In Effort To Rebrand, Salafi-jihadi Movement Adopts New Name: 'Ansar Al-Shari'a'

The upheaval in the Arab world and the change of regime in several Arab countries brought with it new opportunities for the extremist Salafi-jihadi movement. Until recently, this movement operated mostly underground, but the rise of Islamic governments in many Arab countries has enabled it to come out into the open. As part of this new phase, several Salafi groups have adopted the name "Ansar Al-Shari'a" (meaning "Supporters of the Shari'a"), or similar names, thus re-branding themselves as a single movement dedicated to spreading the message and promoting the goals of the Salafi-jihadi groups....