الآراء من الغرب Views from the Occident

New Postat Al-Wasat: IN PICTURES: Somalia's Harakat al-Shabab, Sourced from Insurgent Media: Part 4

2012-01-29T18:49:00.001-05:00

'Ali Mahamoud Rage (Ali Dheere) at graduation of Jaysh al-Hisbah, Harakat al-Shabab’s police force, members in Lower Shabelle (Feb. 2011)

I have a new post at the collaborative Al-Wasat blog on Somalia's Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen (Movement of the Warrior-Youth; Al-Shabaab). It is the fourth post in a continuing series of "In Pictures" posts sourced solely from insurgent media.

See the post HERE.

IN PICTURES: Anwar al-'Awlaqi & Shaykh 'Atiyyatullah

2011-12-22T16:53:00.004-05:00

Anwar al-'Awlaqi (second from bottom) and Shaykh 'Atiyyatullah (bottom) pictured with Usama bin Laden, the late founder of Al-Qa'ida in the Land of the Two Rivers/Iraq (AQI) Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi (second from top), and the late leader of the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) Abu 'Umar al-Baghdadi (top).

Martyrdom artwork produced by transnational Sunni jihadis following the "martyrdoms" of Anwar al-'Awlaqi (Anwar al-Awlaki, Anwar al-Aulaqi) and Shaykh 'Atiyyatullah (Jamal Ibrahim Ishtaywi al-Misrati).
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Shaykh 'Atiyyatullah:

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Anwar al-'Awlaqi:

Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen's Press Office Releases Details of Burundian AMISOM Soldiers Slain at the Battle of Dayniile in Late October

2011-12-12T18:45:00.001-05:00

Harakat al-Shabab spokesman 'Ali Mahamoud Rage ('Ali Dheere) holding up a cross necklace or rosary belonging to a slain Burundian soldier at a press conference following fierce fighting between insurgent forces and Burundian soldiers from AMISOM in Dayniile, Mogadishu in late October.

The press office of the Somali insurgent movement Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen (Al-Shabaab) released a statement today, accompanied with photographs and a one-page data sheet, about some of the Burundian soldiers killed in fierce fighting with insurgent forces in Dayniile, a suburb of Mogadishu, in late October. The release of this information lends further credence to Harakat al-Shabab leaders' claims that a significant number of Burundian soldiers were indeed killed, despite denials from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). However, the question arises why the insurgent movement did not release more photographs of captured ID cards. The release of such information has frequently been done in the past by Al-Shabab as a media-savvy way of proving its claims that it has killed AMISOM soldiers and captured enemy equipment following vigorous denials from AMISOM spokesmen and officials.

I have written a longer piece about this at Al-Wasat blog.
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For Immediate Release: Details of Burundian Soldiers Killed in Somalia

Mogadishu, Somalia (12/12/2011) – In response to requests from some families in Burundi, Harakat Al-Shabaab Al Mujahideen has decided to publish the details of some of the Burundian soldiers killed during the heavy battles in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. With lack of verification from the Burundian Army, family members of the slain soldiers have contacted Harakat Al-Shabaab Al Mujahideen in an appeal to confirm the fate of their missing soldiers. Responding to the pleas of ten families in Burundi, attached here are the identity cards and a supplementary table detailing the full names, ranks, specialities, dates of birth, town, province, vital statistics, badge numbers, blood groups, and religious beliefs of the soldiers. Harakat Al-Shabaab Al Mujahideen also opens the doors of communication to all families in Burundi who suspect that their sons have been killed in Somalia and those willing to discover the fate of their missing soldiers. Families can file for a Missing Soldier Verification Request by forwarding the full name of the missing soldier to the War Statistics Office (WSO), quoting reference number BR/4539, no later than the 20th of December 2011. Contact details are listed below. Attached:

10 images of ID cards plus 1 certificate
PDF sheet with complete soldiers’ details

Contact: Press Office War Statistics Office (WSO) Harakat Al-Shabaab Al Mujahideen

Afghanistan Taliban Leadership Denies & Condemns 'Ashura Attacks in Kabul & Mazar-i Sharif in Statement

2011-12-11T14:25:00.003-05:00

The leadership council of the Afghanistan Taliban have issued a statement today strongly denying and condemning the December 6 bombings targeting Afghan Twelver Shi'is in the cities of Kabul and Mazar-i Sharif, which killed 80 people. The Kabul attack, a suicide bombing, is the country's first large-scale sectarian attack, which has raised fears of sectarian violence. However, this fear is likely overblown. The Afghan Taliban almost immediately denied responsibility and suspicion has fallen on Lashkar-i Jhangvi (LJ), whose name translates to the "Army of Jhangvi," referring to an assassinated militant Pakistani Sunni cleric., Maulana Haqq Nawaz Jhangvi, the founder of Sipah-i Sahaba (Soldiers of the Prophet's Companions).

The Afghan Taliban, though it is opposed to Shi'i theology and ritual practices, as it is opposed to many practices by Sunni Sufis and other Sunnis that don't conform to its rigid doctrinal outlook, has little to gain from perpetrating such an attack. Their leadership council's statement also expresses condolences to the families of the victims and survivors and urges Afghan Shi'i 'ulama (religious scholars) to help them ensure that these attacks will not lead to wider sectarian violence in the country. This, even granted that it is partly rhetoric, is significantly different to the ultra and even boastful sectarianism of Al-Qa'ida in the Land of the Two Rivers/Iraq (AQI) and the increasing anti-Shi'ism of Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), at least vis-a-vis the Huthi Movement.

Sipah-i Sahaba is also virulently anti-Shi'i and extremely violent. In fact it's sole purpose is violent sectarianism. The group arose in the 1980s, in part, as a reaction to increasing Pakistani Shi'i political mobilization following the Iranian Revolution and the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran under the guidance of Grand Ayatullah Ruhullah Musavi Khumayni. The violent sectarian Pakistani groups, both Sunni and Shi'i, mix political motives with religious ones to create a particularly virulent strain of religio-political (or politicized religious) ideology.

Lashkar-i Jhangvi has denied responsibility for and condemned the attacks. A man named 'Ali Sher-i Khoda who claimed to be the spokesman for a new Afghan militant group told the BBC in an interview in Pakistani Baluchistan (Balochistan) that his group was behind the attacks. He said that they had been inspired by Lashkar-i Jhangvi. The truth of his claim is unclear and is currently being debated. The Afghan government has blamed the attacks on Lashkar-i Jhangvi. A number of leaders of the Tehrik-i Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella for dozens of Pakistani Pashtun militias in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), including Hakimullah Mehsud, were affiliated with sectarian Pakistani outfits like Lashkar-i Jhangvi and Sipah-i Sahaba.

I hope to write a new article about these attacks and the Afghan Taliban's response this week.
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Report on the gathering of the Leadership Council of Islamic Emirate and its statement regarding the

Sunday, 11 December 2011 08:22 -

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

On the day of Ashura, 10^th of Muharram 1433, inexplicable bombings took place in Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif in which tens of our defenseless countrymen were soaked in their blood and their families left in utter grief. This incident was also strongly rejected and condemned by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in the initial hours. Yesterday on the 15/01/1433, the Leadership Council of Islamic Emirate held an important council about this topic. Intense discussions were held regarding these incidents which were described as a pre-planned plot of the defeated enemy and it was stressed that our vigilant nation must pay astute attention to such actions of our enemy and nobody should be allowed to reach their sinister goals by creating rifts and divisions amongst our united people on the basis of religion, race, language or region.

Similarly, the political and religious sides of our country were asked to put the benefits of our country and people ahead of their own or organizations benefits and such actions not be undertaken to achieve their political aims which would mean nothing other then adding fuel to the fire which has been lit by our enemy against the unity of our people and country. It was also said that in these tender moments in which our enemy is on the verge of fleeing, it is going back to its natural habit and reaching for grief stricken moments like the day of Ashura so it can divide the unified Afghan people because the enemy wants to take revenge from our suffering people for their own failures. Our alert and unified nation will never be deceived by such plans of our enemy but rather they will also thwart this plan like all the previous ones. In the end of the gathering, the below statement was issued after much deliberation:

The Leadership Council of Islamic Emirate wants to extend its condolence to the affectees and once against strongly condemns such acts.
Islamic Emirate considers such incidents the plots and acts of the invaders and the enemies of Afghanistan and calls on all its countrymen to lend each other hands and cooperate with each other in preventing such incidents in accordance with their national and religious duty because such acts of the enemy are against all our countrymen and are detriment to our beloved Afghanistan.
Islamic Emirate personally asks the scholars and leaders of Afghanistan’s Ahl Tashi’ (Shiite) to be very vigilant regarding this matter and they should inform their people that this incident can never be considered a topic of enmity between Sunni and Shiite. They should never lend an ear to the internal agents who want to paint this as an internal and religious strife for serving their own interests and for pleasing their masters.
Islamic Emirate gives guidance to all of its Mujahideen to pay attention to preventing such acts from taking place alongside their other duties.

The Leadership Council of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

Leadership of Somalia's Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen Issue Eulogy for Shaykh 'Atiyyatullah al-Libi

2011-12-10T14:35:00.000-05:00

The leadership of Somalia's Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen (Movement of the Warrior-Youth) insurgent movement issued a eulogy today for Shaykh 'Atiyyatullah al-Libi, Jamal Ibrahim Ishtaywi al-Misrati (also known as 'Atiyah 'Abd al-Rahman), the senior Al-Qa'ida Central (AQC) ideologue and alleged operational leader who was killed in a U.S. drone missile strike in late August. AQC's amir, Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, acknowledged 'Atiyyatullah's death in the eighth installment of his series of messages on post-Hosni Mubarak Egypt, A Message of Hope and Glad Tidings to Our People in Egypt, which was released on December 2.

Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula, Al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), and the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), AQC's official regional affiliates, have yet to issue eulogies for 'Atiyyatullah. This may reflect on how "wired" the media departments of each are on a daily basis or on the present nature of communication links between them and AQC.

Eulogies have been released by several jihadi-takfiri Internet forums, Hani al-Siba'i, the 'Abdullah 'Azzam Brigades in Lebanon, Masadat al-Mujahideen (Place of the Lions, the Mujahideen) in Palestine, and Ansar al-Islam in Iraq.

The issuing of Al-Shabab's statement also disproves poorly-sourced rumors that the Somali insurgent movement had changed its name.
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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم القيادة العامة لحركة الشباب المجاهدين
_ بيان تعزية في استشهاد الشيخ عطية الله ابراهيم المصراتي ||

الحمد لله القائل:﴿وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفْسٍ أَنْ تَمُوتَ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ كِتَابًا مُؤَجَّلًا﴾، والصلاة والسلام على من جاهد في سبيل الله حق جهاده وعلى آله وصحبه ومن تبعهم بإحسان إلى يوم الدين، أما بعد:

فقد تلقينا بقلوب مؤمنة بقضاء الله وقدره، خبر استشهاد فضيلة الشيخ المجاهد عطية الله أبي عبد الرحمن، جمال إبراهيم المصراتي بعد تاريخ حافل بالهجرة والجهاد وطلب العلم والثبات، نحسبه والله حسيبه ممن نذر نفسه لنصرة أمّته ولرفع الذل والهوان الذي قيدها في عقود من الزمان. فجمع بين فضل الجهاد وفضل طلب العلم، وأبى إلا أن يكون في عداد النخبة الأخيار، ومن طلاب الشهادة، قال الله تعالى: ﴿قُلْ هَلْ تَرَبَّصُونَ بِنَا إِلَّا إِحْدَى الْحُسْنَيَيْنِ وَنَحْنُ نَتَرَبَّصُ بِكُمْ أَنْ يُصِيبَكُمُ اللَّهُ بِعَذَابٍ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ أَوْ بِأَيْدِينَا فَتَرَبَّصُوا إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ مُتَرَبِّصُونَ﴾__ (الآية 52 التوبة).

إننا في هذا المقام نقدم تعازينا لأمتنا الإسلامية المعطاءة التي مافتئت تقدم أبناءها واحدا تلو الآخر لأجل أن تكون كلمة الله هي العليا، فبالأمس ودعتنا ثلة من إخواننا الباذلين أنفسهم في سبيل الله والقاهرين لأعداء الله، واليوم يرحل فارس من فرسان التوحيد، ليجعل من رحيله نورا ونارا، ولتستمر قافلة الجهاد يحدوها إيمان راسخ ويقين ثابت بوعد الله الحق، فأبشري يا أمتنا الغالية، لقد لاح فجر النصر وسيهزم الجمع ويولون الأدبار بإذن الواحد القهار.

كما لا يفوتنا أن نعزي حكيم الأمة الأمير الفذّ، الشيخ الدكتور أيمن الظواهري حفظه الله ومن معه، وأدامهم شوكة في حلوق الكفار والمنافقين، بفقدان أخيهم ورفيق دربهم، فلتصبروا ولتصابروا، فلابد من الموت، والحمد لله على موتة الأشراف وموتة يرضاه الله ورسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم. وإنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون وإنا على فراقك يا عطية الله لمحزونون.

وليعلم أعداء الله في مشارق الأرض ومغاربها، أن استشهاد إخواننا ما هو إلا وقود لحرب ستقتلع الأخضر واليابس حتى يقام شرع الله وتعود العزة لأمة الإسلام، والله غالب على أمره ولكن أكثر الناس لا يعلمون.

والحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على أشرف المرسلين وعلى آله وصحبه وسلم.

اللهم منزل الكتاب مجري السحاب هازم الأحزاب، اهزم الصليبيين ومن حالفهم من المرتدين. اللهم اجعلهم وعتادهم غنيمة للمسلمين. اللهم دمّرهم و زلزلهم. اللهم أنت عضدنا وأنت نصيرنا،اللهم بك نصول وبك نجول وبك نقاتل. والله أكبر {وَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَكِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لا يَعْلَمُونَ}

مُؤسَّسةُ الكَتائِب للإنتَاج الإعلامِي حَركةُ الشَّبابِ المُجَاهدِين

السبت 14 محرم 1433 هـ 10/12/2011

المصدر : (مركز صدى الجهاد للإعلام) الجبهة الإعلامية الإسلامية العالمية رَصدٌ لأخبَار المُجَاهدِين وَ تَحرِيضٌ للمُؤمِنين

Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan Announces the 'Martyrdom' of 87 Members in 2011, Including Top Commander 'Abbas Mansur

2011-12-09T18:11:00.003-05:00

Abu Usman Adil (left) and 'Abbas Mansur

The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), a transnational jihadi-takfiri movement based in Waziristan, Pakistan but with units across many of the Pakistani Pashtun tribal agencies, announced earlier this week the names of 87 of its members that were killed in 2011. They were presumably killed either in U.S. drone missile strikes or in fighting with the Pakistani army or Frontier Corps. The IMU has particularly close ties to the Tehrik-i Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Among the killed is a top IMU military commander, 'Abbas Mansur (Abbas Mansoor) from Kyrgystan, and 'Abdul 'Aziz Ukasha from Teshkent, Uzbekistan, who was previously billed as a "journalist" for the IMU media department, Jundullah (God's Soldiers) Studio. Mansur was a longtime member of the IMU and a close aid to the movement's late leader, Tahir Yuldashev, also known as Muhammad Tahir "Faruq," who died of wounds sustained in a U.S. drone missile strike in 2010.

Ukasha was featured prominently in a number of the IMU's video productions, as was Mansur.

Mansur was recently featured prominently in the second installment of Jundullah Studio's video series Glad Tidings from Pakistan. He has also been pictured previously alongside the IMU's new amir, Abu Usman Adil.

'Ashura 2011 (1433 Hijri) Series Post #5: Latmiya for Ruqayya, Youngest Daughter of Imam Husayn bin 'Ali

2011-12-05T16:53:00.005-05:00

Inside the shrine and mosque of Ruqayya in Damascus

This is a traditional latmiya (mourning recitation) for Ruqayna, the youngest daughter of the third Shi'i Imam, Husayn bin 'Ali. She is also known as Sukayna. She was one of the two daughters of Imam Husayn present at Karbala when he was killed by the army of 'Umar ibn Sa'd, which had been sent by 'Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad, the governor of the region, by the Umayyad caliph Yazid bin Mu'awiya.

