Warning: Undefined array key "rbname" in /data/rantburg.com/www/pgrecentorg.php on line 14
Hello !
Recent Appearances... Rantburg

Israel-Palestine-Jordan
The Palestinian Mujahideen Movement announced that its Secretary-General was killed in an Israeli attack that targeted the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza
2025-06-08
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]

Heads of terror group that abducted and murdered Bibas family killed by IDF

[IsraelTimes] Asaad Abu Sharia and Mahmoud Kaheel from Mujahideen Brigades, killed in Gaza strikes; also behind murders of hostages Gadi Haggai, Judih Weinstein and Thai farmhand Nattapong Pinta

The leader of a small Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with a rusty iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response...
 terror group responsible for the October 7, 2023, abductions and eventual murders of several hostages, including Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, was killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza City on Saturday, the military said. Another senior member was killed in a separate strike in the city.

Asaad Abu Sharia was head of the Mujahideen Brigades, a relatively small Hamas
..a contraction of the Arabic words for "frothing at the mouth",...
-allied terror group in the enclave, while Mahmoud Kaheel was one of its leading operatives. The Brigades confirmed the two had been killed.

"The news represents another step for us in closing the circle and the process of accepting the great loss," the Bibas family said in a statement following the news, adding, "Shiri, Ariel and Kfir will not return, but there is some comfort in knowing that the vile murderers will not harm another family."

Shiri Bibas, Yarden Bibas, and their two redheaded sons, Ariel, 4, and Kfir, a baby who was just nine months old at the time of the attack, were kidnapped from their Kibbutz Nir Oz home on October 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas-led gunnies stormed southern Israel to kill some 1,200 people and take 251 hostages, sparking the war in Gaza.

In February, during Israel’s temporary ceasefire deal with Hamas, Yarden Bibas was released on February 1. The terror group then released the bodies of Ariel and Kfir Bibas alongside the body of hostage Oded Lifshitz, and an unidentified Gaza woman whom they claimed was Shiri Bibas. After Israel protested, Hamas returned Shiri’s body.

Then-IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari said the boys’ captors had murdered them in November 2023 "in cold blood" and "with bare hands" and committed atrocities to hide the evidence — contrary to Hamas’s claim that the boys and their mother were killed in an Israeli Arclight airstrike
...KABOOM!...
. Hagari added that Yarden Bibas had asked him to ensure the world "knows and is horrified by the way his children were murdered."

The Israel Defense Forces said that in addition to the Bibas family, the Brigades also kidnapped and murdered Gadi Haggai and Judih Weinstein, as well as Thai hostage Nattapong Pinta. The military recovered the bodies of Haggai and Weinstein from Gaza on Wednesday night, while Pinta’s body was returned on Saturday.

Haggai and Weinstein, 72 and 70, were a married couple who held US citizenship. They were murdered during their morning walk near Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023, and their deaths were confirmed by the military in December of that year.

Pinta, 31, was kidnapped alive from Nir Oz, where he worked as a farmhand, and murdered in captivity. He was one of some 30 Thai nationals working in agriculture in Israel who were kidnapped on October 7.

He moved to Israel a year and a half before the onslaught to work on the avocado and pomegranate farm and support his wife and young son in Thailand.

Paleostinian media reported over 30 dead in the strike in the Sabra neighborhood that killed Abu Sharia. The strike that killed Kaheel also killed his wife, children, and other family members, the terror group said.

According to the IDF, Abu Sharia invaded Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, onslaught and was "directly involved" in abductions and murders of civilians, including members of the Bibas family.

The IDF said Abu Sharia was also behind various attacks in the Strip and directed attacks on Israel from the West Bank.

Terror groups in the Gaza Strip are now holding 56 hostages, including 55 of the 251 kidnapped by Hamas-led gunnies on October 7, 2023.

