The following report is a complimentary offering from MEMRI's Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM). For JTTM subscription information, click here.
On May 21, 2015, the Islamic State (ISIS) released the ninth issue of its English-language online magazine Dabiq. In its foreword, this issue praises Nadir Soofi[1] and Elton Simpson, the two gunmen killed May 4, 2015 when they attacked a Prophet Muhammad cartoon event in Garland, Texas,[2] and condemns the enemies of Islam, the coalition forces who are targeting ISIS, and anyone insulting the Prophet.
The following is a complementary report from the MEMRI JTTM; the JTTM will soon be releasing an overview of this issue of the magazine.
Note to media and government: For a full copy of this report, send an email with the title of the report in the subject line to [email protected]. Please include your name, title, and organization in your email.
Geert Wilders, Dutch politician who was keynote speaker at the event, in Dabiq IX
The foreword glorifies the attack by Soofi and Simpson, noting: "Their determination to support the cause of Allah and punish those who insult the Prophet (sallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) should serve as inspiration to those residing in the lands of the crusaders who are still hesitant to perform their duty. Those men who have read the countless ayat and ahadith on the virtues of jihad and have made sincere dua [prayer] to Allah asking Him for shahadah [martyrdom] but have yet to act, should consider that Allah will not grant them their dua until they take a step towards this noble duty."
Noting that it is also possible to achieve martyrdom even without emigrating to Islamic lands, it states: "Many of those who attained shahādah fighting the crusaders in their own lands had first taken steps to make hijrah to the lands of jihād. These preparatory steps were enough to demonstrate their sincerity, so they were granted shahādah without facing the difficulties of hijrah” [emigrating to Islamic lands]."
Elton Simpson, in Dabiq IX
Nadir Soofi, in Dabiq IX
[1] See MEMRI JTTM Report A Look At Texas Gunman Nadir Soofi's Facebook Account May 4, 2015.
[2] See MEMRI JTTm Report Texas Attackers Communicated With Islamic State (ISIS) Operatives On Twitter May 4, 2015.