You will notice that the latmiya is interspersed with natural sections in the rhythm and mourning recitation to match the traditional Shi'i mourning practice of matam, the rhythmic pounding of the chest.

In the video that this YouTube user has made for the latmiya, we see scenes from a movie about the tragedy of Karbala. Such movies are particularly popular in Iran. In the beginning, we see Husayn bidding farewell to Ruqayya, who in traditional accounts is said to have been 4, before he goes off to fight the forces of 'Umar ibn Sa'd, the Umayyad general sent by 'Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad, Yazid's governor. Husayn is in the white scarf and can be seen holding his sword. The scenes than progress to show Ruqayya's reaction to his death and eventual decapitation by the Umayyad soldier Shimr. In one traditional Shi'i account, after Shimr killed Husayn, Ruqayya ran onto the plain of Karbala and shouted, ""Abi, where are you!? Speak to me, Abi!" The video's closing scenes, which are interspersed with scenes of Yazid and his courtiers, are of Ruqayya when she sees the head of her father, which is brought out by Yazid's soldiers. According to Shi'i traditions she dies soon thereafter of grief in a Damascus prison where the members of the Ahlul Bayt, the descendants of the prophet Muhammad through Imam 'Ali ibn Abi Talib and his wife Fatima al-Zahra, were kept by Yazid. Today there is a mosque and shrine dedicated to her in that city.
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First post in this series HERE

Second post in this series HERE

Third post is HERE

Fourth post is HERE.

'Ashura 2011 (1433 Hijri) Series Post #4: Latmiyya for al-Fadl al-'Abbas ibn 'Ali

2011-12-04T17:25:00.000-05:00

The latmiyya (mourning recitation) below is for Al-'Abbas, the son of the first Shi'i Imam, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, and half-brother of the third Imam, Husayn ibn 'Ali. Al-'Abbas was loyal to his half brother and he and his two sons, al-Fadl ibn -'Abbas and Qasim ibn al-'Abbas, were killed on the plain of Karbala in Iraq by the army of 'Umar ibn Sa'd, who was sent by the Umayyad governor 'Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad on the orders of the Umayyad caliph Yazid ibn Mu'awiya. Al-'Abbas is often referred to as Abu'l Fadl, the "father of al-Fadl."

According to Shi'i traditions al-'Abbas was extremly close to his niece, Imam Husayn's young daughter Sukayna, who is also known as Ruqayya. During the battle against the much larger Umayyad military force, Imam Husayn's small group was cut off from water. The children, including Ruqayya, suffered the most. Al-'Abbas promised her that he would bring water for her and the others and, still carrying the banner of the Ahlul Bayt (family of the prophet Muhammad), went to the river to fill waterskins. In a fierce fight, his two hands were cut off by Umayyad soldiers and al-'Abbas fell onto his face. When Imam Husayn came to him al-'Abbas asked his half-brother why he had risked his life in doing so. Husayn asked if he could do anything for al-'Abbas in his last moments and his half-brother, according to one popular Shi'i account, asked for the Imam to clean the blood from his face so that he could see him before he died. Al-'Abbas also lamented that, although he had tried his best, he was unable to fulfill his promise to Ruqayya.

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First post in this series HERE

Second post in this series HERE

Third post is HERE

Ayman al-Zawahiri Announces the 'Martyrdom' of Shaykh 'Atiyyatullah al-Libi

2011-12-03T16:45:00.006-05:00

Al-Qa'ida Central's amir, Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, announced the death of Shaykh Abu 'Abd al-Rahman 'Atiyyatullah al-Libi, whose real name was Jamal Ishtaywi al-Misrati ("one from Misrata"), a senior AQC ideologue and leader, in a segment of his eighth installment of the series A Message of Hope and Glad Tidings to Our People in Egypt on post-Hosni Mubarak Egypt, which was released on December 2.

I wrote an article for AFPAK Channel, a joint project of Foreign Policy magazine and The New America Foundation, on his importance and contributions as a major transnational jihadi-takfiri ideologue that was published in early September shortly after reports emerged that he had been killed in late August in a U.S. drone missile strike. AQC did not immediately confirm or deny these reports, though 'Atiyyatullah was cited in AQC and Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) videos released after his reported killing with the phrase "hafizuhu'llah" (may God protect him), which is only used for the living. In the AQAP video One Nation (Ummah Wahidah), released November 12, the group's military commander Qasim al-Raymi mentions 'Atiyyatullah with this phrase. This could be used in tandem with other information to approximately date when this AQAP video, or at least the interview segment with al-Raymi, was recorded. This would in turn shed some light on how fast communication is between AQC and its regional affiliates like AQAP in recent months.
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Ayman al-Zawahiri announcing the death of Shaykh 'Atiyyatullah al-Libi

أما التهنئة الثانية فهي للأمة المسلمة وللمجاهدين ولأهلنا في ليبيا وفي مصراتة على الأخص بشهادة الشيخ العالم المجاهد المرابط المهاجر القائد الأمير الحليم الحكيم الخلوق المربي المؤلف للقلوب والمجمع للصفوف رفيع الأخلاق طيب الشمائل الصادع بالحق والمنتصر للإسلام المحقق المنصف فضيلة الشيخ أبي عبد الرحمن جمال إبراهيم اشتيوي المصراتي، الشهير بالشيخ عطية الله رحمه الله رحمة واسعة، وأجزل له مثوبته على هجرته وجهاده ورباطه وثباته وطلبه للعلم وبذله له ونشره. استشْهد رحمه الله يوم -الثالث والعشرين- من شهر رمضان المبارك بقصف من طائرة جاسوسية صليبية، فرحل إلى الرفيق الأعلى وولده عصام، رحمهما الله رحمة واسعة، وكان الشيخ من قبل قد استودع عند ربه الرحيم الغفور ولده إبراهيم شهيدا كما نحسبهم، الذي قتل في ثاني قصف تعرض له بعد أن نجا من أول قصف حين كان مع الشيخ أبي الليث الليبي رحمه الله رحمة واسعة، فاستشهد الشيخ أيو الليث رحمه الله، ونجا إبراهيم. فرحم الله هذه الأسرة المهاجرة المرابطة المجاهدة، التي قدمت عميدها وفلذتي كبده دفاعا عن راية الإسلام والتوحيد والجهاد، وأنفة من أن يتحكم الصليبيون المجرمون في ديار الإسلام وأوطان المسلمين، ويعيثوا فيها فسادا، ويهينوا أبناءها، ويسخروهم في عبودية النظام الغربي المشرك المنحرف.
وقد أرسل لي الشيخ رسالة كتبها قبيل استشهاده بأيام قلائل، يبشرني فيها بالعديد من الفتوحات في أفغانستان، ومنها الهجوم على معسكر الأمريكان في وردك، فقد أخبرني بأنه قد قتل فيه ما لا يقل عن ثمانين أمريكيا، وأن بترايوس اضطر للمجيء لأفغانستان ليتفقد المصيبة بنفسه، وبإسقاط الطائرة التشينوك التي قتل فيها قرابة ثلاثين جنديا أمريكيا، من القوة التي شاركت في قتل الشيخ أسامة بن لادن رحمه الله، وبالعديد من العمليات الأخرى في كابل وغيرها من بقاع أفغانستان، وبشرني بقرب فتح طرابلس على يد المجاهدين، وقد أمضى الشيخ الليلة التي قبل استشهاده ساهرا، يتتبع أنباء فتح طرابلس على يد إخوانه المجاهدين.
وشاء الله العزيز الحكيم أن يلحق الشيخ بشهداء فتح طرابلس -بإذن الله ورحمته- في جنات ونهر في مقعد صدق عند مليك مقتدر.
والشيخ عطية الله لا يحتاج لتعريف، فسيرته العطرة الزكية معروفة منتشرة، أمضى حياته -رحمه الله- بين ميادين الجهاد ورحلات الهجرة وحلقات العلم ومناصب التوجيه والتربية والقيادة، هاجر رحمه الله لأفغانستان في زمن الاحتلال الروسي، وبعد انتهاء الغزو وظهور بوادر الغدر الباكستاني الأمريكي بالمجاهدين العرب في أفغانستان، الذين شاركوا في تحرير أفغانستان والدفاع عن حدود باكستان، هاجر رحمه الله للسودان، ثم هاجر إلى موريتانيا لطلب العلم، فنهل قرابة ثلاث سنوات من فيض معين علمائها، ثم هاجر للجزائر للمشاركة في الجهاد مع الجماعة الإسلامية المسلحة، ومر بتجربة مريرة معهم، ثم عاد مهاجرا لأفغانستان مع قيام الإمارة الإسلامية فيها، وعمل بالتدريس في المدرسة العربية في كابل، وقد فتح على الشيخ في الدعوة للجهاد ونصرة المجاهدين، وذب الافتراءات والشبه الموجهة لهم، كما فتح عليه في إدارة شؤون المجاهدين وتسيير أمورهم، ورزقه الله قبولا واسعا بين كافة طوائف المجاهدين في أفغانستان وباكستان.
وقد كان الشيخ يكتب ويتحدث بلقبه الذي اشتهر به وهو عطية الله، ولما وقعت أحداث ليبيا، ونفرت فئات المجاهدين من الشعب الليبي المسلم المجاهد المرابط للخروج على الطاغية الزنديق المستسلم للغرب القذافي، قرر الشيخ أن يشارك ببيانه وتحريضه لأهله وإخوانه في ليبيا، فأصدر رسالته (تحية لأهلنا في ليبيا) باسمه الحقيقي، ليقول لأهله وإخوانه وأبنائه في ليبيا وفي مصراتة؛ أني معكم، وأنا أخوكم، وأنتم أهلي، وأنا منكم وأنتم مني، وأني كنت أتمنى أن أكون معكم، لولا ما أنا فيه من اشتباك وقتال وجهاد مع أعدائنا وأعدائكم وأعداء الإسلام والمسلمين الأمريكان وحلف الناتو الصليبي.
ذهب إلى ربه شهيدا هذا المهاجر المرابط المجاهد، وكانت آخر محطة في رحلة هجرته؛ هجرته إلى ربه شهيدا، وقد سفك المجرمون الصليبيون دمه، ومزقوا بصاروخ بدنه.

ركزوا رفاتك في الرمال لواء يستنهض الوادي صباح مساء
يا ويحهم نصبوا منارا من دم يوحي إلى جيل الغد البغضاء
جرح يصيح على المدى وضحيّة تتلمّس الحرّية الحمراء
خيّرت فاخترت المبيت على الطوى لم تبن جاها أو تلمّ ثراء
لم تبق منه رحى الوقائع أعظما تبلى ولم تبق الرماح دماء
كرفـات نسر أو بقيّـة ضيغم باتا وراء السـافيات هباء

ذهب المجاهد المهاجر العالم، وبقى الثأر له دينا في أعناقنا وعنق كل مسلم وعنق أهل ليبيا وعنق أهل مصراتة، ثأرا نأخذه -بإذن الله- من هؤلاء الغربيين الصليبيين الذين قتلوه وابنيه، وقتلوا مئات الألوف من أبنائنا وإخواننا ونسائنا وشيوخنا، واحتلوا بلادنا، وسرقوا ثرواتنا، وسلطوا علينا عملاءهم، وزرعوا في وسطنا إسرائيل، قوة متقدمة لهم، تحرس مصالحهم، وتهدد بقنابلها النووية وجودنا ومستقبلنا.

'Ashura 2011 Series Post #3: Latmiya & Portraits of 'Ali Akbar, Son of Imam Husayn

2011-11-27T17:09:00.006-05:00

Shi'i artwork depicting Imam Husayn holding his mortally wounded son, 'Ali Akbar, at Karbala

This latmiya (mourning recitation) is, if I'm not mistaken, written as if from the third Shi'i Imam, Husayn bin 'Ali, to his son 'Ali Akbar, who was killed by the Umayyad army before his father on the plain of Karbala in 680 C.E. Traditional Twelver Shi'i accounts report that 'Ali Akbar requested permission from his father before going into battle against a much larger Umayyad military force sent by Yazid bin Mu'awiya's governor 'Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad under the command of 'Umar ibn Sa'd. His mother and sisters pleaded with him not to go but 'Ali Akbar insisted that he had to go defend them and the religion of Islam as represented by the Ahlul Bayt, in Shi'i conception the family of the prophet Muhammad through Imam 'Ali ibn Abi Talib and his wife Fatima. Surrounded by Yazid's soldiers, 'Ali Akbar was mortally wounded with blows from swords and spears.

The video accompanying this latmiya includes many traditional Shi'i portraits of Imam Husayn and 'Ali Akbar.

The famous English historian Edward Gibbon (1737-1794) wrote of the tragedy of Karbala in his classic book The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire:

"In a distant age and climate the tragic scene of the death of Hussein will awaken the sympathy of the coldest reader." Indeed, it is not necessary to be a Shi'i Muslim or Muslim at all to relate to the tragedy of a father witnessing the brutal killings of not one but two of his sons, 'Ali Akbar and 'Ali Asghar, as well as other close relatives and friends.
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First post in this series HERE

Second post in this series HERE

'Ashura 2011 Post #2: Latmiya (Mourning Recitation) for Imam Husayn with Images from Ta'ziya Plays

2011-11-27T16:31:00.004-05:00

This latmiya (a type of mourning recitation traditionally recited at 'Ashura majalis) video includes photographs from the massive mourning rituals performed by Twelver Shi'is worldwide every year during the first ten days of the Islamic lunar month of Muharram to commemorate the tribulations and sacrifices of Husayn bin 'Ali, the third Shi'i Imam, his family and followers on the plain of Karbala. These rituals include elaborate "passion plays," the ta'ziya, in which the events of 680 C.E. are reenacted, with the soldiers and allies of the Umayyad caliph Yazid bin Mu'awiya, whose governor 'Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad, and general 'Umar ibn Sa'd, were responsible for stopping Husayn and his band at Karbala and ultimately also for their deaths, wearing red during these plays.
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First post in this series HERE

'Ashura 2011 Post #1: Video from the Ziyarat to Karbala, 2010, & Communal Identity through Collective Commemoration & 'Redemptive Suffering'

2011-11-26T15:17:00.006-05:00

Millions of Shi'i Muslim pilgrims travel to the Iraqi shrine city of Karbala every year for the annual commemoration of the martyrdom of their third Imam, Husayn bin 'Ali, the son of the first Imam 'Ali ibn Abi Talib and grandson of the prophet Muhammad, and many of his family members and followers in the Islamic lunar month of Muharram in 680 C.E. They were killed by an army sent by the Umayyad caliph Yazid bin Mu'awiya who directed his governor in the region, 'Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad, to stop Husayn's caravan, which was traveling from Medina to the Iraqi city of al-Kufah.

The video below shows scenes from the mass pilgrimage, one of the largest religious pilgrimages (ziyarah/ziyarat in Arabic and Persian) today, to Karbala in 2010. The video's background is a traditional-style mourning recitation (latmiya) for Husayn and the other martyrs of Karbala. The Umayyad tyrant Yazid is also rejected in the lyrics. The pilgrims in the video are performing traditional mourning rituals for the Imam and his followers who were killed. The rituals also serve as examples of penitence or what Mahmoud Ayoub has described as a form of "redemptive suffering" through which the Shi'i community is tied together and expresses its unique identity as a relatively small but influential minority within the larger Islamic communal context.

At the 3:53-minute mark, a large painting of Grand Ayatullahs Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr and Muhammad Sadiq al-Sadr are visible. Both were murdered by the Iraqi Ba'th Party of Saddam Husayn, in 1980 and 1999 respectively, and are major symbols for Iraqi Shi'is and Shi'is outside of the country.