They include the bodies of at least 33 confirmed dead by the IDF. Another 20 are believed to be alive, while there are grave concerns for the well-being of three others, Israeli officials have said.
Related:
Mujahideen Movement: 2023-02-25 Top IS-Khorasan Commander Killed in Southern Afghanistan
Mujahideen Movement: 2009-05-31 "Al-Qaida's Online Couriers: The Al-Fajr Media Center and the Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF)"
Mujahideen Movement: 2007-06-04 Suicide attack on Somali PM's house kills 4
Related:
Mujahideen Brigades: 2025-06-06 A city of booby traps, tunnels: ToI in Khan Younis hours after bodies of 2 hostages retrieved
Mujahideen Brigades: 2025-06-05 Shin Bet grilling of Gazan detainee led IDF to hostages found in overnight raid: the American-Israeli couple’s bodies held in Khan Younis by same group that murdered Shiri Bibas and her sons
Mujahideen Brigades: 2025-06-05 Hamas’ new leader, Azaddin al-Haddad. Hired in the morning, toes up by evening; at least 95 Paleos killed Wednesday per Hamas Health Ministry
Link


India-Pakistan
Emir of Al-Qaeda allied Ansar Ghazwatul Hind, Zakir Musa, has been officially killed
2019-05-24







Wikipedia on the group
Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (Urdu: انصار غزوات ال ہند‎) is a militant organization and Al-Qaeda cell in Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab led by Zakir Rashid Bhat aka Zakir Musa.[1][2][3][4] In July 2017, the Global Islamic Media Front claimed that Zakir Musa had been named the head of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.[5][6][7] On 7 December 2017 the group released a statement that condemned United States President Donald Trump's deceleration of moving the United States embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.[8] On 25 December 2017, in a video of a Kashmiri militant declaring allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and declaring a new ISIL Province in Kashmir the fighter called on Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind to ally with or give allegiance to ISIL and wage Jihad in Kashmir against the Indian government.[9]In February 2018, the group released a video of Zakir Musa calling on Indian Muslims to attack Indian army patrols and checkpoints as well as companies interested in investing in India.[10][11] In April 2018, the group published material that encouraged Muslims across India and Kashmir to carryout lone wolf attacks.[12]

Kashmir Patriot: J&K Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind loses its commander, Curfew imposed in Kashmir
Srinagar: Panic gripped Kashmir valley Thursday evening as the news of AGH commander Zakir Moosa being trapped in an encounter started doing rounds on social media.

Earlier, SOG of Jammu and Kashmir Police, 42nd battalion of Rashtriya Rifles and troops from CRPF laid a cordon in Dadsara village of Tral in South Kashmir.

As the forces came closer to the target house and asked the two hiding militants to surrender a barrage of UBGL grenades was launched over them and the encounter ensued.

In the exchange of fire two militants affiliated with Ansar Ghazwatul Hind including its founder and chief Zakir Moosa were killed.

As the reports of Zakir being gunned down spread on social media, the authorities decided to snap down the internet services in most of the areas of the valley. Authorities also decided to impose curfew throughout the valley on Friday.

Reports from Tral suggested that the whole area has been sealed and the houses in the village of Dadasara have been deployed with large contingents of armed forces.

Clashed in the vicinity are being reported amid sounds of gunshots. (CNS)


Times of India March 14, 2018: Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind is attracting jihadis from Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen beyond J&K.
Link


India-Pakistan
Al Qaeda announces Zakir Musa as head of Kashmir cell
2017-07-28
[ENGLISH.MANORAMAONLINE] Global jihadi network Al Qaeda on Thursday officially announced the establishment of its unit in Jammu and Kashmir, naming former Hizbul Mujahideen militant Zakir Musa as its chief in the troubled state.

The announcement was made by the Global Islamic Media Front, a media wing of Al Qaeda and its allied jihadist groups across the world.

The Al Qaeda online propaganda wing disseminated a statement on social media, declaring Musa, a close aide of slain militant commander Burhan Wani, as its leader in Kashmir.

