Le chef du groupe EI dans le classement "Forbes" des personnalités les plus puissantes

L'Irakien Abou Bakr al-Baghdadi s'est autoproclamé
en juin calife des musulmans dans le monde.

LE POINT: Abou Bakr al-Baghdadi, calife autoproclamé, arrive à la 54e place. Vladimir Poutine est lui couronné devant son homologue américain Barack Obama.

Abou Bakr al-Baghdadi, le chef autoproclamé du groupe État islamique, apparaît pour la première fois au classement annuel des personnalités les plus puissantes du magazine américain Forbes. Le président russe Vladimir Poutine a été couronné pour la seconde année devant Barack Obama. L'Irakien Abou Bakr al-Baghdadi, qui s'est autoproclamé en juin calife des musulmans dans le monde, et a pris depuis 2010 la direction des djihadistes de l'EI qui contrôlent de vastes pans de territoires en Irak et en Syrie, arrive à la 54e place de ce classement. Les États-Unis, en guerre contre l'EI depuis début août, ont offert 10 millions de dollars pour sa capture. » | Source AFP | mercredi 05 novembre 2014

Convert, Pay Tax, Or Die, Islamic State Warns Christians

Islamic insurgents in Mosul are consolidating control over
the civilians, warning any Christians remaining in the
city to agree to certain terms – or face death.

THE GUARDIAN: Insurgents issue ultimatum to Iraq's dwindling Christian population to abide by 'dhimma' contract or face the sword

Islamist insurgents have issued an ultimatum to northern Iraq's dwindling Christian population to either convert to Islam, pay a religious levy or face death, according to a statement issued by the Islamic State (Isis) and distributed in the militant-controlled city of Mosul. The al-Qaida offshoot that led last month's lightning assault to capture swathes of northern Iraq said the ruling would come into effect on Saturday.

In the statement, Isis said Christians who wanted to remain in the "caliphate" declared earlier this month in parts of Iraq and Syria must agree to abide by terms of a "dhimma" contract – a historic practice under which non-Muslims were protected in Muslim lands in return for a special levy known as "jizya". "We offer them three choices: Islam; the dhimma contract – involving payment of jizya; if they refuse this they will have nothing but the sword," the announcement said.

A resident of Mosul said the statement, issued in the name of the Islamic State in Iraq's northern province of Nineveh, had been distributed on Thursday and read out in mosques. It said that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, which the group has now named Caliph Ibrahim, had set a Saturday deadline for Christians who did not want to stay and live under those terms to "leave the borders of the Islamic Caliphate". "After this date, there is nothing between us and them but the sword," it said. Read on and comment » | Reuters | Friday, July 18, 2014

How 'Caliph' Baghdadi Aimed His Sermon at the Muslim Devout

The Western media focused on Ibrahim al-Baghdadi's wristwatch. But to relig[i]ous Muslims, the symbolism of his speech was carefully chosen, and clear

Read and comment on the Telegraph article here | Ed Hussain | Friday, July 18, 2014

Is This the Wife of Iraq's New Islamist Overlord?

Image from a video of a woman believed to be Saja al-Dulaimi,
the wife of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: First pictures emerge of Saja Hamid al-Dulaimi, said to be the spouse of Islamic State ruler Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

He is the world's most feared Islamic terrorist, carving out a new Middle East 'caliphate' through a combination of medieval butchery and stunning military success.

But until now, the wife of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the head of the Islamic State, has remained largely out of the public eye.

A photo has now emerged online purporting to show Saja Hamid al-Dulaimi – the woman whose husband now controls vast swathes of Syria and western Iraq after his forces routed government troops in a lightening eastern advance over recent weeks.

Although the provenance of the picture is unclear, it shows a youthful-looking woman draped in a black headscarf and gazing purposefully into the distance. » | Alastair Beach | Thursday, July 17, 2014

Battle to Establish Islamic State across Iraq and Syria

THE INDEPENDENT: The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant now controls vast stretch of land

Islamic fundamentalists have opened new fronts in their battle to establish an Islamic state across Iraq and Syria as they launch attacks in cities which were previously under the control of the Baghdad government.

A multi-pronged assault across central and northern Iraq in the past four days shows that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis) has taken over from the al-Qa’ida organisation founded by Osama bin Laden as the most powerful and effective extreme jihadi group in the world.

Isis now controls or can operate with impunity in a great stretch of territory in western Iraq and eastern Syria, making it militarily the most successful jihadi movement ever.

Led since 2010 by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, also known as Abu Dua, it has proved itself even more violent and sectarian than what US officials call the “core” al-Qa’ida, led by Ayman al-Zawahiri, who is based in Pakistan. Isis is highly fanatical, killing Shia Muslims and Christians whenever possible, as well as militarily efficient and under tight direction by top leaders.