My New Article at Foreign Policy's AFPAK Channel: "Tehrik-i Taliban Pakistan's Hybrid Insurgency"

2011-11-23T16:15:00.000-05:00

I have a new article, "The Tehrik-i Taliban Pakistan's Hybrid Insurgency: Analyzing Hakimullah Mehsud's Eid al-Adha Message," that was published this afternoon at the AFPAK Channel, a joint project of Foreign Policy magazine and The New America Foundation. I argue that the Tehrik-i Taliban Pakistan represents a type of glocal insurgency that utilizes transnational rhetoric and themes in the service of essentially local (in this case country and region-specific goals).

The introduction reads:

"On November 8, a written message from Hakimullah Mehsud, the TTP's amir, was released on jihadi Internet forums on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, the Islamic holiday that ends the annual Hajj pilgrimage season. The message was released simultaneously in Urdu, Pashtu, Arabic, and English on Internet forums used by transnational Sunni jihadis and their supporters. It was distributed by the Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF), a shadowy network of translators and media operatives who produce numerous translations of key jihadi texts, videos, and songs, as well as original material. Earlier this year new videos and written statements from the TTP were being distributed by a branch of the GIMF, Al-Qadisiyyah Media Foundation, which is devoted to translating jihadi texts, primarily from Arabic, into languages of the Indian Subcontinent including Urdu, Bangla, Pashtu, Hindi, and Persian. The shift to GIMF distribution earlier this year suggests that the TTP continues to draw upon the transnational Sunni jihadi rhetoric deployed by groups like al-Qaeda Central (AQC) and its regional affiliates while continuing to maintain a strong focus on waging a domestic insurgency in Pakistan. The result is a type of "glocal" militancy that combines both elements of transnational jihadism with the TTP's more country- and region-specific goals."

Read the rest of the article at the AFPAK Channel.

IN PICTURES, PART 3: Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

2011-11-23T15:39:00.001-05:00

The late Anwar al-'Awlaqi (Anwar al-Awlaki, Anwar al-Aulaqi), who was killed on September 30 in a U.S. airstrike in Yemen.

This is the latest post in the series of "In Pictures" posts dedicated to Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

American Samir Khan, creator and editor of several jihadi-takfiri web sites and Internet magazines including Jihad Recollections and AQAP's English-language Inspire

AQAP's military commander, Qasim al-Raymi, also known as Abu Hurayrah al-San'ani

Ibrahim al-Rubaysh (Ibrahim al-Rubaish), a major Saudi AQAP ideologue and leader who was once imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay before he was released.

See past posts:

Anwar al-'Awlaqi

Illustrating an Attempted Assassination (of Prince Muhammad bin Nayyif in August 2009)

In Pictures: Part 1

In Pictures: Inspire magazine #6
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AQAP members hold up the black-and-white flag used by many jihadi-takfiri groups around the world in Abyan, Yemen

AQAP members plan an attack on Yemeni Army forces in Abyan, Yemen

AQAP members ambush Yemeni Army forces in Abyan, Yemen

'Abdullah Hasan al-'Asiri leads other AQAP members, including Qasim al-Raymi, in prayer before traveling to Saudi Arabia where he would later attempt to assassinate the kingdom's deputy interior minister, Prince Muhammad bin Nayyif, in August 2009

'Abdullah al-'Asiri and Qasim al-Raymi

'Abdullah al-'Asiri

AQAP's media arm, the Al-Malahem (Epics, Epic Battles) Media Foundation

My New Article @ openDemocracy: "The Rapid Evolution of Al-Shabab's Media & Insurgent 'Journalism' "

2011-11-16T18:09:00.000-05:00

A new article of mine was published today at openDemocracy,"The Rapid Evolution of Al-Shabab's Media and Insurgent 'Journalism' ". It examines the evolution of the media output by the Somali insurgent movement Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen (Movement of the Mujahideen/Warrior-Youth) from 2007 to today. Their media has progressed rapidly and the movement's media arm currently produces extremely high quality propaganda materials.

The article abstract reads:
"The evolution of Al-Shabab’s media arm provides a window into the group’s overall maturation as an insurgent movement that has endorsed key elements of Al-Qaeda Central’s ideology while still focusing primarily on waging a domestic insurgency inside Somalia."

Read the rest of the article at openDemocracy.

My New Post at Al-Wasat Blog: "Harakat al-Shabab Claims Support from 'Ayr Clan Leaders"

2011-11-06T03:21:00.000-05:00

Senior Harakat al-Shabab leader and Haber Gidir/'Ayr clan member Hasan Dahir Aweys at the meeting with 'Ayr clan leaders on Lower Shabelle

I have a new post at the collaborative Al-Wasat blog on recent claims by the Somali Islamist insurgent movement Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen (Movement of the Warrior-Youth; Al-Shabaab) that it has received the support of leaders from the 'Ayr sub-clan of the Hawiye clan confederation. Read the post at AL-WASAT.

My New Journal Article in CTC Sentinel: "Al-Shabab's Setbacks in Somalia"

2011-11-03T21:15:00.003-04:00

I have a new article that was just published this morning in the journal CTC Sentinel, which is published by the Combating Terrorism Center, an academic unit at West Point. The article, "Al-Shabab's Setbacks in Somalia," examines the recent efforts by the insurgent movement to address battlefield setbacks and the pressures of dealing with the severe famine. It examines the insurgents' strategic decisions through the lens of their own media output, which was really not been done to this extent before as far as I am aware. The role of insurgent messaging is the guiding theme I used throughout.

The second introductory paragraph sums up the article:

"This article will assess the current state of al-Shabab as a viable insurgent movement in the midst of battlefield setbacks and the increasing pressures of the famine. The recent strategic decisions of the movement will be analyzed through the lens of how al-Shabab seeks to portray itself and its actions to audiences both inside and outside the country. The article will examine the evolution of al-Shabab’s media campaign in the midst of these setbacks, insurgent attempts to mask its setbacks by projecting a carefully-constructed self-image as a movement that is still capable of governing territory, a renewed outreach by insurgent leaders to the country’s powerful clans, and the media portrayal of the movement’s famine relief efforts."

Read the rest of the article at the CTC SENTINEL.

My New co-authored Article, "Death of an Ideologue" about the Legacy of Anwar al-'Awlaqi @ Foreign Policy's AFPAK Channel

2011-10-21T18:53:00.001-04:00

I have a new article that I co-authored with a colleague and friend in the Institute of Islamic Studies at McGill University, Bruno-Olivier Bureau, an M.A. candidate who studies transnational Sunni militancy and the modern history of the Middle East. The article, "Death of an Ideologue," discusses the legacy of Anwar al-'Awlaqi (Anwar al-Awlaki, Anwar al-Aulaqi), the late American-Yemeni militant preacher who was killed in a U.S. drone missile strike in Yemen on September 30.

We discuss his place near or possibly in Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula as well as some of his key arguments and role in influencing some young Muslims in North America and Europe in radicalizing.
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The introduction reads:

"The killing September 30 in Yemen of the militant American-Yemeni preacher Anwar al-Awlaki, arguably the most recognizable transnational jihadi figure beside Osama bin Laden, deprives the transnational Sunni jihadi movement represented by Al-Qaeda Central (AQC) of its premier ambassador to English speaking and reading audiences around the world. His killing also cuts short his further ascendance as one of the most promising members of Al-Qaeda's missionary vanguard of charismatic ideologues who harness their rhetorical flare and varying degrees of scholarly bona fides to further the goals of AQC and its sister groups. Using his gifts as a rhetorician, al-Awlaki fulfilled a key communicative role between Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which confirmed his death in a statement issued October 10, and the broader AQ movement and potential supporters. Al-Awlaki maneuvered himself into the position of being one of the transnational jihadi movement's key ideologues, the most effective missionary of its self-declared "jihad" among English-speaking audiences."

Read the rest at Foreign Policy's AFPAK Channel.

My New Article at openDemocracy: "Harakat al-Shabab: Between the Battlefield & the Famine"

2011-10-21T18:35:00.000-04:00

A member of Harakat al-Shabab's frontline fighting force, the Jaysh al-'Usrah (Army of Difficulty), distributed gifts and humanitarian aid to Somali children at the insurgent refugee camp Al-Yasir in Lower Shabelle.

I have a new article that was just published today at openDemocracy, "Al-Shabab: Between the Battlefield and the Famine," which looks at the current state of the Somali Islamist insurgent movement Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen (Movement of the Warrior-Youth, "Al-Shabaab"). The movement is currently facing military setbacks due to a series of offensives by the 9,000-man African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) military force in Mogadishu, the weak Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG), and allied Sufi Islamist militias that call themselves "Ahlu-Sunnah Wal Jamaacah" (People of the Prophetic Tradition). Somalia is also suffering from severe famine, the worst to hit the Horn of Africa in a generation, which has been a public relations disaster for Harakat al-Shabab since it rules most of the southern and central parts of the country, the regions hardest hit by the famine. Insurgent taxation is blamed for worsening the effects of the famine for tens of thousands of Somalis.
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The abstract reads:
"Despite its military setbacks and pressures from the famine, Al-Shabab remains a formidable and adaptive force and insurgents continue to control most of central and southern Somalia."

Read the rest at openDemocracy.

IN PICTURES: Son & Nephew of Anwar al-'Awlaqi Reportedly Killed in U.S. Drone Strike in Yemen

2011-10-16T16:57:00.005-04:00

The U.S. government reportedly carried out another drone missile strike in Yemen on Friday (Oct. 14) that killed the 16-year-old son, 'Abd al-Rahman, and nephew of the militant American preacher Anwar al-'Awlaqi (also spelled "Anwar al-Awlaki" and "Anwar al-Aulaqi"). This post includes photographs and cyber posters for the two produced by cyber jihadi-takfiris.
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Son of Anwar al-'Awlaqi

Nephew of Anwar al-'Awlaqi:

New Post at Al-Wasat Blog: Harakat al-Shabab Accepts Aid Shipment for Drought Victims from Al-Qa'ida Representative

2011-10-14T20:31:00.001-04:00

Harakat al-Shabab spokesman 'Ali Mahamoud Rage (left) and the supposed "Al-Qa'ida" representative, Abu 'Abdullah al-Muhajir, at the insurgent movement's Al-Yasir refugee camp in Lower Shabelle.

The Somali Islamist-insurgent movement Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen received a delivery of humanitarian aid yesterday from "Al-Qa'ida." See my post on this at Al-Wasat. The insurgent movement's official statement about the delivery, released today, is below.

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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

حملة الشهيد بن لادن الخيرية لإغاثة المتضررين من الجفاف

الحمدُ لله ربّ العالمين والصّلاة والسّلام على نبيّنا محمّد و على آله وصحبه أجمعين أما بعد:

وصل اليوم الخميس إلى مخيم آل ياسر بولاية شبيلى السفلى قافلة من المساعدات مقدمة من القيادة العامة لتنظيم القاعدة، وتتكون القافلة الخيرية التي حملت أسم (حملة الشهيد بن لادن الخيرية) من كمية من المواد الغذائية تتنوع بين الأرز والتمر والزيت، و2000 قطعة من الحجاب الشرعي، وثياب مخصصة لـ 10000 طفل من المخيم، و4000 علبة حليب مجفف، و4000 كيلو تمر، و1500 مصحف، و1500 نسخة من كتاب حصن المسلم، وسيارة إسعاف وشحنة من الأدوية مقدمة من القيادة العامة لتنظيم قاعدة الجهاد، بالإضافة إلى مبلغ 17000 دولار تم تحويله إلى العملة المحلية وتوزيعه على المتضررين بالمخيم ليستعينوا به في موسم الزراعة الحالي لدى عودتهم إلى قراهم.

وقد رافق القافلة وفد من قيادة حركة الشباب المجاهدين على رأسهم الشيخ علي محمود راجي المتحدث الرسمي باسم حركة الشباب المجاهدين، وقد شكر الشيخ علي لدى حديثه لوسائل الإعلام القيادة العامة لتنظيم القاعدة وفي مقدمتهم الشيخ الدكتورأيمن الظواهري حفظه الله.
كما قرأ الأخ أبو عبد الله المهاجر بيانا من تنظيم قاعدة الجهاد على أهالي المخيم، نقل في أوله تحية من تنظيم القاعدة إلى أهالي المخيم وأكد على الدور الذي كان يقوم به الشيخ الشهيد أسامة بن لادن تقبله الله في مواساة المسلمين، وشكر الحركة على إهمتامها بمساعدة المتضررين من موجة الجفاف.

اللهم منزل الكتاب مجري السحاب هازم الأحزاب، اهزم الصليبيين ومن حالفهم من المرتدين.
اللهم اجعلهم وعتادهم غنيمة للمسلمين.
اللهم دمّرهم و زلزلهم.
اللهم أنت عضدنا وأنت نصيرنا،اللهم بك نصول وبك نجول وبك نقاتل.

والله أكبر

{وَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَكِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لا يَعْلَمُونَ}

مُؤسَّسةُ الكَتائِب للإنتَاج الإعلامِي
حَركةُ الشَّبابِ المُجَاهدِين

الجمعة 16 ذو القعدة 1432 هـ
14/10/2011

المصدر : (مركز صدى الجهاد للإعلام)
الجبهة الإعلامية الإسلامية العالمية
رَصدٌ لأخبَار المُجَاهدِين وَ تَحرِيضٌ للمُؤمِنين

IN PICTURES: Anwar al-'Awlaqi

2011-10-12T13:29:00.010-04:00

AQAP leaders with two major omissions: the group's amir (senior leader), Nasir "Abu Basir" al-Wihayshi (also transliterated as "al-Wahayshi" & "al-Wuhayshi") and deputy amir, Sa'id al-Shihri. Pictured from left: Fahd al-Qus'o (al-Quso), a wanted suspect in the 2000 attack on the USS Cole destroyer in the port of Aden; senior military commander Qasim al-Raymi (sometimes transliterated as "al-Rimi"), also known as Abu Hurayrah al-San'ani; field commander and former Guantanamo Bay inmate 'Uthman al-Ghamdi; and the radical American Muslim preacher Anwar al-'Awlaqi (also transliterated as "al-'Awlaki" & "al-'Aulaqi").

The artwork in this post was produced by cyber jihadi-takfiris or taken from the media productions of jihadi-takfiri groups such as Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). Anwar al-'Awlaqi was killed on September 30 in a U.S. drone missile strike in Yemen. AQAP issued a martyrdom statement for him on October 10. In the three years that I've carefully followed and collected jihadi-takfiri artwork online, I've found relatively little dedicated to al-'Awlaqi. Most of what I've collected or taken from AQAP and other jihadi-takfiri media productions is included here.

Bosnian

Russian

English Translation of Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula's Martyrdom Statement for Anwar al-'Awlaqi by Global Islamic Media Front

2011-10-11T23:21:00.001-04:00

The Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF), a shadowy transnational jihadi-takfiri media and translation network, released an English translation today of Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula's (AQAP) Arabic martyrdom statement for the militant American Muslim preacher Anwar al-'Awlaqi and his fellow American jihadi, Samir Khan. The original Arabic statement, released yesterday, can be viewed in the previous POST. This translation by the GIMF was produced unusually quickly.

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قسم الترجمة واللغات L a n g u a g e and Translation Department يقدم

Presents

ترجمة بيان تنظيم القاعدة في جزيرة العرب A Translation of the Statement of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula

دم الشهيد نــور ونــار The Blood of the Martyr is Light and Fire

[ بـيان استشهاد الشيخ أنـور العولقي ورفـاقــه ]

A Statement about the Martyrdom of Sheikh Anwar Al-Awlaqi and His Comrades

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

All praise be to Allah, the Lord of all that exists, and may peace and blessings be upon our Messenger, Muhammad, and his family. To proceed:

We affirm to our Mujahid Ummah which has risen against injustice the martyrdom of the heroic Mujahid, Sheikh Abu Abdur-Rahman Anwar bin Nasir al-Awlaqi.

His martyrdom as well as that of his comrades, Abu Muhsin al-Ma'ribi, Sameer Khan and Salim al-Marwani, may Allah have mercy on them all, was a result of an American airstrike in an area between Ma'rib and Jawf.