"After the heroic martyrdom of Burhan Wani, the jihad in Kashmir has entered a stage of awakening. Firmly holding the flag of jihad in their hands, Muslims in Kashmir have committed to retaliate with gun every aggression by tyrant Indian invaders," the statement said.

It said jihad with the aid of Allah was the only way to "liberate Kashmir."

"For this goal, a new movement of jihad has been founded by the companions of Wani under the leadership of Zakir Musa," the statement said. The new Al Qaeda cell has been named Ansar Ghawzat-ul-Hind.

Though there have been speculations earlier that Al Qaeda was making inroads in Kashmir, this is the first official confirmation from the terror network about its presence in the state.

Earlier, a 2014 video had called on "brothers in Kashmir" to wage jihad against India.

Though political separatist leaders and militant commanders have been denying a link between Kashmir militancy and jihadi movements like Al Qaeda and Islamic State but Musa, who succeeded Wani after his July 2016 killing, in an April video message made his intentions clear.

Musa asked Kashmiris not to "fall for nationalism" as it was a sin in Islam.

"I see many people in Kashmir are engaged in a war of nationalism, which is forbidden in Islam. The fight in Jammu and Kashmir should not be for the sake of the state. It should be exclusively for Islam so that sharia is established here."

The 23-year-old militant also threatened to kill Hurriyat leaders if they spoke for nationalism and deny that the struggle in Kashmir was for the establishment of strict Islamic code.

The Hizbul Mujahideen, the largest group of local militants, condemned his statement saying they have nothing to do with his Islamist assertions.

Interestingly, Hizbul Mujahideen commander Syed Salahuddin, who is based in Pakistan, released a video statement on Wednesday urging Kashmiris "not to join any global jihadi movement".

"Some of our friends are playing in the hands of our enemy and trying to create divide between people and their leadership. Our movement is an indigenous movement. The freedom movement of Jammu and Kashmir has no worldwide agenda, no links with organizations like Islamic State or Al Qaeda.

"Such organizations have no role in Kashmir," Salahuddin said in a five-minute video clip.
Al Ahram adds:
Musa recently left Kashmire's largest indigenous rebel group, Hizbul Mujahideen, and is believed to have been joined by less than a dozen others.

Previously, no global jihadi groups have openly operated in Kashmire, a territory divided between India and Pakistain but claimed by both.
Link


Africa Horn
Shaboobs threaten more attacks in Kenya
2016-02-25
The leader of Al Shabaab’s local branch in Kenya threatened more violence inside the country during arecent lecture to soldiers at a training camp following last month’s attack on Kenyan troops in El Adde, Somalia. Al Shabaab is the official arm of al Qaeda in East Africa.

The leader, Ahmed Iman Ali, also discussed the rationale for targeting the Kenyan troops in neighboring Somalia.

“Know for sure that disaster has struck El Adde. The Kenyans were warned again and again and again,” Ali said, according to an English translation of a video released by the al Qaeda-linked Global Islamic Media Foundation (GIMF). Ali went on to say: “Right now as I speak to you, the only thing that I bought was my turban. My gun, my pouch and my uniform are all war booty from (Kenyan troops).”

He then discussed crimes allegedly committed by the Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF) in both Kenya and Somalia.

“The first time our sister who was pregnant was thrown by the kuffar [apostates] from the third floor,” Ali said. “Another sister in the same area was also thrown from the top of a house until her spine broke. In Mandera, they came and kidnapped our mother who had five children and was their support.”

The jihadist then threatened Kenya with future attacks by saying Shabaab will force Kenya to “change their flag by erasing all the colors except the red one as an indication of the blood that we will spill in Kenya.” He concluded his threat by stating “the Kenyans immersed themselves into a war whilst they did not fully comprehend the meaning of war.”

In the video, Ali also directed his focus to the families of the killed KDF soldiers, as well. “If the family of the person owning this gun that is numbered 490 is looking for their son, let them know that I am now in possession of the war booty taken from him.” Additionally, he stated that “Any Kenyan who has lost their family members from the army that was defeated by the lions of Shabaab should contact us.”

