Al-Qaida Claims December 22th Baghdad Bombings

by Florian Flade

Just two days before Christmas numerous bomb explosion hit the predominately Shiite districts of Iraq´s capital Baghdad killing at least 69 people, wounding 180 others – most of them Shiite civilians. The sixteen different attacks took place only about two weeks after U.S. forces officially withdrew from the country.

Immediately blame was on Sunni militants linked to Al-Qaida. Today the „Islamic State of Iraq“, an umbrella organization which de facto represents Al-Qaida, has claimed responsibility for the December 22th Baghdad bombings. A written statement was released and posted in several Jihadi Internet forums.

The multiple attacks, Al-Qaida claims, were carried out „to support the weak Sunnis in the prisons of the apostates and to retaliate for the captives who were executed by the Safavid (Persian) government“. „Special operations“, as Al-Qaida calls the attacks, have allegedly targeted headquarters of the Al-Sadr Militia (Al-Qaida calls them „Army of the Devil“).

„The Iranian project has shown its ugly face“, Al-Qaida´s statement describes the Shiite-dominated government of Iraq. The terrorist group promises to punish the government in the future.

The December 22th bombing series is a clear signal that Al-Qaida – although it is weakened – is very much able to carry out coordinated suicide bombings on a large scale. America´s withdrawal from Iraq will activate and encourage those political elements in the region which are fearful of a strengthened Iran and a Shiite regime in Iraq that is getting its orders from Tehran. Sunni regional powers like the Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia might support the Anti-Shiite elements – like Al-Qaida – in a form that will cause the civil war in Iraq to explode intensify.

 

Germany´s „Mrs. Jihad“ a Victim of Torture?

by Florian Flade

When she appeared in the courtroom, Filiz G. seemed to repent and regret some of her activities that led to her arrest in February 2010. The 29-year old German-Turkish woman was charged with providing material and financial support to a terrorist organization. G. had collected money in Germany and transferred it via Turkey to the terrorist group „Deutsche Taliban Mujahideen“ (DTM).

Soon after her arrest it became known that Filiz G., wife of imprisoned Sauerland-Bomber Fritz G., was in fact the main moderator of the German language Ansar al-Jihad Forum – acting under the cover name of „fisebillah“. She had posted thousands of statements, comments and provided download links to propaganda videos as well as translated statements by the DTM. On a daily basis she was online and in steady contact with DTM´s media official, German-born Ahmet M., who was killed in Pakistan in April 2010. M. had made contact with Filiz G. and convinced her to play a key role in spreading propaganda coming from Waziristan.

In March Filiz G. was sentenced to two years and six months in prison by a Berlin court. During the court hearings she acknowledged that her activities were wrong and that she does not believe in violent Jihad anymore. Most of her fans and supporters, some of whom even witnessed the trial in court, are praising G.´s activities, labeling her a „noble Mujahida“ and calling for her release.

A few weeks ago „Mrs.Jihad“ Filiz G. was mentioned in an Arabic language statement posted on the internet by the „Global Islamic Media Front“ (GIMF), a German-Austrian propaganda organization which translated numerous Al-Qaida videos and documents over the past years. GIMF was mainly operated by a 24 year-old Islamist named Mohamed M. aka „Abu Usama al-Gharib“ from Vienna, who was sentenced to four years in prison in 2009 for spreading Jihadi propaganda and producing terror threats himself by appearing in a homemade video.

It was „Abu Usama al-Gharib“ who wrote the GIMF document naming Filiz G. as a victim of torture. According to the author Filiz G. was abused and tortured in prison several times.

„The kuffar presented their real face, they attacked and abused her body“, al-Gharib writes, „they insulted her and her faith (…) the prison administration did not allow her to wear the hijab anymore. She was forced to wear tight jeans and tight shirts.“

Allegedly the German prison guards attacked Filiz G. shortly after court had sent her to jail. The guards pushed her against the wall, touched her body, prisoner „Abu Usama al-Gharib“ states, „with their dirty and filthy hands“.

Even water to wash for the prayer was not given to G., the statement by al-Gharib claims. Filiz G. allegedly wrote in a letter: „If I would tell you what happened to me: your hearts would break into pieces, your bones would depart from your flesh…the pain of their beatings was easier to handle than their insulting, violation of the honor, pride and faith.“

„Abu Usama al-Gharib“ then continues to call the Muslims to the duty of defending their sister Filiz G. against the kuffar attacks. „Where are we?“, he asks, „It is not our sister who is imprisoned, it is us caught in this dunya (worldly presence).“

Meanwhile the statement by al-Gharib has spread in German Jihadi community and was distributed via Facebook and dozens of websites. In the Arabic original statement the imprisoned Austrian Jihadi activist Mohamed M. („Abu Usama“) also calls for attacks against Germany and German politicians. These threats were deleted in the German translation of the document.

Question remains how Mohamed M. was able to obtain the alleged information from Filiz G. and if the two had been in contact prior to their imprisonment. Also noteworthy is the fact that M. is obviously able to get his messages out of his prison cell in Vienna.

Filiz G. distanced herself from the terror threats and accusation against German prison staff. She was never limited in performing prayer or living according to her religion, G.´s lawyer said.

Al-Qaida´s Apple-Fetish

by Florian Flade

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You love the iPhone, iPad and all the other communication devices designed by Apple? So does al-Qaida. For the first time last week the terror network´s media wing „As-Sahab“ has published a preview-banner of a new, soon-to-be-released propaganda tape – in the shape of a new iPad 2. The GIF-animation features screenshots from the upcoming video, including stills of late al-Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden and American convert Adam Gadahn aka „Azzam al-Amrikki“.

Why al-Qaida choose an iPad image to announce the new tape´s release? I don´t know. But al-Qaida used similar preview banners in recent years, mostly using the shape of iPhones. For example al-Qaida´s branch in Iraq – the „Islamic State of Iraq“ – posted a iPhone4-style banner on the Jihadi forums last year to promote it´s „Battle of the Prisoners Part II“ video.

The first intention in using the Apple products seems to be a very plain and simple one: Look! We are adapting to modern Western technology! We are not stuck in the 7th century but instead use devices like smart phones and portable computers to spread the message of Jihad.

In addition to that, al-Qaida is expanding its reach on the sympathizer and fan-side by providing video and audio files that can be played, streamed or even downloaded onto a up-to-date smart phone like the iPhone 4. Within the community of Western Jihadis in Europe and North America or even just those interested in the propaganda material without supporting the organization or ideology, there are for sure more than a handful of smartphone users. So it should not be surprising al-Qaida & Co are entering the world of modern portable technology. In fact numerous terror groups have been providing 3gp-format files of their video releases for years now – especially meant to attract those spreading the propaganda on their mobile phones.