Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, the leader of Al Qaeda
franchise in Iraq, dropped a bombshell Monday by announcing that Syria’s Jabhat
al-Nusrah and the Islamic State of Iraq were to be united under a new name
“Islamic State in Iraq and Sham [Levant] (ISIS)” – which can also be called Al
Qaeda in Iraq and Sham/Syria (AQIS).
The announcement upset many Syrians who
rightly think that would reflect badly on the outside world’s support for the
Syrian uprising. As if! But what about Jihadists themselves, who were also
surprised by the announcement? Al Baghdadi’s statement was treated with caution
by almost the majority of visitors to Jihadi web forums. Some share the fears
of Syrians that the announcement would reflect badly on jihadists and create
friction between Salafi, Jihadi and FSA fighters on the ground. Instead of
continuing to work together against the regime for practical reasons, being
associated with Al Qaeda would cause inconvenience and divisions for non-extremists.
Paradoxically, others welcomed the move for these exact reasons saying that
openness would help the Jihadists to know who is genuinely working with them
and who is just taking them for a ride.
This is a sample of the variations of the
voices I came across online:
Abol Fadel Madhi:
The [move] causes deeper questions and
challenges than changing the name, and is more dangerous than revealing the
links between Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State of Iraq; for the name is
nothing but a reflection of the group’s activities, and the link has become
clear to all intelligence services. Here are the questions and challenges:
Does the announcement indicate that we have
learned from the lesson of the Islamic State of Iraq or does it repeat the same
approach, that is making an announcement in the middle of the battle? It
creates unnecessary disagreement with other Islamic Jihadist groups and other
non-Islamist armed groups.
The presence of Jabhat al-Nusra among the
Syrian rebels had made the West and the East conspire against the Syrian
revolution, which added to the burdens and risks. What is the impact of this
announcement in this context? Will it add to the series of conspiracies? Will
that strengthen the mujahedeen and weaken their enemy or the other way around?
Will the Mujahedeen on the ground unite under
this State or will they use their own discretion. Will that then be at the
expense of our dedication to topple the regime as soon as possible to avoid
more Muslim bloodshed?
The
West has not intervened in Syria for several reasons including for the security
of Israel, by weakening Syria so that it no longer threatens its neighbours.
Will the West now intervene because of the announcement or the West is too weak
to do that"
Abu Jihad Al Shami:
"[He expresses frustration] Isn’t time
that our jihadist organisations learned from their mistakes? Don’t you remember
the announcement of Islamic State in Iraq and the subsequent Sahwa [Awakening]
Councils? Was the mistake not clear to you? Even the name had caused friction.
And now, the disaster is repeated, no, it’s now even worse, for the Islamic
State in Iraq was announced from Iraq but the new State was announced from Iraq
by the emir of Iraq, not Syria.
I’m personally not against this but I know
things that most of you don’t know about, because I fought with many groups and
on more than one front in the Levant. This will create friction and will even
throw some of the groups into our enemies’ camps.
How is it that the rest of jihadist groups
were not informed of such a dangerous decision? I am certain that the
announcement is premature and the situation is not suitable for it. The
announcement is shocking; the defenders of Jabhat al-Nusra in media will not be
in a position to defend it anymore."
Nour Eddin Al Zinki:
"[He quotes a Quranic verse about
alliance with the weak-hearted and double-faced]. This announcement will throw
off the masks of the hypocrites Inshallah. The first positive result of this
announcement is that the borders between Syria and Iraq have started to
crumble.
Qutb:
"[He addresses Abol Fadl]. The
announcement and the announcer are not a divine revelation, nor is it part of
Sharia to obey them. Not everyone who goes against a certain ruling should be
deemed collaborator or rebellious against Sharia.
Battar:
"The mujahideen have become
experienced in this field and they know more than us of the implications of
this blessed announcement. I think they had studied the plan well before they
made the announcement. It will also show the true Jihadist groups in the Levant
and encourage them to unite. The announcement will increase Syrians’ love
towards Al Qaeda Jihadists and expose the clerics who have been speaking well
of Jabhat al-Nusra but ill of Al Qaeda.
Hassan Hassan
Comments About This Article
Please fill the fields below.