By Allah's Grace, the Sheikh and Islamic preacher was killed while he remained firm in the path of Da'wah and Jihad, while both global and local pressure were unable to cause him to retract from it, despite lengthy attempts of seduction and threat, imprisonment and pursuit.

This Islamic preacher is the one who achieved victory, by his beliefs, as remaining firm on beliefs is the true victory. He died upon his beliefs, as we reckon. This is a characteristic of the Muslim Ummah; their leaders do not die on their beds. The honor and the victory of the Ummah is that their leaders and preachers are martyred.

Has any true call or the nation ever lived without sacrifices? If not, then we are an Ummah which never dies! Rather, it is victorious, it lives, and it is persists, because death gives it life!

The Americans assassinated the Islamic preacher, Sheikh Anwar Al-Awlaqi and Sameer Khan without any brought proof of allegation, and they presented no evidence according to their own criminal laws of “freedom”.

Where are their calls of freedom, justice, and human rights and freedom which they claim? America was so harmed by them that they contradicted their own principle, which they do daily, on which they claim their country was founded.

America is the one who failed, as they did not abide by their principles, while the Sheikh proved victorious, as he lived according to his beliefs and died upon them.

And thus does America commit acts of injustice and aggression, killing on a daily basis. Indeed they have a dark history in the likes of these crimes, too lengthy to be recorded. They fabricate brazen lies in public, claiming to be the protectors of human rights, freedom and justice.

Their mendacious king makes a public appearance, stating that the death of Sheikh Anwar al-Awlaqi is a victory for the Yemeni people, because the Sheikh, according to him, killed many Yemeni people. But Obama, the yo-yo who changes his religion daily, that he was found confessing to the fact that he killed hundreds of the Sheikh's fellow tribesmen in Ma'jalah and Rafadh, most of them women, children and the elderly, with the blessings and participation of the butcher of Yemen, Ali Saleh.

The Sheikh has proceeded to the Everlasting Gardens, Allah willing, while leaving behind for the Ummah a clear and pure ideology, a distinguished style, and a path of Da'wah and Jihad which the Ummah can adopt in their march towards honor and victory.

Yes, America has killed Sheikh Anwar, may Allah have mercy on him, but they can never kill his ideology. Rather, the martyrdom of the Sheikh is a new and revived life of his ideology and style.

The Sheikh has students which he taught, and students which have benefited from him in various parts of the world. They will march his march, following his tracks, continuing on the straight path, the path of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam.

As for American politicians, people have become accustomed to the fact that whenever they kill a leader of Islam, or whenever one of its heroes is martyred, they start to imagine things, saying that they have finished off Islam or the Muslim Ummah, that the Muslim Ummah is now impotent, or on that day they have achieved a great victory by killing such-and-such Muslim.

Indeed it is only their imagination, as they are fighting an entire nation and a magnificent religion. They are fighting the Nation of True Monotheism (Taweed) and Jihad. How on earth can they think to break its resolve?!

These patchy techniques, as well as the injustices of America against the entire world, and its continual support of the Jews and the idol-tyrant rulers, its proxies in various regions, have led Muslim masses to revolt and step into the fields, in outright refusal of the idiotic policies of America, their injustices against the entire world, and their support of their proxy rulers who they have placed over their neck.

By Allah's Grace, America was slapped in Egypt when the revolutionaries refused to meet the U.S. Secretary of State. Then, they were given another slap in Libya, the land of Jihad.

Now, they can only stand and watch the Muslim people of Syria, unable to do anything about the uprising in Yemen, who condemn and object to the ways of America, refusing to accept American interference, all of course except the opposition party, who by Allah's Grace do not represent the majority, nor do they have any strength on the ground.

Our Yemeni revolutionaries! Indeed you left your homes in pursuit of freedom, justice, and in refusal of U.S. interference. You must state your firm decision about these flagrant and shameless transgression of airspace and these continual airstrikes against the best of your people, as well as the helpless from your women, children and the elderly. You must shout in the face of all those who have been appointed by America, just as you now shout in the face of the agent Ali Saleh, as by Allah they are two sides of the same coin. Are our calamities due to anyone other than America and their proxies?

Ali Abdullah Saleh has taken America as a lord besides Allah. It is they who support him and grant him legitimacy, standing by his side for now thirty years!

Our Yemeni revolutionaries! Indeed you must make your liberation from American slavery, the refusal of American plans for the region, and support for the people of Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine against American occupation goals of your revolt as well.

Our Yemeni revolutionaries! You have brought on a bright dawn against the proxy agent Ali Abdullah Saleh. You must bring on one more dawn against American interference in the region.

In conclusion, we ask that Allah grants us and you the best of consolation, O tribe of Awaliq, for the assassination of your son, the magnificent, noble, brave and heroic, unjustly killed Sheikh Anwar bin Nasir al-Awlaqi.

While just yesterday, the Mujahid Sheikh, Muhammad bin Umair al-Kalawi al-Awlaqi was killed along with a large number of your women, children and elderly. The regime of Ali Saleh killed the Mujahid Sheikh Zayid ad-Daghari, which is an open sign of them making these defiant and freeborn tribes a target due to their refusal to accept oppression, injustice and ignobility.

O defiant tribes! Indeed the blood of the Sheikh and his comrades will not be spilled in vain! Indeed behind him there are heros which will not turn their eyes to injustice, in soon, Allah willing, they shall exact revenge!

Tell the tribe of Awaliq that the best of consolation are the raves of the proud which cannot be muffled.

We are at war with America, they inflict harms upon us as we do upon them, and the final end is for those who patiently persevere, and it is they who will prove victorious
.

وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هُوَ قُلْ عَسَىٰ أَن يَكُونَ قَرِيبًا “And they say, 'When is that?’ Say, ‘Perhaps it will be soon’.” Al-Qaeda Organization in the Arabian Peninsula Dhul-Qa'dah 11, 1432 Source: Al-Fajr Media Center

--------------------- لا تنسونا من صالح دعائكم Don't Forget Us in Your Sincere Prayers إخوانكم في Your Brothers at قسم اللغات و الترجمة L a n g u a g e and Translation Department الجبهة الإعلامية الإسلامية العالمية Global Islamic Media Front رَصدٌ لأَخبَار المُجاهِدين وَ تَحريضٌ للمُؤمِنين Observing the Mujahideen News and Inciting the Believers

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PDF and Word files of the translation may be downloaded via these non-militant URLs:

http://uploadmirrors.com/redirect/ARXSR2NO/13

http://www.filesonic.com/file/2516521851

http://uploadmirrors.com/download/ARXSR2NO/37e.rar

http://wikiwebia.com/files/EO6OXHMR/37e.rar

http://uploadmirrors.com/download/0TUAPPGS/37e_0.rar

http://heal4all.com/files/0YSYC3UV/37e.rar

http://www.multiupload.com/VXWA3EU2RN

Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula Statement Confirms Anwar al-'Awlaqi Killing, Says U.S. Abandoned its Principles for Expediency without Trial

2011-10-10T14:15:00.002-04:00

Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) released a statement today confirming the killing of Anwar al-'Awlaqi (Awlaki, Aulaqi), the radical American-Yemen preacher, in a U.S. drone missile strike on September 30 east of the Yemeni capital San'a (Sana'a). In its statement, AQAP says that the U.S. government did not prove its allegations against al-'Awlaqi and his fellow American militant, Samir Khan, and instead assassinated them without trial, disregarding its own principles for the sake of expediency. Al-'Awlaqi, who is called a " mujahid shaykh" in this context, "warrior leader," will live on, the statement says, through his ideas, which cannot be killed off. His death, AQAP promises, will be avenged. The statement includes a lengthy exhortation to Arabs who are rising up against their autocratic governments in Egypt, Libya, Syria, and Yemen. The tribes of Yemen are also urged to avenge the injustice done to them by the dictatorial, U.S.-backed regime of 'Ali 'Abdullah Saleh.
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دم الشهيد نور ونار - بيان إستشهاد الشيخ أنور العولقي ورفاقه

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على رسولنا محمد صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم.
أما بعد:-
نؤكد للأمة المجاهدة الثائرة على الظلم , استشهاد الشيخ المجاهد البطل أبي عبد الرحمن أنور بن ناصر العولقي .
وقد كان استشهاده إثر قصف بطائرة أمريكية , هو ورفاقه أبو محسن الماربي وسمير خان وسالم المرواني رحمهم الله جميعا , في منطقة بين مأرب والجوف .
قتل الشيخ الداعية وهو بحمد الله ثابت على طريق الدعوة والجهاد , لم تستطع قوة عالمية أو إقليمية ثنيه عن طريقه , بعد جولات كثيرة من الترغيب والترهيب والسجن والمطاردة .
خرج الداعية فيها منتصرا بعقيدته - والثبات على العقيدة هو الانتصار الحقيقي - ومات على ذلك - كما نحسبه - وذلك شأن أمة المسلمين لا يموت قادتها على الفرش بل مكرمة الأمة وانتصارها؛ استشهاد قادتها ودعاتها.
وهل عاشت دعوة أو أمة بدون تضحيات ؟! إذا فنحن أمة لا تموت؛ بل تنتصر وتعيش وتحيا لأن الموت عندها حياة.
قتل الأمريكان الشيخ الداعية أنور العولقي , وسمير خان , ولم يثبتوا في حقهم تهمة , ولم يقدموا عليهما دليلا في قوانين حريتهم الجائرة .
فأين ما يتشدقون به من حرية وعدالة وحقوق إنسان واحترام الحريات ؟! أضاقت أمريكا بها ذرعا حتى ناقضت -وهي كل يوم تناقض - هذه المبادئ التي تزعم أنها أسست دولتها عليها ؟!
لقد فشلت أمريكا؛ فلم تثبت على مبادئها, وانتصر الشيخ -الذي عاش على عقيدته ومات عليها, وهكذا؛ كل يوم تقتل أمريكا البشر ظلما وعدوانا؛ فتاريخها في هذا أسود وطويل لا حصر له, وتكذب عيانا بيانا؛ أنها راعية لحقوق الإنسان والحرية والعدالة.
ويخرج علينا ملكهم الكذاب , ويقول :- إن قتل الشيخ أنور العولقي هو انتصار لليمنيين لأن الشيخ -حسب زعمه - قتل كثيراً من اليمنيين . وينسى أوباما هذا المتقلب , الذي كل يوم وهو على دين , أنه ضبط معترفا بأنه قتل المئات من قبيلة الشيخ في "المعجلة" وفي منطقة "رفض" وكان معظم القتلى من الأطفال والنساء والشيوخ بمباركة ومشاركة سفاح اليمن علي صالح .
لقد ذهب الشيخ أنور إلى جنات الخلد - بإذن الله - وترك للأمة فكرا نقيا , وأسلوبا متميزا , ودربا في الدعوة والجهاد, لتسير الأمة نحو العزة والنصر .
إن أمريكا قتلت الشيخ أنور - رحمه الله - ولكنها لن تستطيع أن تقتل فكره؛ بل استشهاد الشيخ حياة جديدة ومتجددة لفكره وأسلوبه.
وللشيخ - رحمه الله- تلاميذ علّمهم, وطلابا استفادوا منه في شتى أقطار الأرض , سيسيرون كما سار, ويحذون طريقه, مواصلة للنهج السوي , مقتفين أثر النبي - صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم.
أما الساسة الأمريكان؛ فقد تعود الناس منهم ؛ أنه كلما قتل قائد من القادة , أو استشهد بطل من الأبطال , نفخ الوهم في صدورهم وقالوا : - قضينا على الإسلام, انتهت أمة المسلمين ,عقمت أمة الإسلام , اليوم حققنا انتصارا على فلان بن فلان من المسلمين .
ووهم هؤلاء, فهم يقاتلون أمة بأكملها , ودينا عظيما , يقاتلون أمة التوحيد والجهاد ,وأنى لهم أن يكسروا عزيمتنا .
وأدت هذه الأساليب الخرقاء, والظلم الذي مارسه الأمريكان على العالم, والدعم المتواصل لليهود والحكام الطغاة -الوكلاء عنه - في المنطقة إلى ثورات الشعوب, والخروج إلى الميادين, في رفض قاطع لهذه السياسات الحمقاء, وهذا الظلم الأمريكي للعالم , والدعم للحكام العملاء , الذين سلطوهم على رقاب الشعوب المسلمة .
وبفضل الله صفع الأمريكان في مصر ؛ عندما رفض الثوار مقابلة وزيرة خارجية الأمريكان , وتلقوا صفعة أخرى في ليبيا الجهاد .
وهم الآن متفرجون على الشعب السوري المسلم , وواقفون عاجزون حيال الثورة في اليمن , التي تدين وتستنكر أعمال الأمريكان , وترفض الوصاية عليها من قبل الأمريكان ؛ إلا ما كان من المعارضة , وهم بفضل الله لا يمثلون غالبية ولا قوة لهم على الأرض .
أيها الثوار اليمانيون ..إنكم خرجتم للحرية والعدالة وعدم الوصاية , فيجب أن تقولوا كلمتكم القاطعة لهذا الانتهاك السافر للأجواء , وهذا القصف المتواصل على خيار أبنائكم وضعفاء قومكم من النساء والشيوخ والأطفال , يجب أن تصرخوا في وجه الموكلين من الأمريكان, كما تصرخون في وجه الوكيل علي صالح , فهما والله وجهان لعملة واحدة , وهل مآسينا إلا من الأمريكان وعملائهم ؟ّ!.
فعلي عبد الله صالح اتخذ الأمريكان ربا من دون الله, وهم الذين يدعمونه ويعطونه الشرعية, ويقفون إلى جانبه ثلاثين سنه.
أيها الثوار اليمانيون : إن من الواجب عليكم , أن تجعلوا من أهداف ثورتكم الانعتاق من التبعية للغرب , ورفض مشاريع الأمريكان في المنطقة , ومساندة الشعب العراقي والأفغاني والفلسطيني ضد احتلال الأمريكان.
أيها الثوار اليمانيون : لقد صنعتم فجرا ساطعا ضد العميل علي عبد الله صالح ؛ فيجب أن تصنعوا فجرا آخرا ضد الأمريكان في المنطقة .
وفي الأخير ؛ أحسن الله عزاءنا وعزاءكم أيها العوالق في مقتل ابنكم الشيخ العظيم البطل النبيل الشهم المقتول ظلما أنور بن ناصر العولقي .
وقد قتل بالأمس الشيخ المجاهد محمد عمير الكلوي العولقي , وجمع غفير من نسائكم وأطفالكم وشيوخكم , و قتل نظام علي صالح الشيخ المجاهد زايد الدغاري, في استهداف واضح لهذه القبائل الحرة الأبية ؛التي لا تقبل الضيم ولا ترضى الدنية .
أيها القبائل الأبية :إن دم الشيخ وإخوانه لن يذهب سدى ؛ فوراءه أبطال لا ينامون على ضيم , و يأخذون بالثار قريبا بإذن الله.
قل للعوالق إن أقيم عزاءهم هذي المفاخر ما بها إخفات
ونحن والأمريكان في حرب ينالون منا وننال منهم , والمآل لمن صبر وهو الذي ينتصر .

{ وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَى هُوَ قُلْ عَسَى أَن يَكُونَ قَرِيبًا }

تنظيم قاعدة الجهاد في جزيرة العرب

11 ذي القعدة 1432هـ

المصدر: (مركز الفجر للإعلام)

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Download a PDF and Word file of the statement via these non-militant URLs:

http://www.easy-share.com/BD8A9CE4ED3F418F897AFFCAEDC3524C/37.rar

http://uptotal.com/download.php?d=0G7AD7Y4_37.rar.html

http://uptotal.com/download.php?d=JKKSY2HF_37.rar.html

http://www.2shared.com/file/H7w91ijn/37_online.html

http://www.zshare.net/download/94789964df6334e5/

http://multiupload.com/OUGIHE8RJG

http://depositfiles.com/files/v3aiw9xli

http://hotfile.com/dl/131888997/2d812c3/37.rar.html

Photo Essay on Harakat al-Shabab Leaders, Sourced from Insurgent Media at Al-Wasat

2011-10-05T16:01:00.001-04:00

I have a new post, a photo essay of sorts, at Al-Wasat showing some leaders of the Somali Islamist-insurgent movement Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen (Movement of the Warrior-Youth; Al-Shabab, Al-Shabaab). The photographs used were collected solely from insurgent media.

