely in 1857 with the capture of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal ruler of Delhi, and for the next century the British ruled the region uncontested.
Islamic Party Of Turkestan Publishes Letter From Abu Yahya Al-Libi Revealing Internal Schism
Islamic Party of Turkestan logo
A letter from the slain Al-Qaeda leader Abu Yahya Al-Libi to the members of the Uyghur jihad group, Islamic Party of Turkestan (IPT), reveals the existence of an internal schism among the group's fighters. IPT is an Al-Qaeda affiliate based in Waziristan, where it takes part in fighting alongside other jihadi groups. Its publications and media releases are distributed by Al-Qaeda's media company, Al-Fajr.
In the letter, Al-Libi does not provide any details on the events surrounding the schism, but he does refer to the fact that members of the group "dissented" and "reneged their pledge" to it. The letter, dated May 15, 2012, was published posthumously in the latest issue of IPT's Arabic journal, Turkestan Al-Islamiyya. It is in the form of guidance given by Al-Libi to the Uyghur jihadis.
As a senior ideologue and leader in Al-Qaeda at the time, Abu Yahya offered his guidance to the Uyghur jihadis. This consisted of reminding them of the religious duty to preserve the group's unity and obey its leaders, and that each member's oath of allegiance is a religiously binding covenant. Al-Libi also reminded them that disobedience is a sin and runs counter to Islamic values. Furthermore, he stressed that disobedience and disunity can incur severe punishment upon the Muslims, and cause setbacks and defeats for the mujahideen.
Chechen Commander Arrives In Syria With Group Of Muhajireen, Appeals To Muslims For Money, Support
On February 20, 2013, a seven-minute video clip was posted to YouTube showing a commander named 'Omar Al-Shishani ("the Chechen") and his group of muhajireen (foreign) fighters delivering a message from somewhere in Syria. In the video, Al-Shishani calls upon Muslims not to miss the opportunity to finally instate Allah's shari'a in the land, after, what he calls many previous missed chances to do so. In order to achieve this, Al-Shishani says, the Muslims must provide the mujahideen with financial support.
Prominent Jihadi Writer Publishes Names, Pictures Of Saudi Police Officers, Calls On Jihadis, Lone Wolves To Kill Them
On February 14, 2013, Mu'awiyya Al-Qahtani, a prominent writer on the leading jihadi forum Al-Fida', called on jihadis and lone wolves to kill Saudi police officers and secret agents allegedly accused of beating and humiliating dozens of female protestors demanding the release of their male relatives. In his post, titled "Letter Written in Blood: A Call to Cut the Heads Off the Hardened Heretics, Officers, and Secret Agents of Al-Saud," Al-Qahtani stated that the assassination of these officers would deter others from repeating their actions.
Online Jihadi Posts Photos Of French Troops In Qatar
An online jihad supporter based in Qatar photographed French troops as they arrived in Qatar and posted the photos on Twitter. On February 10, 2013, "Ansar Al-Shari'a in Qatar" created a hashtag that reads "the French forces are training in Qatar" and wrote that "There is new information regarding the French training exercises in Qatar that I will post shortly." On February 14 he posted a series of that show French troops, armored personal carriers, helicopters and military equipment in a Qatari port. "Ansar Al-Shari'a in Qatar" asked that fellow users spread the photos and the information about the presence of French troops in Qatar. In order to spread the information he also shared the photos with a number of prominent jihadi Twitter users.
Online Jihadi Offers Tutorial On Using Google To Find Studies, Dissertations About Al-Qaeda
On February 20, 2013, Hafeed Al-Hussein, a senior member of the leading jihadi forum Shumoukh Al-Islam, provided tips on looking for studies and dissertations about Al-Qaeda using the Google's search engine. Explaining his motives, Al-Hussein said that a beloved brother had asked him how to find such studies, adding that some were fair in their reporting, while others were biased and meant to deceive readers.
Tutorial On Converting Written Jihadi Statements Into Videos For Posting On YouTube, Social Media Sites
On February 11, 2013, Abu Sajed, who is described as a "distinguished" member of the leading jihadi forum Shumoukh Al-Islam, published a tutorial video explaining how to convert written jihadi statements into video segments, so "they can be easily published on YouTube and social media sites."
Algerian Hacker DZ27 Reportedly Hacks Dozens Of Sites Run By French Religious Affairs Ministry
On February 19, 2013, Hackread.com reported that over 50 French websites, including some religious sites run by the French Ministry of Religious Affairs, had been hacked by an Algerian hacker going by the handle DZ27. DZ27 attacked the websites in question, which included sites belonging to churches, hospitals, and church radio channels, as well as Christian dating websites, by replacing their homepages with a page displaying a message providing his email address and links to two hacking-related websites.[2] DZ27 also extended his greetings to a number of other Algerian hackers, including OverDz, H4cker-Dz, HTC 28 DZ, Sa-Dz, and Evil-DZ. The "DZ" tag, it should be noted, refers to Algeria's top-level Internet domain. DZ27 also greeted one Soly, who belongs to a group of Egyptian hackers that includes Red Virus and I-hmx, among others.