In Iraq in the past four days, it has fought its way into the northern capital of Mosul, sent a column of its fighters into the central city of Samarra and taken over Iraq’s largest university at Ramadi, in the west of the country. In addition, it launched devastating bombings targeting Shia civilians in Baghdad that killed at least 52 people.

The creation of a sort of proto-Caliphate by extreme jihadis in northern Syria and Iraq is provoking fears in surrounding countries such as Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey that they will become targets of battle-hardened Sunni fighters. » | Patrick Cockburn | Amman | Monday, July 09, 2014

Islamic State Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Addresses Muslims in Mosul

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Notoriously secretive head of the organisation formerly known as Isis comes out of hiding to lead Friday prayers as "Caliph Ibrahim"


Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State, emerged from the shadows to lead Friday prayers at Mosul’s Great Mosque, calling on the world’s Muslims to “obey” him as the head of the caliphate declared by the Sunni jihadist group.

The notoriously secretive jihadi, who has never before been seen in public, chose the first Friday prayer service of Ramadan to make an audacious display of power in the city that the Sunni Islamists have now controlled for three weeks.

Speaking from the balcony in his new incarnation as self-anointed “Caliph Ibrahim”, al-Baghdadi announced himself as “the leader who presides over you”, urging Muslims to join him and "make jihad" for the sake of Allah.

Under his direction, the Islamic world would be returned to “dignity, might, rights and leadership”, he said.

“I am the wali (leader) who presides over you, though I am not the best of you, so if you see that I am right, assist me,” he said, dressed in a black turban and robe reminiscent of the last caliphs to rule from Baghdad.

“If you see that I am wrong, advise me and put me on the right track, and obey me as long as I obey God in you.”

Al-Baghdadi hailed the jihadi “victory” which he said had restored the caliphate after centuries. » | Hannah Strange | Saturday, July 05, 2014

The Caliph Calls On All Muslims to Do Their Duty and Build the ‘Islamic State’

Read and comment on the Daily Mail article here

ISIS Leader Calls On Muslims in Ramadan Message to Build 'Islamic State'

ISIS militants near the central Iraqi city of Tikrit.

HAARETZ: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi demands that all Muslims around the world pledge allegiance to him in audiotape.

AP - The leader of the extremist group that has swept over much of northern Syria and Iraq called on Muslims Tuesday to immigrate to the territory his group has seized to help build an Islamic state.

The 19-minute audiotape from Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi comes two days after his organization, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria unilaterally declared the establishment of an Islamic state, or caliphate, in the land it controls. It also proclaimed al-Baghdadi the caliph, and demanded that all Muslims around the world pledge allegiance to him.

In his first remarks since that bold declaration, al-Baghdadi urged Muslims to come build their caliphate. He made a special appeal to those with practical skills — scholars, judges, doctors, engineers and people with military and administrative expertise — to come "answer the dire need of the Muslims for them."

He also called on jihadi fighters to escalate fighting in the holy month of Ramadan, which began on Sunday. "In this virtuous month or in any other month, there is no deed better than jihad in the path of Allah, so take advantage of this opportunity and walk the path of you righteous predecessors," he said. "So to arms, to arms, soldiers of the Islamic, fight, fight." » | Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Sinan Salaheddin | Tuesday, July 01, 2014

Terrorchef ruft Muslime weltweit zur Einwanderung in sein Kalifat auf

Dschihadisten-Chef Baghdadi:
Aufruf an alle Muslime zur Rache

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Der Anführer der ISIS-Dschihadisten al-Baghdadi hat sich in einer Audiobotschaft an Muslime weltweit gewandt. Sie sollen beim Aufbau seines islamischen Staats helfen, fordert der selbst ernannte Kalif.

Bagdad - Mit einer 19-minütigen Audiobotschaft richtet sich ISIS-Chef Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi an alle Muslime weltweit: Der Dschihadist fordert sie auf, in die von der Miliz "Islamischer Staat im Irak und in Syrien" (ISIS) eroberten Gebiete zu kommen und beim Aufbau eines islamischen Staats zu helfen. "Muslime, eilt in euren Staat. Ja, es ist euer Staat", rief Baghdadi.

Der Führer der militanten Gruppe wandte sich vor allem an Studenten, Richter, Doktoren, Ingenieure und Menschen mit militärischer und administrativer Expertise. Er rief nach Rache für alles, was Muslimen angetan worden sei. Er rief Kämpfer auf, sich zu rächen. Es gebe in diesem "gesegneten Monat" nichts Besseres, "als den Wandel zu umarmen", sagte Baghdadi in der Botschaft, die online abrufbar ist, und rief zum Dschihad auf. » | vek/AP/Reuters | Dienstag, 01. Juli 2014

New Dark Age Alert! Isis Baghdadi Calls for Muslims to Fight until Rome Is Conquered

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Muslims have been called to flock to the Islamic State to gather for a battle against non-believers throughout the world

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the self-proclaimed leader of the Islamic State stretching across Iraq and Syria, has vowed to lead the conquest of Rome as he called on Muslims to immigrate to his new land to fight under its banner around the globe.