The post can be viewed HERE.

Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula Releases 7th Issue of Inspire Magazine

2011-09-27T16:01:00.006-04:00

Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula's (AQAP) media outlet, the Al-Malahem (Epics, Epic Battles) Media Foundation, has just released online the seventh issue of its English-language Internet magazine Inspire.
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The magazine may be downloaded via these non-militant URLs:

http://uptotal.com/download.php?d=0X61GXFI_e7.rar.html

http://multiupload.com/48SURHMF4J

The password to unpack the file is: n9Njh32H2lwkBNVCe

Al-Qa'ida Central Releases 10-year Retrospective Video on September 11, 2011, "Dawn of the Imminent Victory"

2011-09-13T01:59:00.003-04:00

Al-Qa'ida Central's media outlet, the Al-Sahab (The Clouds) Media Foundation, released a ten-year retrospective video on the September 11, 2001 attacks and their aftermath. The video features a lengthy new audio message from AQC's amir, Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, footage of its late founder Usama bin Laden (some of it similar if not the same as that released without audio by the U.S. government after its military raid that killed him), and senior ideologue Shaykh 'Atiyyatullah Abu 'Abd al-Rahman al-Libi, who was reportedly killed in late August in North Waziristan but may still be alive, reading one of his poems.

Al-Sahab says, watch the video on your iPad

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The video can be downloaded via these non-militant URLs:

http://depositfiles.com/de/files/grqa6ouqf

http://www.filesonic.com/file/1949914444

http://www.wupload.com/file/164770917

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=4U2R826U

http://turbobit.net/tqjwk56ef12f/fajer1.rar.html

http://www.filefactory.com/file/ceaa1b9/n/fajer1.rar

http://www.2shared.com/file/rc2ORCKk/fajer1.html

http://www.putlocker.com/file/BAB8B7554071D856

The password to unpack the file is: S4IKGfd61oc7LK9p

My New Article at Foreign Policy: "Al-Qaeda Loses its 'Renaissance Man'," Shaykh 'Atiyyatullah Abu 'Abd al-Rahman al-Libi

2011-09-09T23:57:00.000-04:00

I have a new article published today at Foreign Policy's AFPAK Channel, "Al-Qaeda Loses its 'Renaissance Man': What the Death of 'Sheikh Atiyyatullah' Means." It examined the multifaceted role of 'Atiyyatullah Abu 'Abd al-Rahman al-Libi as one of Al-Qa'ida Central's (AQC) senior leaders and most important ideologues as well as a strategist and operational commander. The introduction reads:

"The reported killing in late August of Atiyyatullah Abu Abd al-Rahman (sometimes given in jihadi sources as Abu Abd al-Rahman Atiyyatullah al-Libi or simply Atiyah Abd al-Rahman) in a U.S. drone strike in North Waziristan, if confirmed, deprives al-Qaeda Central (AQC) of one of its most versatile and important leaders and ideologues. Known more popularly in jihadi circles as "Sheikh Atiyyatullah," he straddled the operational, media, and ideological sides of AQC's global campaign. He was also at the forefront on a number of issues, including the militant organization's attempt to embrace and co-opt the uprisings in the Arab world, and intervened forcefully in debates among jihadis, actively counseling against the use of mass violence against other Muslims.

His loss would be a severe blow to an organization that is already reeling from the loss of its charismatic founder-leader Osama bin Laden, and more recently the arrest of another key operational planner, Younis al-Mauretani. Atiyyatullah's death has been claimed by U.S. government sources but has not been confirmed by AQC itself, casting some doubt on to whether he was actually killed. Reports surfaced in October 2010 that he had been killed but were proven wrong when he surfaced in film and audio releases from al-Qaeda's al-Sahab Media Foundation in mid-March of this year."

Read the rest at FOREIGN POLICY.

IN PICTURES: Somalia's Harakat al-Shabab Mark 'Eid al-Fitr with Congregational Prayers in Mogadishu, Lower Shabelle, & Kismaayo

2011-09-02T14:53:00.001-04:00

Two Harakat al-Shabab fighters at 'Eid al-Fitr prayers in Mogadishu

The Somali Islamist-insurgent movement Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen (Movement of the Warrior-Youth, "Al-Shabab," "Al-Shabaab") marked 'Eid al-Fitr prayers this week with congregational prayers in all of the districts under its control. These include Banaadir, the district where the capital city of Mogadishu is located, Lower Shabelle, and the port city of Kismaayo in Juba district in the south. Congregational 'Eid prayers to mark the end of the month of Ramadan are obligatory for all Muslims. Harakat al-Shabab, by holding these prayers, made a symbolic show of its continued relevance even in the embattled capital city, despite premature fanfare in August after their withdrawal, seemingly tactical, from Mogadishu.

The prayers were led or attended by senior Harakat al-Shabab leaders including Hasan Dahir Aweys, 'Ali Rage ('Ali Dheere), and Mukhtaar "Abu Mansur" Robow.
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BANAADIR, MOGADISHU

Harakat al-Shabab spokesman 'Ali Mahamoud Rage

LOWER SHABELLE

Popular Rahanweyn clansman and Harakat al-Shabab leader Mukhtaar "Abu Mansur" Robow

Harakat al-Shabab leader Hasan Dahir Aweys

KISMAAYO in JUBA DISTRICT

My New Article, "Globalizing Insurgency in Somalia," Published at Yale Global

2011-08-31T01:53:00.003-04:00

I have a new article at Yale Global, an e-magazine published by the Center for the Study of Globalization at Yale University, "Globalizing Insurgency in Somalia," about transnational recruitment by the Somali Islamist insurgent movement Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen ("Al-Shabab," "Al-Shabaab", Movement of the Warrior-Youth).

The abstract of the article reads:

"The Somali Al Qaeda–linked insurgent movement al-Shabab has ruled most of southern and central Somalia, including the capital city of Mogadishu, since mid-2008. Originating as the most radical wing of the military arm of the Islamic Courts Union coalition, the movement delivered relative law and order and peace to Somalia in 2006. Since then, al-Shabab has moved ideologically closer to the transnational Sunni jihadi trend exemplified by Al Qaeda. In need of fighters, al-Shabab has recruited members of Somali diaspora communities in North America, Europe, East Africa, the Arab world, and Australia as well as non-Somali Muslims, explains Christopher Anzalone. With severe drought gripping the entire regions, tens of thousands of Somalis stream toward the southern border, both official and makeshift refugee camps. Al-Shabab’s relief efforts are inadequate and old grudges with some international food programs add to an overwhelming crisis. But recruitment from the Somali diaspora continues."

Read the rest at YALE GLOBAL.

My New Article, "Dangerous Liaison? Evaluating Relations between Al-Shabab and Al-Qaeda," Published at openDemocracy

2011-08-14T12:39:00.000-04:00

I have a new article, "Dangerous Liaison? Evaluating Relations between Al-Shabab and Al-Qaeda," that was published yesterday at openDemocracy. It examines the historical praise and probable relations and known communications between the Somali Islamist-insurgent movement Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen (Movement of the Warrior-Youth, Al-Shabaab) and Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) based in Yemen.

The introductory paragraph reads:

"The Obama administration’s July announcement of its capture and secret two-month detention and interrogation of a young Somali man, Ahmed Abdul Qaadir Warsame, has renewed discussion about the possible links between the powerful Somali Islamist insurgent movement Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen (Movement of the Warrior-Youth, hereafter “Al-Shabab”) and Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the Yemen-based organization that has proven itself to be the most capable of striking far outside of its base of operations. Warsame is charged in the U.S. Southern District of New York with nine counts, including providing material support to Al-Shabab and AQAP and receiving military training from the latter. U.S. authorities also allege that he was an Al-Shabab leader, though his name has not come up in this author’s research into the Somali insurgent movement. Reports, citing unnamed U.S. officials, have emerged that he was also in communication with Anwar al-Awlaki, the militant American Muslim preacher who is either affiliated with or a member of AQAP. Considering the new attention to the relationship between Al-Shabab and AQAP, it is well worth reviewing and critically evaluating their past communications."
Read the full article at openDemocracy.

My New Article, "Who are Somalia's Al-Shabab?," Published @ African Arguments

2011-07-27T18:05:00.002-04:00

UPDATE (July 29, 2011): David Shinn, the former U.S. ambassador to Ethiopia and Burkina Faso, commented briefly but positively on my article at his own blog HERE. I've also been cited in an article by Yassin Musharbash in the German weekly news magazine Der Spiegel HERE.

I have a new article posted to African Arguments, the collaborative web site between the Royal African Society of the United Kingdom and the Social Science Research Council. I was invited to contribute a backgrounder piece on Somalia's Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen ("Al-Shabab" or "Al-Shabaab") Islamist-insurgent movement that controls most of the country south of the autonomous region of Puntland, including roughly half the capital city of Mogadishu.

A quick note about the piece: I was not as explicit as I should have been regarding Al-Shabab's position on international humanitarian aid agencies. They have banned SOME but not all agencies. In my mind when writing the section o...n the famine it was clear but upon re-reading it after having someone point it out to me, I see that it is not necessarily clear to those other than the author (me).

The introduction reads:

"Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen (Movement of the Warrior-Youth, “Al-Shabab”), the Islamist-insurgent movement that controls most of Somalia south of the autonomous region of Puntland, has its origins in the most radical segment of the military wing of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU). Following the dissolution of the ICU government in late December 2006 in the face of a full-scale Ethiopian invasion backing Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG), Al-Shabab emerged at the forefront of the Somali armed factions. Its founder was Adan Hashi Farah ‘Ayro, a young Somali militant who had previously traveled to Afghanistan where he met Usama bin Laden. ‘Ayro, a former protégé of veteran Somali Islamist Hasan Dahir Aweys, then the deputy ICU leader, eventually began to operate largely independently of him and the ICU as a whole."

Read the rest at African Arguments.

IN PICTURES: Usama bin Laden, the Martyr, As Seen in Jihadi-Takfiri Artwork

2011-07-26T12:31:00.000-04:00

This post features examples of transnational jihadi-takfiri cyber artwork dedicated to the late founder of Al-Qa'ida Central, Usama bin Laden, who was killed in a May 2 U.S. military strike on his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Usama bin Laden flanked by Mustafa Abu'l Yazid (left), the late general commander of Al-Qa'ida Central in Afghanistan, and Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, the late founder of Al-Qa'ida in the Land of the Two Rivers/Iraq (AQI). Abu'l Yazid was killed in a U.S. drone strike in May in North Waziristan. Al-Zarqawi was killed in a U.S. airstrike in June 2006 in Iraq.

Usama bin Laden and Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi over a panoramic view of the Old and New Cities of Jerusalem. Also pictured is Ahmad Yusuf Washah, also known as "Abu Hafs," one of the Jund Ansar Allah members killed in a day-long gun battle with HAMAS security forces on August 14, 2009 in and near the Mosque of Ibn Taymiyyah in the Gazan city of Rafah.

Amir of Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula, Abu Basir Nasir al-Wihayshi, Pledges Allegiance to Al-Qa'ida Central Amir Ayman al-Zawahiri

2011-07-26T12:17:00.002-04:00

The amir (leader) of Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Abu Basir Nasir al-Wihayshi, has issued a new audio message to the "beloved amir," Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, the new amir of Al-Qa'ida Central (AQC). Al-Wihayshi gives bay'a to al-Zawahiri. AQAP is the second AQC affiliate to do so. The first was Al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), via a member of its shura council, Abu 'Ubayda Yusuf al-'Anabi, in an audio message released in early July.

Al-Wihayshi criticizes the region's tyrants and promises to "defend the oppressed" in the Muslim and Arab lands. He also promises to "free the holy places."
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The audio message can be downloaded via these non-militant URLs:

http://depositfiles.com/en/files/bqgcyyvfl

http://www.fileserve.com/file/s9ANCXr

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=05Z2C4LQ

http://www.mediafire.com/?au8ayjond7tm175

http://www.easy-share.com/1916846444/rsala.rar

The password to unpack the file is: Edhd089JkhsdiQWEMncjhs

New Al-Wasat Post: "The Social Media Front: Jihadi Media Elite Outlet Launches New Web Site, YouTube Channel"

2011-07-25T03:01:00.000-04:00

I have a new post on the collaborative Al-Wasat blog, "The Social Media Front: Jihadi Media Elite Outlet Launches New Web Site, YouTube Channel," on the inauguration of new social networking sites by a very active transnational Sunni jihadi-takfiri media outlet. Read about it at AL-WASAT.

New Al-Wasat Post on Tehrik-i Taliban Pakistan's Media & the Global Islamic Media Front

2011-07-21T18:27:00.002-04:00

I have a brief new post at the Al-Wasat blog on mapping the online distribution network via the Global Islamic Media Front of Tehrik-i Taliban Pakistan's media. Read it HERE.

Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula's Al-Malahem Media Releases New Issue (#6) of Inspire Magazine

2011-07-19T02:45:00.007-04:00

UPDATE (September 27, 2011): New 7th issue of INSPIRE has just been released.

Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula's (AQAP) media outlet, the Al-Malahim (Malahem; Epics) Media Foundation, has released the sixth issue of its English-language Internet magazine Inspire, edited by the American Samir Khan. The new issue features an article by Khan entitled, "Sadness, Contentment, & Aspiration" about the killing ("martyrdom") of Al-Qa'ida Central founder Usama bin Laden on May 2 in Pakistan. It also features a new photograph of the radical American Muslim preacher Anwar al-'Awlaqi.

A letter from editor Yahya Ibrahim explains the delay in the publication of the new issue as being the result of unrest in Yemen.

A "special thanks" is given to Tehrik-i Taliban Pakistan for its "revenge attacks" in the name of Usama bin Laden, raising the question why AQC or its official affiliates have yet to launch a major "revenge attack" of their own.

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A PDF copy of the issue can be downloaded via these NON-militant URLs:

http://uptotal.com/download.php?d=i6.rar.html

http://uptotal.com/download.php?d=04Q3EGJC_i6.rar.html

http://www.archive.org/download/AL-FORQAN-RETHA/AL-MALAHIM-Inspire-6.pdf

The password is: H9IKhfkhsTY23TJghdHJND
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SAMIR KHAN'S ARTICLE:

Al-Fajr Media Center, Online Distributor of all Al-Qa'ida Media Material, Announces/Endorses Launch of New Jihadi-Takfiri Internet Forum

2011-07-10T15:35:00.002-04:00

The Al-Fajr (The Dawn) Media Center issued a statement today announcing the launch of a new jihadi-takfiri Internet forum, al-Fida' al-Islamiyyah (Islamic Redemption). Al-Fajr is a shadowy media network that distributes all media material produced by Al-Qa'ida Central (AQC), Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), and the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI)/Al-Qa'ida in the Land of the Two Rivers/Iraq (AQI).

The new forum is password-protected.

IN PICTURES: Great Moments in Jihadi-Takfiri Images, or, When File Hosting Goes Wrong: Global Islamic Media Front Edition

2011-07-08T13:33:00.000-04:00

Last weekend, I published an "In Pictures" post that documented one of the great moments in jihadi-takfiri images, also known as when file hosting goes bad. Today, Views from the Occident is proud to present a new post in this series. This one documents great moments in the history of the Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF), a shadowy transnational jihadi-takfiri translation and media network.

IN PICTURES: Great Moments in Jihadi-Takfiri Images, or, When File Hosting Goes Wrong

2011-07-02T01:21:00.005-04:00

UPDATE (1:30 P.M. EST, 2 July 2011): The images have since been removed from the forum.