In discussing El Adde, Ali referenced last months attack on a Kenyan base in the southern Somalian town in which over 60 KDF troops were reportedly killed. Shabaab has put the number even higher at 100 KDF troops killed. Just a few days later, the KDF withdrew from El Adde and Shabaab captured the town.
Link


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
AQAP offers condolences for top Salafi leaders killed in Gaza
2012-10-25
On Oct. 13, Israel killed Abu al Walid al Maqdisi, the former emir of the Tawhid and Jihad Group in Jerusalem, and Ashraf al Sabah, the former emir of Ansar al Sunnah, in an airstrike. The two were reportedly leaders of the Mujahideen Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem (MSC), which is a consolidation of Salafi-Jihadist groups in Gaza.

Since their deaths, a number of statements and eulogies have been released by jihadist groups and media outlets such as the Global Islamic Media Front, Jaish al Ummah, Masada al Mujahideen, Islamic State of Iraq, and Ansar Jerusalem, among others.

On Oct. 24, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) released a statement on jihadist forums, titled "Statement of Condolences for the Killing of the Two Mujahid Sheikh Abu al-Walid al-Maqdisi and Abu al-Bara'a al-Maqdisi." The statement was obtained and translated by the SITE Intelligence Group.
Link


India-Pakistan
Militants in Karachi
2011-12-12
[Dawn] THE death of three Rangers in the terrorist attack in Bloody Karachi on Friday indicates the presence of Al Qaeda or its deadly affiliates in the nation`s biggest city as well as the bad boys` success in developing new and sophisticated killing techniques. While the police are not yet sure whether the Safoora Chowrangi forces of Evil belonged to Jundullah -- not to be confused with the Iranian Baloch group -- they say there is a pattern to how the bad boy organization has of late been striking in Bloody Karachi. There was no jacket wallah in the Friday morning attack; it was a uni-directional improvised bomb which killed the Rangers in what is reportedly the eighth attack of its nature in Bloody Karachi. Previously too, Jundullah used this technique with deadly effect in attacks on navy buses in Bloody Karachi. On Friday, the forces of Evil had chosen their target after carefully observing how, where and when the Rangers parked their van. The killers placed the IED near a garbage dump to camouflage it. Even though the van was parked a little away from the usual place, the IED, laced with nails and bolts, blew up in the direction of the vehicle and killed or injured the Rangers.

That the security agencies have had some progress in going after Al Qaeda is evident from the acknowledgment by the Global Islamic Media Front, a jihadist website, that Moeed Abd al-Salam, the man killed in a raid by Pakistain Rangers on a hideout in Gulistan-i-Jauhar in November, was one of its founders. Friday`s murders could be a retaliatory response. Al Qaeda and its various affiliate groups have often used Bloody Karachi as a base. The authorities` failure to penetrate these sleeper cells has enabled Al Qaeda, whose leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri
... Second in command of al-Qaeda, occasionally described as the real brains of the outfit. Formerly the Mister Big of Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Bumped off Abdullah Azzam with a car boom in the course of one of their little disputes. Is thought to have composed bin Laden's fatwa entitled World Islamic Front Against Jews and Crusaders. Currently residing in the North Wazoo area. That is not a horn growing from the middle of his forehead, but a prayer bump, attesting to how devout he is...
, has declared war on Pakistain, to carry out well-planned and daring raids on military targets with telling effect. The audacious raid on PNS Mehran last May would not have been possible without, one, cooperation from sympathisers within the security establishment and, two, an undercover system of training, funding and planning operations. It is this well-organised clandestine structure that needs to be unearthed and destroyed.
Link


India-Pakistan
U.S. Citizen, Top Al-Qaeda Propagandist, Reported Dead In Pakistan
2011-12-09
On December 8, 2011, the Global Islamic Media Front, an Al-Qaeda-affiliated media company, announced the death of one of its senior operatives, 'Abd Al-Moeed bin 'Abd Al-Salam.

