On March 1, 2022, Al-Qaeda's central media arm released a video based on an article published in the group's magazine which emphasizes the responsibility of jihadis to secure their communication devices.
The title of the six-minute video comes from a Quranic verse that reads, "Stop them, for they must be questioned." The video begins by explaining the religious duties of every Muslim toward the welfare and safety of his community.
The narrator explains that the security of a jihadi group is the responsibility of each member, noting that " from field experience in one of the fiercest wars in the contemporary history of Muslims, which has extended over two decades so far, the majority of security breaches... are related to the lack of a sense of responsibility among some mujahideen."
He further explains that jihadi work, like any collective effort, depends on a joint behavioral system and that any harm inflicted on one component of the system, no matter how small, will have a destructive impact on the other components.
"Let us suppose that a group of mujahideen is working in certain areas under different committees but is connected to various projects. All those mujahideen are abiding by the necessary security regulations, which were set by the leadership and for which a great deal of money has been spent to secure the safety of the mujahideen and ensure the continuation of their jihadi work. But one person in this group lacks a sense of responsibility, which makes him violate some or all of the precautionary measures. He even innovates by engaging in violations that no jihadi had thought of before. Add to this that the enemy, with all of its financial and human and technical resources, is waiting for a security flaw that would hurt the mujahideen or stall their work or eliminate them. He [the enemy] will find that flaw in that irresponsible person," said the narrator.
He goes on to say that an irresponsible person will be a great asset to the enemy, which will do its best to protect him to ensure his services and adds that many jihadi commanders and fighters were lost because of irresponsible actions.
The video includes archival clips of Qassim Al-Rimi, the slain leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, discussing the need to use communication devices wisely.
The video also cites a letter sent to slain Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden discussing how foreign intelligence agencies collect information by monitoring jihadis' phone and internet use.
It concludes by urging leaders to deal decisively with those who violate security measures, warning them that if they do not, "the ship will sink."
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