The al-Jihad al-'Alami (Global Jihad) jihadi-takfiri web forum: Striking fear in Apostates, Rafidah, and Crusaders worldwide, or, why Stashbox file hosting has just failed the jihadi-takfiri movement(s). Click the images to enlarge.

My New Article on Harakat al-Shabab, AMISOM, Sufi Militias, & the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia at openDemocracy

2011-06-28T21:41:00.004-04:00

Harakat al-Shabab spokesman 'Ali Mahamoud Rage, also known as 'Ali Dheere

I have a new article, "Military Success but Political Failure: The Fight against Al-Shabab in Somalia," was published today at openDemocracy. The article focuses on providing a brief but (hopefully) comprehensive overview (within the 1,200-word limit) of the current situation inside Somalia's civil war that pits the weak and corrupt (but U.S., U.N., and E.U.-backed) Transitional Federal Government (TFG), a 9,000-soldier African Union military force with a U.N. mandate, and a ragtag Somali Sufi militia umbrella group against a virulent insurgent movement, Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen (Al-Shabab) that espouses an eccentric and particularly harsh form of Islamism. My central argument is that recent military successes by AMISOM (the African Union force), the TFG, and the Sufi militias will be for naught if TFG corruption and ineptness continues. The TFG's faults have been the greatest gift to Al-Shabab.

The beginning reads:

"Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen (Movement of the Warrior-Youth, hereafter Al-Shabab), the Somali Islamist-insurgent movement, is facing a serious military challenge to its continued control of key swaths of territory inside the capital city of Mogadishu and along the country’s western borders with Kenya and Ethiopia. The insurgency, which has held much of southern and central Somalia since mid-2008, is being stretched militarily by a series of simultaneous offensives launched in mid-February by the 9,000-man African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) military force, the soldiers of Somalia’s internationally-recognized Transitional Federal Government (TFG), and militiamen of the TFG and AMISOM-aligned Sufi Islamist militia Ahlu-Sunnah Wal-Jamaacah (ASWJ). However, the military gains on the ground by AMISOM, TFG, and ASWJ forces continues to be hampered by severe infighting within the TFG, particularly a bitter feud between its president, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, and parliament speaker, Sharif Hasan Sheikh Adan."

Read the rest of the article at openDemocracy.

My New Article, "The Pakistani Taliban's Media Jihad," at Foreign Policy Magazine's AFPAK Channel

2011-06-17T16:31:00.002-04:00

My latest article, "The Pakistani Taliban's Media Jihad: The Tehrik-i Taliban Pakistan's Jihadi Propaganda," was published at Foreign Policy magazine's AFPAK Channel on Friday. The introductory paragraph reads:

"One month after acknowledging that al-Qaeda Central's (AQC) founder and leader Osama bin Laden had been killed by the U.S. military, the Tehrik-i Taliban Pakistan (TTP) this week issued a written statement eulogizing him and threatening revenge attacks on the U.S. and Pakistani governments (they also expressed their support this morning for al-Qaeda's new leader Ayman al-Zawahiri). The TTP, an umbrella movement for dozens of militant outfits operating in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Khyber-Puktunkhwa province has already carried out a number of deadly attacks throughout the country since mid-May, including the brazen May 23 attack on the Pakistani Navy's Mehran base in Karachi. With estimated numbers of its fighters in the thousands, the TTP and other Pakistani militant groups based in the Punjab are arguably among the best-placed of AQC's allies to launch "revenge attacks" in bin Laden's name. The statement's distribution online via the Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF), a long-established transnational jihadi media and translation network, is significant, suggesting that the TTP continues to embrace elements of both transnational militancy and domestic insurgency."

The piece examines the TTP's media productions and the movement's shift toward having its media distributed to jihadi-takfiri Internet forums via the Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF), a long-established jihadi-takfiri media and translation network. I argue that this shift toward GIMF distribution is further evidence of the TTP's transnational inclinations, which stand in marked contrast with the essentially parochial Afghan Taliban(s).

Global Jihad Internet Forum Pledges Allegiance to Ayman al-Zawahiri as New Al-Qa'ida Central Amir...but calls him "Anwar"

2011-06-16T15:49:00.005-04:00

UPDATE (8:02 p.m. EST, 16 June 2011): The forum administrators have since fixed their Freudian typographical error. They have corrected the thread title from "Anwar al-Zawahiri" to "Ayman al-Zawahiri" and have also corrected the name in the image above.

The al-Jihad al-'Alami (Global Jihad) jihadi-takfiri Internet forum has started a thread "pledging allegiance" to the new Al-Qa'ida Central (AQC) amir (leader), Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, who was named the new amir in what seems to be a statement from AQC released early this morning. In the first post of the thread, it reads, هنا نبايع الشيخ أيمن الظواهري حفظه الله
, "pledge allegiance here to Shaykh Ayman al-Zawahiri, may God protect him."

However, in the title of the thread and the JPG, it seems they made a typographical error, calling the Egyptian medical doctor "Anwar al-Zawahiri." Wishful thinking?

Ayman al-Zawahiri Named New Al-Qa'ida Central Amir in Statement

2011-06-16T02:39:00.004-04:00

A new written statement, it seems from Al-Qa'ida Central (AQC), names Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri the new amir (leader) of the group. On the al-Jihad al-'Alami (Global Jihad) Forum the statement is, as of this writing, not under the official "Statements and Releases" sub-forum but rather the general "News and Events" sub-forum. However, on the Ansar al-Mujahideen (Partisans of the Warriors of Faith) Arabic Forum the statement is under the official "Statements and Releases" sub-forum. The statement is also not available, it seems, on numerous free file-sharing web sites, as is usually the case with major jihadi-takfiri media releases, or these URLs are not provided as of this writing.

The advertising GIF includes the text في إمارة جماعة قاعدة الجهاد , "in the emirate of the Qa'idat al-Jihad" or "Base of Jihad society/movement." I do not recall seeing this text in a previous AQC advertising GIF though perhaps it has been used before. It was not used in the advertising GIF of the AQC statement that announced Bin Laden's killing, which was issued on May 6.
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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

بشأن خلافة الشيخ أسامة بن لادن في إمارة جماعة قاعدة الجهاد

{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا اصْبِرُوا وَصَابِرُوا وَرَابِطُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ}

وقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم "لَا تَزَالُ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِي يُقَاتِلُونَ عَلَى الْحَقِّ ظَاهِرِينَ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ".

بقلوب راضية بقضاء الله وقدره مطمئنة إلى وعدِ الله تعالى وحسنِ جزائه، تلقت الأمة المسلمة والمجاهدون في جماعة قاعدة الجهاد وغيرها نبأ استشهاد الإمام المجدد المجاهد المهاجر المرابط الشيخ أسامة بن محمد بن لادن رحمه الله رحمة واسعة، سائلين المولى عز وجل أن يرفع درجته ويجزيه عنا وعن أمة الإسلام خير الجزاء.

هذا ولما كان الجهاد ماضيا إلى يوم القيامة –كما جاء في الأحاديث - وقد صار في هذا العصر فرضاً عينياً ضد الكفار الغزاة المحتلين لديار المسلمين وضد الحكام المرتدين المبدلين لشرائع الإسلام –كما أجمع على ذلك علماء الإسلام - ولما كان خير وفاءٍ للشهداء الأبرار ولسيرة الشيخ المجاهد أسامة بن لادن هو الاستمرار على درب الجهاد في سبيل الله ونصرة المسلمين والمستضعفين، فإن القيادة العامة لجماعة قاعدة الجهاد – وبعد استكمال التشاور- تعلن تولّي الشيخ الدكتور أبي محمد أيمن الظواهري وفقه الله مسؤولية إمرة الجماعة، سائلين الله سبحانه وتعالى أن يوفقه ويوفقنا وجميع المسلمين للعمل بشريعته والثبات على الحق على الوجه الذي يرضيه عز وجل غير مبدلين ولا مغيرين.

وبهذه المناسبة فإن القيادة العامة لقاعدة الجهاد يهمها أن تؤكد على المبادئ التالية :

أولاً _ إن جماعة قاعدة الجهاد بفضل الله ومنته تسعى للعمل بالكتاب والسنة ولذلك تدعو، تتبعُ نهج النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وأصحابه الأبرار وآله بيته الأطهار رضوان الله عليهم أجمعين، وما أجمع عليه سلف الأمة من التابعين وتابعيهم بإحسان ومن سار على دربهم واقتفى أثرهم في العلم والعمل كالأئمة الأربعة وأئمة الفقه والحديث ممن تلقتهم الأمة بالقبول وشهدت لهم بالخيرِية وأثنت عليهم وترحمت جيلاً بعد جيل، نلتزم بما أجمعوا عليه ،ولا نخرج عن أقوالهم فيما سواه، ونسعى لأن نكون بعون الله متبعين لا مبتدعين، مقتدين لا مخترعين.

ثانياً _ نسعى بعون الله وتوفيقه للدعوة للدين الحقِّ، وتحريض أمتنا على الإعداد والقتال، مع أدائنا العمليّ للفريضة العينية في جهاد الغزاة الكفار المعتدين على ديار الإسلام، وعلى رأسهم أمريكا الصليبية وربيبتها إسرائيل، ومن أعانهم من الحكام المبدلين لشريعة الإسلام؛ نجاهدهم بكل ما في طاقتنا ونحثُّ الأمة على جهادهم باليد واللسان والجنان وبالمال والفِعال وبكل مستطاع، حتى تخرج جميع الجيوش الغازية من أرض الإسلام وتسود فيها شريعة الله، قال الله تعالى : {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قَاتِلُوا الَّذِينَ يَلُونَكُمْ مِنَ الْكُفَّارِ وَلْيَجِدُوا فِيكُمْ غِلْظَةً وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ} [التوبة: 123]

ثالثاً _ نؤكد على تأييدنا ومناصرتنا لكل من يجاهد لإعلاء كلمة الله على بصيرة من الله، ويدافع عن الإسلام وحقوق المسلمين في أيِّ بلدٍ من بلدانهم، فتنظيم قاعدة الجهاد لا ينتسب إلى قطرٍ ولا يقتصر على جنسيةٍ ولا يختصُّ بها، فديار الإسلام كلها ديارهم، والمسلمون كلهم إخوتهم، ورابطةُ الإيمانِ عليها ولاؤهم، لا فضل عندنا لعربيٍّ على أعجميٍّ إلا بالتقوى والعمل الصالح.

فنؤكد لأهلنا في فلسطين الحبيبة ما أكده لهم الشيخ أسامة رحمه الله حين قال : "نقول لإخواننا في فلسطين : إن دماء أبنائكم هي دماءُ أبنائنا وإن دماءكم دماؤنا، فالدم الدم والهدم الهدم، فوالله لن نخذلكم حتى يتحققَ النصرُ أو نذوقَ ما ذاق حمزةُ بن عبد المطلب رضي الله عنه".

ونؤكد لهم أننا لن نقبل بالتنازل عن شيء من فلسطينِ الرباط والجهاد من أيِّ جهةٍ كانت، ولن نعترف بأية شرعية لدولة إسرائيل المزعومة ولو أطبق على ذلك أهل الأرض كلهم، ولن نقبل أو نلتزم أو نتقيد بأي اتفاقٍ أو إقرار أو معاهدةٍ تقر بذلك أو تسلُبُ المسلمين شبراً من فلسطين سواء كانت من الأمم المتحدة التي يتحكم فيها أكابرُ المجرمين أو غيرِها من الهيئات والمنظمات، سنمضي بعون الله وقوّته في الجهاد والنضال باليد واللسان، وسنستمر في كشفِ خيانات المتنازلين عن حقوق الأمة في فلسطين المتعاونين مع الموساد والسي آي إيه ، وفي بذل كل ما نملك حتى تتحرر فلسطينُ كلُّ فلسطين وترفرف فوقها أعلامُ الإسلام وتسود فيها شريعته كما حررها أبطال الإسلام السابقون من أمثال صلاح الدين.

ونؤكد لإخواننا في أفغانستان أننا معهم، بأرواحنا وما نملك، تحت قيادة أمير المؤمنين الملا محمد عمر مجاهد حفظه الله في دفع وطرد الاحتلال الأمريكي الصليبي عن ربوع هذه البلاد الصابرة الطاهرة.

كما نؤكد لإخواننا المجاهدين رفقاء درب الصبر والتحدي والتصدي للحملات الصليبية في عراق الخلافة والعلم، وصومال الهجرة والشريعة، وجزيرة الوحي والحكمة والإيمان، ومغرب الرباط والنصرة والثبات، وشيشان الصبر والإصرار ، أننا على العهد ماضون، وعلى النهج سائرون ببناء متماسكٍ، وصفٍّ مرصوص، وكلمة مجتمعة، وقلوب متآلفةٍ، ورايةٍ نقيةٍ، نقارع عدواً واحداً وإن تنوعت أشكاله وتعددت أسماؤه، فلا وهن ولا تردد ولا تراجعَ، نُصِيب ونُصاب، ونَغلِب ونُغلَب والعاقبة للمتقينَ، قال تعالى : {قَالَ مُوسَى لِقَوْمِهِ اسْتَعِينُوا بِاللَّهِ وَاصْبِرُوا إِنَّ الْأَرْضَ لِلَّهِ يُورِثُهَا مَنْ يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ} [الأعراف: 128]

رابعاً _ قال الله تعالى : {وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ وَالنِّسَاءِ وَالْوِلْدَانِ الَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا أَخْرِجْنَا مِنْ هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ الظَّالِمِ أَهْلُهَا وَاجْعَلْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ وَلِيًّا وَاجْعَلْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ نَصِيرًا} [النساء: 75]، وقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم "فكوا العاني"، فنسأل الله أن يعيننا على العمل لفك أُسارى المسلمين الأسود في القيود الذين صبروا وتحملوا وضحوا وعانوا من أجل نصرة الإسلام والمسلمين، ونؤكد لهؤلاء الأحبة أننا لم ننسهم ولن ننساهم بإذن الله؛ فـلم ننس شيخنا المجاهد الصادع بالحق عمر عبد الرحمن، ولم ننسَ إخواننا في غوانتنامو وبغرام وأبو غريب وفي سجون أمريكا السرية والعلنية وفي كل غوانتنامو أقامه عملاء أمريكا بإشرافها في ديار المسلمين. {وَمَا نَقَمُوا مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا أَنْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ } [البروج: 8].

خامساً _ نؤيد ونساند انتفاضة شعوبنا المسلمة المظلومة المقهورة التي قامت في وجه الطغاة الظلمة المفسدين بعد أن أذاقوا أمتنا سوء العذاب في مصر وتونس وليبيا واليمن والشام والمغرب ونحرضهم ونحرض باقي الشعوب المسلمة على

الانتفاض والاستمرار في الكفاح والبذل والإصرار حتى تزول كل الأنظمة الفاسدة الظالمة التي فرضها الغربُ على بلادنا واتخذها جسراً لتمرير سياساته وفرض إرادته، وحتى يأتي التغيير الحقيقي الكامل المنشود والذي لن يتحقق إلا بعودة الأمة المسلمة إلى شريعة ربِّها بعدما نحّتها قوى الاحتلال عن الحكم، فتعود شريعةُ الإسلام خالصةً تحكم أمةَ الإسلام لا تزاحمها شرعية ولا تشاركها مرجعية، ويكون الدينُ كلُّه لله. إن التغيير لن يتحقق إلا بتخلص الأمة من كافة أشكال الاحتلال والهيمنة والسيطرة العسكرية والاقتصادية الثقافية والقضائية التي يفرضها الغرب علينا، ولن يتحقق إلا بإزالة كافة أشكال الظلم السياسي والاجتماعي، ولا بد لكل هذا من إعدادٍ جادٍّ وتحريضٍ دائمٍ وجهادٍ مستمرٍ، وقوةٍ تقابل القوةَ، فقوام الدين بكتاب يهدي وسيف ينصر وكفى بربك هاديا ونصيرا.