Apparently, 'Abd Al-Salam had studied and worked in the U.S., and also held a U.S. citizenship, before joining Al-Qaeda and going to Afghanistan to wage jihad there.

According to the GIMF, he had played a leading role in Al-Qaeda's online media efforts, establishing forums and websites and developing Al-Qaeda's propaganda operations in numerous languages.

While the GIMF did not say when 'Abd Al-Salam died, on November 24, 2011, a member of the Shumoukh Al-Islam forum posted a thread informing members of the death of a senior GIMF operative, presumably referring to 'Abd Al-Salam.
Link


Great White North
Quebecker gets life sentence in internet bomb plot
2010-02-18
An Islamic extremist from small-town Quebec who schemed to set off bombs abroad has received the toughest sentence possible for a terrorist convicted under Canadian law. Said Namouh, 37, who plotted over the Internet from his basement apartment in Maskinongé, Que., was handed a life sentence with no chance of parole for 10 years.

Unlike three other Canadians recently convicted of terrorism, Mr. Namouh never got his hands on bomb-making material and took few concrete steps toward carrying out his plot. But Judge Claude Leblond said he is still extremely dangerous and, unlike the others convicted of terrorism in Canada, he showed no remorse and no prospect of rehabilitation. "The evidence shows his enthusiasm to participate in the project," Judge Leblond said. "In fact, he was probably destined to be the suicide bomber."

Mr. Namouh was convicted in October on four charges of taking part in terrorist activities, including the bomb plot. His group had a long list of potential targets in Europe.

Mr. Namouh, a member of the Global Islamic Media Front, was also found guilty of trying to extort Germany and Austria into withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, and other propaganda activities. In Internet jihad circles, the GIMF is known as one of the oldest and most far-reaching networks. Writing under the pseudonym "Ashraf," Mr. Namouh submitted 1,075 postings to a GIMF site.

His lawyer, René Duval, described the sentence as "extremely severe," given that a co-conspirator in Austria considered the ring leader served only a few years in jail. One member of the so-called Toronto 18 has also received a life sentence, with no chance of parole for 10 years. Mr. Duval argued that other Canadian plotters bought bomb-making supplies and had detailed plans while Mr. Namouh's plot consisted only of Internet chatter. Judge Leblond said two others who have received lighter sentences expressed regret and were often manipulated into playing small parts in plots. Mr. Namouh was a driving force behind his scheme, the judge said.

Crown prosecutor Dominique Dudemaine said Mr. Namouh's plot was far more advanced than idle chatter. "He was about to board the plane, when he was arrested, he was in the process of obtaining the visa to leave the country. He was ready to work," Mr. Dudemaine said. Mr. Namouh engaged in hundreds of online conversations and produced videos praising extremist attacks. He distributed ransom demands for the kidnappers of a British journalist in Gaza.

In August, 2007, Mr. Namouh planned a trip to Egypt for a bomb attack in Europe. In one brief online comment, he proclaimed his expertise in explosives. His handler and alleged co-conspirator sent him $800, suggesting he buy a gun. At his sentencing hearing, Mr. Namouh said he knew nothing about guns and explosives and never had violent intent. The judge said Mr. Namouh has "no credibility."

Mr. Namouh came to Canada from Morocco after marrying a Quebec woman in 2002. He took odd jobs and was chronically short of cash. The couple split a short time later. Mr. Namouh, who was given credit for time served awaiting trial since his arrest in 2007, is also facing a deportation order.
Link


Africa Horn
Somalia militant group admits death of commander
2009-09-17
[Khaleej Times] Somalia's Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab extremist group has acknowledged that one of its commanders was killed in a US military raid. The Shebab group "acknowledged the death of one of its commanders... and a group of its fighters in a communique issued on jihadist forums," SITE Intelligence Group said on Tuesday.

