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On April 8, 2013, the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) – Al-Qaeda in Iraq – released a recorded audio message by its leader, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, in which he announced that the Syria jihadi group Jabhat Al-Nusra (JN) has been merely an extension of ISI in Syria. Al-Baghdadi confirms that Jabhat Al-Nusra has been receiving monthly funds from ISI. In this vein, Al-Baghdadi announces that the names ISI and JN are not to be used anymore; instead, he declares the official merging of the two groups under the name "Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham."
Al-Baghdadi's message is 21:30 in duration, and was released on leading jihadi forums.
Following is a summary of the message:
Al-Baghdadi begins his message by announcing the coming of glad tidings to the Muslim ummah. In the following ten minutes, Al-Baghdadi speaks about the ever-changing nature of jihadi groups, and in particular about the fact that jihadi groups go through phases of maturity that demand a change in their name in order to meet the reality-dictated necessities. Al-Baghdadi provides the ISI and its previous incarnations as an example of such evolution. ISI, Al-Baghdadi says, went through phases where it was initially called Al-Tawhid Wal-Jihad, then Al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia, then Majlis Shura Al-Mujahideen, and finally its current name, the Islamic State of Iraq. Al-Baghdadi says that such a change is normal, and that Muslims, despite the emotional attachments they develop for a certain name, must approach such changes free of emotions. The reason behind Al-Baghdadi's focus on the issue of jihadi groups changing their names becomes clear later on in his message, when he declares a new name for ISI.
Al-Baghdadi then says that ISI, following the same path set by its predecessors regarding the group's adherence to a doctrine that does not abide to geographical border or ethnic affiliation, has in fact had training and support cells operating in Syria; however, these cells have been "awaiting the chance" to expand their operations. Such a chance came after the bloodshed ensued in Syria, and after the Syrians' call for help was answered. Therefore, Al-Baghdadi says, ISI decided to answer the call by assigning the "Julani" – a reference to Abu Muhammad Al-Julani, the leader of JN – to lead the group there. Al-Baghdadi confirms that Al-Julani was in fact dispatched from Iraq along with a group of men to Syria in order to meet the aforementioned cells there. Furthermore, Al-Baghdadi says that ISI provided JN with the plans and work strategy needed in Syria. He also says that ISI has been in fact splitting its funds evenly with JN, which received those funds on a monthly basis.
Addressing Syrians, Al-Baghdadi says that the announcement about JN being part of ISI was not released earlier for security reasons, and also in order to provide the Syrian people the opportunity to see and judge JN on their own, as a separate entity that is not part of Al-Qaeda, rather than perceive the group through the eyes of the biased media.
Al-Baghdadi then declares the nullification of both the names of ISI and JN, while announcing the two will be joined under the name "Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham."
Al-Baghdadi then urges Islamic scholars to join the mujahideen in Syria, while inviting the various opposition groups and tribes to work on raising the banner of tawhid in Syria, and to work on instating the shari'a.
Al-Baghdadi warns Syrians not to fall victims of democracy, while adding that democracy should not be the outcome for the endless suffering and death they have faced thus far.
Source: Al-Fida’, April 8, 2013.