سادساً _ نمد أيدينا ونفتح قلوبنا للتعاون مع كل عامل على نصرة الإسلام في التنظيمات والجماعات الإسلامية أو خارجها ولنتكاتفَ ونتناصر على طرد الغزاة من ديار الإسلام وعلى نصرة الشريعة حتى تكون في ديار الإسلام حاكمة لا محكومة قائدة لا مقودة آمرة لا مأمورة، وحتى يبطل كل دستورٍ وقانون يخالفها، ولنتعاون ونتعاضد على إزالة الأنظمة الفاسدة المفسدة وتطهير بلادنا من كل أشكال الظلم والقهر والفساد، كلُّ ذلك استجابةً لأمر الله تعالى : {وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى} [المائدة: 2]، ومع ذلك فبيننا وبين إخواننا المسلمين كافةً حق النصيحةِ وواجب التذكير.

سابعاً ـ حرم ديننا الإسلامي الحنيف الظلم كل الظلمِ، في حقِّ المسلمِ أو غيره، مع العدوِّ أو الصديق، وعليه فإننا نؤكد لكل مظلومٍ في هذه الدنيا - وأكثرهم من ضحايا الإجرام الغربي الأمريكي- أن ديننا دين العدل والقِسط، فنحن نتعاطف مع معاناة المظلومين وأن جهادنا ضد الاستكبار الأمريكي مآله رفع الظلم عنهم وهو جهد مؤثر في تخلّصهم من الاستغلال الغربي الأمريكي الذي استعبدهم وسلب ثرواتهم وأفسد عليهم بيئتهم وحياتهم.

هذه رسالتنا للأمة المسلمة ولكل طالب للحق والعدل، والله من وراء القصد وهو يهدي السبيل، وآخر دعوانا أن الحمد لله رب العالمين، وصلى الله على نبينا محمد وآله وصحبه وسلم.

تنظيم قاعدة الجهاد/ القيادة العامة

رجب1432هـ / يونيو2011م

المصدر:مركز الفجر للإعلام

My New Article "Missionaries of Jihad: Inside Al-Qaeda's Charismatic Vanguard," at Foreign Policy Magazine's AFPAK Channel

2011-06-06T01:27:00.001-04:00

My latest article, "Missionaries of Jihad: Inside Al-Qaeda's Charismatic Jihadi Vanguard," was published at Foreign Policy magazine's AFPAK Channel on Friday. The introductory paragraph reads:

"In the aftermath of the U.S. military's killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden last month, analysts and presumably Al-Qaeda Central (AQC) are heavily engaged in discussions about possible successors to the Saudi militant as the new public face of the transnational jihadi trend, with sources reporting recently that Egyptian Saif al-Adel had been named the group's "interim" leader. Yet the intense focus on who will be the "new bin Laden" glosses over the important fact that al-Qaeda has over the past several years developed a charismatic and influential cadre of scholar-ideologues who play a major role in legitimating the group's campaign of violence and calling on Muslims to join or support it, a role made more important by the confusion that has resulted in jihadi circles from bin Laden's death."

Read the rest HERE.

The four charismatic ideologues profiled in the piece are: Abu Yahya al-Libi (pictured above), Khalid bin 'Abd al-Rahman al-Husaynan, 'Atiyyatullah al-Libi, and Anwar al-'Awlaqi. See the article for more details on all four.

Al-Qa'ida Central Releases New Video: "You are Not Responsible Except for Yourself"

2011-06-03T23:53:00.001-04:00

Al-Qa'ida Central''s (AQC) media outlet, the Al-Sahab (The Clouds) Media Foundation, released a new, lengthy two-part video entitled "You are Not Responsible Except for Yourself" yesterday. One of the main themes of the video is encouraging Muslims in the United States and elsewhere to take individual initiative in carrying out attacks inside their countries. New footage of senior AQC leaders Abu Yahya al-Libi, 'Atiyyatullah al-Libi, and American Adam Gadahn is featured. Gadahn is also known by the nom de guerre 'Azzam al-Amriki [The American]. He continues to be excruciating to listen to, with a charisma-less and wooden style of speaking. The American AQC spokesman urges American Muslims to maintain secrecy until they launch an attack and to take advantage of the relatively open gun laws in many U.S. states, compared to those in many European countries and Canada.

The new footage of 'Atiyyatullah al-Libi was likely recorded at the same time as the photograph featured in the March 17 audio-video file of the Libyan's message "A Tribute to Our People in Libya." He is wearing the same exact outfit in both the new footage in the video and the photograph featured on a stagnant screen in the March 17 audio-video file. 'Atiyyatullah's real name was given in that audio-video as "Jamal Ibrahim Ishtaywi al-Misrati" from the Libyan city of Misrata.

Also featured is previously-released footage and audio of Usama bin Laden, Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-'Awlaqi (Awlaki, Aulaqi), and 'Abdullah 'Azzam. The alleged murderer of Salman Taseer, the then-governor of Punjab province, Mumtaz Qadri is singled out for praise.
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Part 1 can be downloaded via these non-militant URLs:

http://bitshare.com/files/hpisztqy/1KC1SZV0_kf1.rar.html

http://turbobit.net/b3q3hs4sd75z/TQ7YYHSN_kf1.rar.html

http://www.uploadstation.com/file/Jy3kp9j/TQ7YYHSN_kf1.rar

http://www.duckload.com/download/6252655/NCIWV0W2_kf1.rar

The password to unpack the file is: NRidh2hKhsMQnbdHgsdu7sdH

Part 2 can be downloaded via these non-militant URLs:

http://hostingbulk.com/uvpfhhzpqpw6.html

http://www.putlocker.com/file/51B283A2E5984A2A

http://turbobit.net/br9l2a19kmy8/MHDMFDDP_nfs1.rar.html

http://www.duckload.com/download/6243451/1HGK12GF_nfs1.rar

The password to unpack the file is: CcVytw3TDSFXKucfhGH

My New Piece at Al-Wasat: "The Global Jihad Internet Forum Launches New Sub-forum Dedicated to Anwar al-’Awlaqi: A Sign of His Growing Influence?"

2011-05-30T19:13:00.000-04:00

I have a new post today at the academic and policy collaborative blog Al-Wasat, founded by two colleagues, Andrew Lebovich, a program associate at The New America Foundation, and Aaron Y. Zelin, a research assistant in the Department of Politics at Brandeis University.

The short piece discusses the recent launch of a new sub-forum on a militant jihadi-takfiri Internet discussion forum dedicated to the militant American preacher Anwar al-'Awlaqi, who is believed to currently be in Yemen and either a member of or affiliated with Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula. It is entitled: "The Global Jihad Internet Forum Launches New Sub-forum Dedicated to Anwar al-’Awlaqi’s Lectures: A Sign of His Growing Influence?" The post looks at whether the inauguration of this new sub-forum is further evidence of al-'Awlaqi's growing influence over a broader spectrum of militants, away from his original English-language base.
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"The Global Jihad (al-Jihad al-’Alami) jihadi-takfiri Internet forum has launched a new sub-forum/section (qism) dedicated to the lectures of Anwar al-’Awlaqi (Awlaki, Aulaqi), the militant American Muslim preacher currently in Yemen and believed to be a member of or affiliated with Al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). The Arabic announcement reads: “Glad tidings, the inauguration/opening of a sub-forum/section for the lectures of Shaykh Anwar al-’Awlaqi, may God protect him.” The inauguration (or “opening [for the first time],” to use a more direct translation of the Arabic announcement) of a new sub-forum on one of the most prominent Arabic-language jihadi-takfiri Internet forums is significant in that it provides further evidence of al-’Awlaqi’s growing appeal outside of his original English-language audience base."

Read the rest at AL-WASAT.

Al-Qa'ida Central Releases Usama bin Laden's Last Recorded Audio Message, on Arab Uprisings in Tunisia & Egypt

2011-05-18T23:19:00.005-04:00

"Words of the Martyr of Islam, as we think (they were), to His Muslim Nation"

Al-Qa'ida Central's media outlet, the Al-Sahab (The Clouds) Media Foundation, released the last recorded audio message from its late founder-leader Usama bin Laden today. The message addresses the popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt by the majority of the populations against former autocratic presidents Zayn al-'Abidin ben 'Ali and Hosni Mubarak. A summary of some of the key points Bin Laden makes can be found in this Al-Jazeera English article.

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The audio message may be downloaded via these non-militant URLs:

http://www.zshare.net/download/90302310ee67ff8f/

http://www.easy-share.com/1915500675/IKERFNVT_uma1.rar

http://www.filesonic.com/file/1028481754/

http://turbobit.net/o9lcjy4qsoxk/uma1.rar.html

http://www.archive.org/download/osod_m31/uma1.divx

The password to unpack the file is: TyhfZy3hLKhdfkNgd

IN PICTURES: Somalia's Harakat al-Shabab Release More Photographs of Last Week's Conference Eulogizing Usama bin Laden

2011-05-17T02:07:00.002-04:00

Muqtaar (Mukhtar) Robow and Omar Hammami (right)

Omar Hammami (far left) sitting immediately next to Abu 'Abd al-Rahman

As I wrote last Wednesday, the Somali Islamist-insurgent movement Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen (Al-Shabaab; Movement of the Warrior-Youth) held a lengthy conference last week in Afgoye, Somalia under the banner "We are all Usama." The conference eulogized the late Al-Qa'ida Central (AQC) founder-leader Usama bin Laden and featured a number of Harakat al-Shabab's senior leaders. These leaders included the popular leader from the Rahanweyn clan Muqtaar (Mukhtar) Robow, preacher Fu'ad Muhammad Khalaf "Shongole," Hasan Dahir Aweys, and Abu 'Abd al-Rahman, the movement's governor of Banaadir district. Also present was American member and suspected field commander Omar "Abu Mansur al-Amriki" Hammami.

Hasan Dahir Aweys

The movement released a statement in Arabic late yesterday (May 16) eulogizing Bin Laden.

Caucasian fighter

"We are all Usama" banner

More photographs from the conference were released late yesterday as well by the movement showing the leaders present, the crowd (including a photograph of members of the crowd reading printed copies of the statement released yesterday), members of the movement's media outlet Al-Kata'ib (Brigades) Media, and fighters with their faces covered, including a Caucasian fighter.

Abu 'Abd al-Rahman, governor of Banaadir district where Mogadishu is located

Fu'ad Muhammad Khalaf "Shongole"

______________________________

Omar Hammami

Muqtaar (Mukhtar) Robow

Member of Al-Kata'ib Media

The crowd with print copies of the eulogy released late yesterday

Somalia's Harakat al-Shabab Releases Arabic Eulogy of Usama bin Laden

2011-05-17T00:25:00.004-04:00

SEE ALSO: New "In Pictures" post with more photographs released by the insurgent movement from last week's conference eulogizing Usama bin Laden HERE.

The Somali Islamist-insurgent movement Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen (Al-Shabaab; Movement of the Warrior-Youth) released an Arabic statement late yesterday (May 16) eulogizing the late founder and leader of Al-Qa'ida Central (AQC), Usama bin Laden. It held a conference last week in Afgoye under the banner "We are all Usama" that featured a number of key leaders including the popular Rahanweyn clan leader Muqtaar (Mukhtar Robow), Hasan Dahir Aweys, and the governor of Banaadir district, Abu 'Abd al-Rahman. Nearly two weeks ago the movement's spokesman, 'Ali Mahamoud Rage ('Ali Dheere), held a press conference in Somali on Bin Laden's killing. American member Omar Hammami (Abu Mansur al-Amriki) was also present and a speaker. The Arabic statement is entitled, "Statement in Eulogy of the Shaykh-Imam Usama bin Laden, may God have mercy on him," and is signed by the "general leadership" of the insurgent movement.

After some unexpected delays, I am currently working on a new post for the Al-Wasat blog on the movement and the possible impact of the killing of bin Laden as well as an article for publication. More details soon.

The new statement follows the general pattern of other eulogies issued for Bin Laden, highlighting his life struggle as a "mujahid" (warrior of faith) and influence. It highlights that he was the founder of Al-Qa'ida and the organization's leader who oversaw the first "expeditions" in the United States of America, referring to the September 11, 2001 airplane hijackings. Muslims are urged not to "become weak or grieve for the death of the Mujahideen's Imam" because the struggle remains. The goals of the "mujahideen" in this struggle are "either victory or martyrdom and the Garden of Paradise." The statement places Bin Laden in the ranks of other senior "martyrs" such as the AQC's former Afghanistan commanders Mustafa Abu'l Yazid and Abu'l Layth al-Libi, Al-Qa'ida in the Land of the Two Rivers' founder Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, and Islamic State of Iraq leaders Abu 'Umar al-Baghdadi and Abu Hamza al-Muhajir.

A second statement in Arabic was also released late yesterday with more photographs from last week's conference.

_____________________________________

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
حركة الشباب المجاهدين
القيادة العامة

بيان في رثاء الشيخ الإمام أسامة بن لادن رحمه الله

__فاز الشهيد ورب الكعبة__
نحسبه والله حسيبه

الحمد لله القائل في محكم تنزيله:﴿مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ رِجَالٌ صَدَقُوا مَا عَاهَدُوا اللَّهَ عَلَيْهِ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ قَضَى نَحْبَهُ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَنْتَظِرُ وَمَا بَدَّلُوا تَبْدِيلًا﴾، وصلى الله على نبيه المجاهد القائل: "وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي أَغْزُو فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَأُقْتَلُ ثُمَّ أَغْزُو فَأُقْتَلُ ثُمَّ أَغْزُو فَأُقْتَلُ" ، وعلى آله وصحبه ومن والاه أما بعد:

فقد بلغنا بقلوب صابرة محتسبة وموقنة بوعد الله، خبر استشهاد الشيخ القائد البطل المهاجر أبي عبد الله أسامة بن محمد بن لادن، بعد أن أمضى عمره في هجرة وجهاد، ونصرة للمستضعفين في كل مكان، وتضحية بالنفس والنفيس قل لها نظير، حتى ارتبط اسمه بقضية أمة الإسلام وأصبح الأمل الذي ينتظره الكثير من المسلمين في كل مكان لاسترجاع الأرض المغتصبة في بيت المقدس على يد اليهود المغضوب عليهم.

إننا اليوم نقف وقفة إجلال وتقدير لرجل بأمة، لنتذكر فضله على الجيل المجاهد في عصرنا الحاضر، بعد أن رسم الطريق و وضع حجر الأساس،فأصبحت جحافل المجاهدين تتخرج من كل مكان وتحول لفظ الجهاد الذي كان لا يكاد يتعدى حلما بعيد المنال إلى واقع معاش في كل ربوع البلاد الإسلامية.

نعم بفضل جهود الشيخ البطل مؤسس قاعدة الجهاد، انطلقت أول الغزوات لأرض أمريكا لتدك صروحهم وتزلزلهم في سابقة لم يشهد لها التاريخ مثيلا من قبل، وأصبح اليوم العدو الصهيوصليبي يحسب لنا ألف حساب، كما أصبح خبر استشهاد رجل من رجالاتنا يصيبهم بحالة من الهلوسة يأملون من بعدها لو ينعمون بطعم النوم ولو قليلا. ولكن هيهات هيهات، فما كان لمن عكف يتلو كتاب الله بالليل والنهار وترك خلفه الدنيا وودع الأهل والأحباب في سبيل أن يشري نفسه ابتغاء مرضاة الله إلا أن يكون محبا للموت كما يحب أعداء الله ورسوله الحياة.