US officials confirmed the raid on Monday, and said that Shebab commander Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan had been killed in the operation. Nabhan is a Kenyan citizen wanted by the FBI over the 2002 anti-Israeli attacks in Mombasa.
Israelis killed in Mombasa? How does the FBI have an interest?
The Shebab posted a statement on the Global Islamic Media Front website indicating "that six helicopters initially participated in the attack and fired 'heavily and in a focused manner' on a car driven by the fighters," according to SITE.
"The big meanies are picking on us!"
"They said that two of the helicopters landed and then these fighters responded to them in an hour-long clash, but were overwhelmed by the four other helicopters."
"We coulda taken them, but the meanies cheated."
Earlier Tuesday, a top Shebab commander told AFP that the group would "retaliate against this unprovoked attack." "The United States is Islam's known enemy and we will never expect mercy from them, nor should they expect mercy from us," a member of the extremist group said.
Whatcha gonna do, Mr. Al Shababer-man? Seduce more of our jihadi-minded sons to send to their deaths?
"We are investigating the matter and if any Somali is found to have aided the attackers, then he or she shall face Allah's verdict," he said on condition of anonymity.

The governor of the Lower Shabelle region where the raid occurred said three civilians were killed during the operation, details of which remain murky.

ABC News reported that at least one US helicopter was involved in the raid, along with support from a US Navy ship offshore that was on hand to monitor the situation and provide assistance if needed. Nabhan's body was taken into US custody, added ABC, a US television network.
Link


Great White North
Case wraps up for jihadi propagandist in Quebec
2009-06-11
A judge has rejected a motion attempting to have terrorism-related charges dismissed against a Quebec man who argued they infringed on his rights to freedom of speech. Judge Claude Leblond issued the ruling Wednesday in the case of Said Namouh, who is charged with creating and distributing jihad propoganda. Namouh's lawyer, Rene Duval, said he will appeal the decision.

The Moroccan native is facing four terrorism-related charges - conspiracy to detonate an explosive device, participating in a terrorist act, facilitating an act and committing extortion for a terrorist group. Both the Crown and the defence began pleading their final arguments on Wednesday. The Crown contends Namouh is a member of the Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF), an organization involved in propaganda and jihad recruitment and which is described as a media tool for al-Qaida.

Namouh was initially arrested in September 2007 for his alleged role in plotting terror attacks in Germany and Austria because of their military role in Afghanistan. RCMP computer-crimes detectives later found evidence on Namouh's computer of dozens of videos and other propaganda materials and thousands of pages of transcripts from chat and forum discussions revealing he was an active member on jihad forums and message boards. Namouh is alleged to have spent countless hours creating, distributing and re-distributing numerous propaganda videos that included images of deaths of western soldiers and of suicide bombings.

In his closing arguments, Crown prosecutor Dominique Dudemaine described the videos as Namouh's "bread and butter." The videos the Crown alleges were produced by Namouh include the kidnapping video of BBC journalist Alan Johnston in Gaza by a group known as the Army of Islam, a group affiliated with GIMF.

Namouh, 36, did not take the stand in his own defence and Duval presented no arguments other than the constitutional challenge. Duval insisted there was no conspiracy, calling the discussions between Namouh and his Austrian counterpart, Mohammed Mahmoud, unilateral conversations. "Mere expression of interest does not amount to conspiracy," Duval said. "You need to have an agreement between two people." Mahmoud, described as a leader of the GIMF, was sentenced in March 2008 in Austria.

Duval also lambasted the Crown's star witness, controversial U.S. counterterrorism expert Rita Katz, suggesting she was biased and racist toward Arabs. He also said she simply collected information off the Internet without the background to properly evaluate it. Katz testified for days and submitted a lengthy report about Namouh's online activity under the name "Ashraf." Dudemaine defended Katz as a credible expert witness whose findings were backed up by a second expert.