Baghdadi, who holds a PhD in Islamic studies, said Muslims were being targetted and killed from China to Indonesia. Speaking as the first Caliph, or commander of the Islamic faithful since the dissolution of the Ottoman empire, he called on Muslims to rally to his pan-Islamic state.

"Those who can immigrate to the Islamic State should immigrate, as immigration to the house of Islam is a duty," he said in an audio recording released on a website used by the group formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham.

"Rush O Muslims to your state. It is your state. Syria is not for Syrians and Iraq is not for Iraqis. The land is for the Muslims, all Muslims.

"This is my advice to you. If you hold to it you will conquer Rome and own the world, if Allah wills." » Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent | Tuesday, July 01, 2014

The ISIS Map of the World: Militants Outline Chilling Five-year Plan for Global Domination as They Declare Formation of Caliphate - and Change Their Name to the Islamic State

MAIL ONLINE: Sunni militants have announced formation of Islamic state in Middle East / They demand Muslims around the world swear allegiance to the caliphate / Claim leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi now has authority over all Muslims / Group has also now changed its name from ISIS to just the Islamic State / Announcement described as 'most significant development in international jihadism since 9/11'.

ISIS has formally declared the establishment of a caliphate, or Islamic state, in the vast stretches of the Middle East that have fallen under its control, and has outlined a vision to expand into Europe.

The announcement was described as the 'most significant development in international jihadism since 9/11'.

Upon declaring a caliphate, the Sunni militants - whose brutality in attempting to establish control in Iraq and Syria has been branded too extreme even by Al Qaeda - demanded allegiance from Muslims around the world.

With brutal efficiency, ISIS has carved out a large chunk of territory that has effectively erased the border between Iraq and Syria and laid the foundations of its proto-state.

The announcement, made on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, could trigger a wave of infighting among Sunni extremist factions that have until now formed a loose rebel alliance.

A spokesman for ISIS declared the group's chief, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, as the leader of the new caliphate, or Islamic state, and called on Muslims everywhere, not just those in areas under the organization's control, to swear loyalty to him.

'The legality of all emirates, groups, states and organizations becomes null by the expansion of the caliph's authority and the arrival of its troops to their areas,' said Abu Mohammed al-Adnani.

'Listen to your caliph and obey him. Support your state, which grows every day,' he added in an audio statement posted online. Read on and comment » | John Hall | Published: Monday, June 30, 2014 | Updated: Tuesday, July 01, 2014

Isis Declares Its Captive Territories an 'Islamic Caliphate'

Isis demands all Muslims pledge obedience to its leader,
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, left

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Jihadist group Isis demands all Muslims declare obedience to its leader as it lays claim to the mantle of the great Muslim empires of the past

Fresh from their victories over the Iraqi army and on the first night of the holy month of Ramadan, the jihadist group Isis has declared its captive territories an “Islamic Caliphate” and demanded all Muslims declare obedience to its leader.

In a recorded audio statement, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham’s spokesman, Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, said the new caliphate ran from Aleppo to Diyala province, north-east of Baghdad, and was expanding every day.

“The time has come for the Ummah [nation] of Mohammed (peace be upon him) to wake up from its sleep, remove the garments of dishonour, and shake off the dust of humiliation and disgrace,” he says. “For the era of lamenting and moaning has gone, and the dawn of honour has emerged anew.

“The sun of jihad has risen. The glad tidings of good are shining. Triumph looms on the horizon. The signs of victory have appeared.”

He spoke in Arabic but written versions were published online in English and other languages. » | Richard Spencer | Sunday, June 29, 2014

Meet Al-Qaeda's New Poster Boy for the Middle East

Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The fall of the Iraqi city of Fallujah back into the hands of al-Qaeda has shown the power of the movement's new leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

The FBI “most wanted” mugshot shows a tough, swarthy figure, his hair in a jailbird crew-cut. The $10 million price on his head, meanwhile, suggests that whoever released him from US custody four years ago may now be regretting it.

Taken during his years as a detainee at the US-run Camp Bucca in southern Iraq, this is the only known photograph of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the new leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq and Syria. But while he may lack the photogenic qualities of his hero, Osama bin Laden, he is fast becoming the new poster-boy for the global jihadist movement.

Well-organised and utterly ruthless, the ex-preacher is the driving force behind al-Qaeda’s resurgence throughout Syria and Iraq, putting it at the forefront of the war to topple President Bashar al-Assad and starting a fresh campaign of mayhem against the Western-backed government in Baghdad. » | Colin Freeman | Saturday, January 11, 2014