فيا أيها المسلمون لا تهنوا ولا تحزنوا على فراق إمام المجاهدين في هذا الزمان إذ لا بد للإنسان من محيا وممات، ويبقى الجهاد في سبيل الله أفضل الطرق لبلوغ المراتب العليا والارتقاء، وموت الشهيد أيسر من كل ميتة و هي أفضل الميتات، لطالما تمناها الشيخ القائد البطل ولطالما سلك أوعر الدروب لنيلها، وقد فاز ورب الكعبة إذ نحسبه ﴿ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولَئِكَ رَفِيقًا٦٩﴾[ النساء ]. وما علينا إلا أن نستبشر بقوله تعالى: ﴿ وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ أَمْوَاتًا ۚ بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ ١٦٩ فَرِحِينَ بِمَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّـهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ وَيَسْتَبْشِرُونَ بِالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَلْحَقُوا بِهِم مِّنْ خَلْفِهِمْ أَلَّا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ١٧٠ ﴾[ آل عمران ].

ونقول لأمريكا ومن حالفها، قال تعالى: ﴿ قُلْ هَلْ تَرَبَّصُونَ بِنَا إِلَّا إِحْدَى الْحُسْنَيَيْنِ ۖ وَنَحْنُ نَتَرَبَّصُ بِكُمْ أَن يُصِيبَكُمُ اللَّـهُ بِعَذَابٍ مِّنْ عِندِهِ أَوْ بِأَيْدِينَا ۖ فَتَرَبَّصُوا إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّتَرَبِّصُونَ ﴿٥٢﴾[ التوبة ]

وليعلم أعداء الله و رسوله أننا في جهاد ماض إلى يوم القيامة فإما النصر والظفر وإما الشهادة والجنة. فليفرحوا قليلا وليبكوا من بعدها كثيرا فإن الأسد أسامة ترك خلفه جيوشا جرارة من المجاهدين الذين لا يقبلون إلا عيش الأحرار. والحمد لله الذي جعل قادتنا وأئمتنا يموتون في ساحات النزال، وقادتهم وساساتهم يموتون على أسرة الذل والهوان وكفى بالتاريخ شاهدا لمن خلدت أسماؤهم بالدم على مر الأجيال، ولا نامت أعين الجبناء.

هنيئا لك شيخنا الشهادة، نم قرير العين فقد آن لك أن ترتاح وتلتحق بأحبابك وإخوانك من قبل بجوار الرحمن، أمثال الشيخ مصطفى أبي اليزيد وأبي مصعب الزرقاوي وأبي عمر البغدادي وأبي حمزة المهاجر وأبي الليث الليبي وغيرهم الكثير تقبلهم الله جميعا، بعد أن سطرت أروع البطولات والملاحم وبعد أن أديت الأمانة كاملة وإنا لنشهد لك بها.
فتى لا يريد العـز إلا من التقى ** ولا المال إلا من قنـاً وسيوف
ولا الذخر إلا من كل جرداء صلد ** مٍوكل رقيـق الشفرتين حليف
فقدناه فـقـدان الربيــع فليــتـنا ** فدينــاه مـن سـادتنـا بألـــوف
خفيفٌ على ظهر الجواد إذا عدا ** و ليس على أعـدائه بخفـيف
عليك سـلام الله وقفـاً فإننـي ** أرى الموت وقاعـاً بكل شريف

متنا الحبيبة،إنه لحري بنا أن نحيي هذه المناسبة الغالية المباركة و نبرز قصة حياة شيخنا القدوة للأجيال القادمة،فإننا في أمس الحاجة إلى أن نتنسم عبير شيخ عاش سنين حياته في خدمة الإسلام والجهاد.

فحيَّ على جنات عدن فإنها ** منـازلنا الأولى وفيها المخيم

و لكننا سبي العدو فهل ترى ** نعـود إلـى أوطاننا ونسلم

وقد زعموا أن الغريب إذا نأى** وشطت به أوطانه فهو مغرم

وأي اغتراب فوق غربتنا التي** لها أضحت الأعداء فينا تحكم

رحمك الله يا أسامة، طبت حيا وميتا، فقد عشت عيشة الأحرار ولاقيت المنية حرا أبيا، كم ودعت من شهيد حبيب في قوافل الشهداء، وها قد آن الأوان أن نودعك نحن بقلوب محتسبة صابرة فإنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون وإنا على فراقك لمحزونون، تقبلك الله ومن معك في فردوسه الأعلى.

كما أننا نؤكد أنا على العهد ماضون ومازال قسمك المشهور في رقابنا إلى أن ننتصر أو نذوق ما ذاقه حمزة بن عبد المطلب رضي الله عنه.

وصلى الله على نبينا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه وسلم.

إصدار مؤسسة الكتائب للإنتاج الإعلامي
جمادى الثانية 1432 هـ الموافق لمايو 2011 م
لا تنسوا إخوانكم المجاهدين من الدعاء

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A copy of the statement can be downloaded via these NON-militant URLs:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=U07E5HIM

http://www.zshare.net/download/90231905ace5c951/

http://depositfiles.com/de/files/bjyc0u4ya

Harakat al-Shabab in Somalia Hold Conference to Eulogize Usama bin Laden, American Member Omar Hammami Present

2011-05-11T15:03:00.005-04:00

Omar Hammami (right) and Muqtaar Robow (left)

UPDATE (May 17, 2011): New "In Pictures" post with more photographs released by the insurgent movement from last week's conference eulogizing Usama bin Laden HERE.

The Somali Islamist-insurgent movement Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen (Movement of Warrior-Youth) recently held a conference on the killing of Usama bin Laden, the founder and late leader of Al-Qa'ida Central. The conference comes on the heels of a May 7 press conference by the movement's spokesman, 'Ali Mahamoud Rage ('Ali Dheere), during which he eulogized the late AQC leader, who has been an important ideological influence on the insurgent movement, though its actions have remained focused on regional (East Africa, Somalia) goals. The banner at the conference read, "We are all Usama."

At the most recent conference, which was attended by movement supporters and clan leaders, senior Harakat al-Shabab members were present including Muqtaar Robow (Mukhtar Robow "Abu Mansuur"), who has not appeared in the movement's media for some time, Fu'ad Muhammad Khalaf "Shongole," who recently held a press conference of his own to deny claims that he had been killed, and Hasan Dahir Aweys. Also present was American member Omar Hammami, who is known by the nom de guerre "Abu Mansur al-Amriki."

I am currently working on a piece for Al-Wasat blog and a second piece on Harakat al-Shabab's efforts at rudimentary state-building and reaction to Bin Laden's killing. Stay tuned.

Hasan Dahir Aweys

Muqtaar Robow

Clan attendees

Shaykh al-Muhajir (the Emigrant-Shaykh) 'Abd al-Qadir Mu'min from Britain

Abu 'Abd al-Rahman, Harakat al-Shabaab governor of Banaadir district

Islamic State of Iraq Amir Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Eulogizes Usama bin Laden, Second Al-Qa'ida Central Affiliate to Issue Statement

2011-05-09T14:41:00.000-04:00

"Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi: Amir of the Islamic State of Iraq"

The Al-Fajr (The Dawn) Media Center released a statement eulogizing Al-Qa'ida Central (AQC) founder Usama bin Laden today signed by the amir (leader) of the Islamic State of Iraq, the jihadi-takfiri umbrella organization that includes Al-Qa'ida in the Land of the Two Rivers/Iraq (AQI), Abu Bakr al-Husayni al-Qurayshi al-Baghdadi. He writes that the "mujahideen" (warriors of faith) in Iraq have been waiting for evidence that "Abu 'Abdullah" (Bin Laden) had really been killed and that when they heard the reports confirmed, their "hearts were filled with anguish." Al-Baghdadi extols the late AQC leader's life of struggle "for good" and celebrates that "his path led to martyrdom for what is good and against injustice." The ISI leader promises that Bin Laden's killing will only lead to more individuals joining the "mujahideen".

The statement labels AQC's deputy leader, Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, the "leader of our brothers in Al-Qa'ida" and says that the members of the ISI are "loyal" to the cause. Al-Baghdadi signs as the "servant of Islam and the Muslims" (Khadim al-Islam wa'l Muslimeen).

The ISI is the second of AQC's regional affiliates, after Al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) on May 8, to release a eulogy for Bin Laden. AQC's own statement was released on May 6.
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بيانٌ عن استشهاد الشيخ المجاهد أسامة بن لادن

بسـم الله الرحمـن الرحيـم

الحمد لله حقّ حمْده، والصّلاة والسّلام على عبْد الله ورسوله إمام المُجاهدين محمّد وآله وصحبه وجنده، وبعد: فقد بلغنا ما أعلنَت عنه رافعةُ لواء الصّليب وقائدة فسطاط الكفر أمريكا عن واقعةٍ أفجعتنا وهزّت نُفوسنا، وبقينا نترقّبُ كما المسلمون في كلّ مكانٍ بين الرّجاء والخَوف، وفي القُلوب لوعةٌ مكظومةٌ حتّى تأكّد الخبَر، فلا حول ولا قوّة الا بالله، وإنّنا والله على فراقك يا أبا عبد الله لمحزونون، وأيّ حُزن؛ لكنْ لا نقول إلا ما يُرضي ربّنا، فإنّ لله ما أخذ وله ما أبقى، وكلّ شيءٍ عنده بأجَلْ، وإنّا لله وإنّا اليه راجعون
.

مقتَّلون وقتّالون ميتتهم*** كما تُقتّل أسد الغاب في الأجم
والقتل عادتهم والقتل مكرمةٌ *** ولا يموتون من داءٍ ولا هرم
وبالوجوه جراحٌ ما تشينهم *** وما بهم طعنةٌ في ظهر منهزم

فنم قرير العينِ يا رجلاً بأمّة، ووالله لئِن سُئلنا لنصدقنّ ولئِن استشهدنا لنشهدنّ: أنّك جاهدتَ في الله حقّ جهاده، وأدّيت الذي عليك، قُلتَ فعمِلتَ، وعاهدتَ فوفّيت، ولم تغدر ولم تنكث، ولم تُعطِ الدّنية في دينك، ولم تَنم على ضيمٍ أو تُداهن في الحقِ أحداً، مضيت إماماً زاهداً مهاجراً مجاهداً في سبيل الله مستيقناً على طريق الحقّ ولم ترتدّ لكَ بحمدِ الله راية، عزيزاً على الكافرين ذليلاً على المؤمنين ناصحاً لهم ومُحرّضاً على القتال حتّى اتاك من ربّك اليقين... اللهمّ هذه شهادتُنا في عبدك أسامة نلقاكَ بها فتقبل منّا.

ونقول لجرذ البيت الأسود: إخسأ عدوّ الله فلن تعدو قدْرك، ولتكن لك في سلفك أية وقد ضاقت به أرض أمريكا وسماؤها وقواعدها العسكريّة بما فعلهُ بضعة عشر نفراً من رجالِ أسامة، فكيف بك اليوم!، وها هي الدّنيا تضيق عليكم بعد رحيله خوفاً ورُعباً، فصار موتُه كحياته شوكةً في حُلوقكم، وحِملاً ثقيلاً عليكم يُنكّد عَيشكم ويُهدّد أمنَكم ويستنزفُ أموالكم؛ فقد حُقّ لرجال أسامةَ اليوم أنْ يبرّوا قَسَمه..

وأقول لأبنائي وإخواني المجاهدين وشباب الأمّة الغيور على دينه: إنّ المُصاب جلَل والخطبُ عظيم فاصْبروا واحْتسبوا واستعينوا بالله وتوكّلوا عليه، فقد أدّى الشّيخُ ما عليه وعاش حياته رجلاً ليس كالرّجال، لمْ يرضَ إلا حياةَ الأحرار، فعاشَ عزيزاً ومات شهيداً مُقبلاً غير مُدبر، نحسبُه كذلك والله حسيبُه، فسيروا على دربه وموتوا على ما ماتَ عليه من الخير، ومن شابه كرامَ الأمّة فما ظلم..

وإنا لقومٌ ما تفيض دموعنا *** على ميتٍ منا وإن قصم الظهرا
ولسنا كمن يبكي أخاه بعبرةٍ *** فيعصرها من جفن مقلته عصرا
ولكننا نشفي الفؤاد بغارةٍ *** تلهّب من قطري جوانبه جمرا

وإنّي وإن كنتُ واثقاً من أنّ استشهاد الشّيخ لن يزيد إخوانّه المُجاهدين إلا تماسكاً وثباتاً، فإنّي أقولُ لإخواننا بتنظيم القاعدة وفي مقدّمتهم الشّيخ المجاهد أيمن الظّواهري حفظه الله وإخوانه في قيادة التّنظيم: عظّم الله أجركم وأحسن الله عزائكم في هذا المُصاب، وسيروا على بركة الله فيما ترونه من أمركم، وأبْشروا؛ فإنّ لكم في دولة العراق الإسلاميّة رجالاً أوفياءَ ماضُون على الحقّ في دربهم لا يَقيلونَ ولا يَستَقيلون، ووالله إنّه للدّم الدّم، والهدْم الهدْم.. اللّهم ارحم عبدكَ أسامة وتقبّله عندك في الشّهداء، اللّهم اغفِر له، وأكرِم نزُله ووسّع مدخله، واجعَله ممّن يرى مقعده منَ الجنّة، اللّهم باعد بينه وبين خطاياه كما باعدت بين المشرق والمغرب، ألّلهم نقّه من الخطايا كما يُنقّى الثّوب الأبيضُ من الدّنس، واغسله بالماء والثّلج والبرَد، اللّهم ارفع درجته واجعله مع الصّديقين والشّهداء والصّالحين وألحِقْنا بهم... واللّهم يا حيّ يا قيّوم أجرنا في هذه المُصيبة واخلف لنا خيراً منها
..

وآخر دعوانا أنِ الحمدُ لله ربّ العالمين، والصّلاة والسّلام على نبيّنا محمّد وعلى آله وصحبه أجمعين.

أخوكم

أبو بَكر الحُسينيّ البَغداديّ
خادمُ الإسلام والمسلمين

المصدر: مركز الفجر للإعلام

My Eighth Guest Piece on Prof. Juan Cole's Informed Comment: "After Usama: The Jihadi-Takfiri Trend after Bin Laden"

2011-05-08T15:35:00.005-04:00

My eighth guest piece was published on Friday at Informed Comment, the widely-read blog of Prof. Juan Cole of the University of Michigan's Department of History, who is a noted expert on the modern Middle East and South Asia, with a specialty in Shi'i Islam. The piece is entitled, "After Usama: The Jihadi-Takfiri Trend after Bin Laden." It examines the possible impact of the killing of Al-Qa'ida Central's (AQC) founder-leader, Usama bin Laden, which was confirmed by AQC itself on May 6 in a statement. The first regional AQC affiliate to eulogize Bin Laden is Al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in a statement released today (May 8).

"The killing of Usama bin Laden, the founder of Al-Qa‘ida Central, this week in Pakistan has opened the door to intense speculation about the future of the militant organization and the transnational jihadi-takfiri trend that it represents. A great deal of attention has been paid to who the next leader of al-Qaeda Central, its next public face, will be. Bin Laden’s killing, while certainly a major loss to al-Qaeda Central and its regional affiliates, does not sound the death knell of the transnational trend known as the jihadi-takfiri (those who view Muslim holy war [jihad] as a pillar of the faith and who lightly excommunicate [takfir] and attack other Muslims who disagree with them). While the importance of his killing should be recognized, it is critically important to not exaggerate its likely impact."

Read the rest HERE.
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My first guest piece, "The Islamic State of Iraq’s Positions on Iraqi National Elections: The Continuing Decline of a Self-styled Jihadi State," can be read HERE.

My second guest piece, "The Death of a Caliph: Will the Reported Killings of the Islamic State of Iraq's Two Senior Leaders Spell the End of the Self-styled Jihadi State?", can be read HERE.

My third guest piece, "From 'Martyrdom' Videos to Jihadi Journalism in Somalia," can be read HERE.

My fourth guest piece, "HAMAS' Rhetoric as Spoiler," can be read HERE.

My fifth guest piece, "Hezbollah's Double Standards: Iran, Tunisia, & Popular Protest," can be read HERE.

My sixth guest piece, "Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood & the Demonstrations: Fact vs. Fiction," can be read HERE.

My seventh guest piece, "Building an Insurgent State in Somalia?", can be read HERE.