He also asked Leblond to consider whether the GIMF is a terrorist group and whether publishing al-Qaida propaganda or violent jihad propaganda is a crime in Canada. "The judge may decide the guilt or not of Said Namouh without answering those questions and I think it's a good occasion for the court to send a message whether it is permitted in Canada," Dudemaine said.
Link


Terror Networks
"Al-Qaida's Online Couriers: The Al-Fajr Media Center and the Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF)"
2009-05-31
The NEFA Foundation has released a new interactive chart by NEFA Senior Investigator Evan Kohlmann titled, "Al-Qaida's Online Couriers: The Al-Fajr Media Center and the Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF)." The chart maps out in detail the multi-step process by which multimedia recorded by mujahideen organizations in the field is distributed online--including the critical roles played by the pre-eminent Internet logistical service providers (namely Al-Fajr and the GIMF). As indicated by the chart, the Al-Fajr Media Center has official "contractual" partnerships with the As-Sahab Media Foundation, Al-Qaida's "Islamic State of Iraq" (ISI), Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (Yemen), Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Ansar al-Islam in Iraq, and the Islam Awazi Information Center (the media wing of the Turkestan Islamic Party). Conversely, at present, the GIMF boasts its own active service relationships with Jaish al-Islam and Tawheed wal-Jihad in the Gaza Strip, and the Shabaab al-Mujahideen Movement in Somalia.
Link


Great White North
Canadian terror law challenged in court
2009-04-08
Said Namouh's computer held all sorts of videos, of American soldiers being blown up, the executions of "infidels" and a how-to guide on suicide attacks. But are these "jihadi" videos, and hundreds of online conversations drawn from the basement computer of the Moroccan native the underpinnings of terrorism, or were they simply the goings-on of a man practising his right to free expression? It's a central question to a case unfolding in a Montreal courtroom that is challenging the constitutionality of Canada's terror laws.

"This whole business of promoting and advocating jihad is the heart of the case," said Namouh's lawyer, René Duval, outside the courtroom yesterday. "They believe my client has advocated criminal acts through jihad by putting things on the Internet."

Duval contends that the terror laws, pushed through Parliament following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, contravene the constitutional rights to freedom of expression and religion. "They have the potential to catch both speech that is acceptable and that which is not," Duval said.

Namouh faces charges of conspiracy as well as participating in and facilitating the activities of a terrorist group, and extortion on behalf of a terrorist group. The Crown says Namouh, 36, was a key member of the Global Islamic Media Front, considered a major propaganda arm of such terrorist groups as Al Qaeda. It's alleged Namouh edited, subtitled and disseminated many of the videos himself.

A resident of Maskinongé, about 100 kilometres northeast of Montreal, Namouh was arrested on Sept. 13, 2007, for his alleged role in plotting terror attacks in Germany and Austria over their military role in Afghanistan.

Yesterday's court proceedings revolved heavily around whether actions targeted by the legislation are forms of expression protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms because they don't involve violence. Judge Claude Leblond asked Duval if speech that encourages people to be martyrs or jihadists "is speech that supports and does not undermine freedom of expression?"

"It's a genre of speech that is better controlled in the market of ideas than by legislation," Duval replied. Earlier, Duval told the judge, "when we criminalize propaganda, we criminalize a form of speech."

Crown prosecutor Dominique Dudemaine, however, said the basic concept of jihad, which can be interpreted as "struggle," is not what the legislation is aimed at. It's the "incitement to blow something up." Dudemaine referred to judgments that have upheld Canada's terror laws, including last fall's conviction of Momin Khawaja, the first person charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Khawaja was found guilty of financing and facilitating terrorism and was sentenced last month to 10 1/2 years in prison. On balance, Dudemaine said, "the legislation is valid because it doesn't infringe on any rights."

Among the many videos the Crown attributes to Namouh is one of BBC journalist Alan Johnston, kidnapped in Gaza in 2007 by the Army of Islam, a group affiliated with GIMF. (Johnston has been since freed.)
Link



Warning: Undefined property: stdClass::$T in /data/rantburg.com/www/pgrecentorg.php on line 132
-12 More