Research on the Islamic State, Syria, and Iraq
by Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimis
.
Syria's Druze community has endured sectarian killings and forced
conversions at the hands of the Syrian al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra.
Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi, a research fellow at the Middle East Forum'sJihad Intel project, writes
extensively about the Islamic State (also known as ISIS) and other armed groups
in Syria and Iraq. As his writings and translations tend to be too detailed for
a general readership, we periodically compile links and summaries for those
wishing to learn about the groundbreaking work of this prolific researcher.
For all writings by Jawad al-Tamimi, click here.
Articles
Al Nusra Atrocities
against Syrian Druze Belie Its Rebranding (Oct. 5)
Foreign
AffairsJawad al-Tamimi and coauthor Daveed Gartenstein-Ross argue that
efforts by the Syrian al-Qaeda affiliate
Jabhat al-Nusra to "paint itself
as a more reasonable jihadist force" and "appear more moderate to an
international audience" are largely window-dressing. Its religious extremism is
evident in its brutal treatment of Druze minorities living in areas under its
control.
Additional
Notes on the Druze of Jabal al-Summaq (Oct. 6)
The author elaborates on Jabhat al-Nusra's treatment of Druze, as discussed
in the above
Foreign Affairsarticle. Includes a translation of a (forced)
statement issued by the Druze of Idlib renouncing their faith.
Talking to the
Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade (Oct. 13)
Syria DeeplyJawad al-Tamimi
examines the evolution of the once-"moderate" Syrian rebel group
Liwa
Shuhada' al-Yarmouk(Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade) into an Islamic State
affiliate. He suggests it began as an effort to "improve its standing among
locals by gradually becoming more 'Islamic' in governance."
Rijal al-Karama after
Sheikh Abu Fahad Waheed al-Bal'ous' Assassination (Oct. 26)
Syria
CommentThe author examines how the Syrian Druze
Rijal al-Karama
(Men of Dignity) militia has adapted to the
assassination
of its leader, Sheikh Abu Fahad al-Bal'ous, in September. Bal'ous advocated
reform within the existing political system, anti-corruption, and prioritization
of local defense over forced conscription into government forces fighting
elsewhere in Syria. Rijal al-Karama, which officially declared his brother
Sheikh Abu Yusuf Ra'fat al-Bal'ous as the new leader, issued a statement
implicitly blaming the Syrian regime for the attack, but shying away from
confrontation.
Unlike other Syrian jihadist groups, Islamic State is not dependent on
foreign donors.
Unseen
Islamic State Financial Accounts for Deir az-Zor Province (Oct.
5)
JihadologyThe author translates numerous Islamic State
documents detailing its revenues and expenditures in Syria's Deir az-Zor
province. Although the province is oil-rich, a large plurality – 45 percent – of
Islamic State income there comes from confiscations of property and money.
Unseen
Documents from the Islamic State's Diwan al-Rikaz (Oct.
12)
JihadologyAnalysis and translations of several documents
issued by the ISIS agency responsible for managing oil, gas, minerals, and
antiquities (al-Rikaz literally refers to anything that can be extracted from
the ground). Includes a stamped permit for Mahmoud Sari ibn Muhammad "to
excavate and search for antiquities and gold north of the town of al-Bab" and a
notice that gold and antiquities "are to be confiscated in the event that they
are being passed through the border areas towards Turkey."
Unseen
Islamic State Treatise on Calendars (Oct. 17)
Translation and analysis of an Islamic State treatise on "Miladi dating," or
use of the Gregorian calendar. Jawad al-Tamimi notes that IS is determined to
"erase all traces of Miladi dating as it is a system of dating associated with
the disbelievers," in favor of Hijri dating, which begins from the time of the
migration [
hijra] of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE.
In practice, however, many IS documents contain both Miladi and Hijri dates.
Jund
al-Aqsa withdraws from Jaysh al-Fatah (Oct. 24)
Jihad
IntelTranslation of a statement from the Al-Qaeda front group
Jund
al-Aqsa on its withdrawal from the
Jaysh al-Fatah (Army of Conquest)
coalition in Idlib province. The statement attributes this withdrawal in part to
"the continuing pressure upon us to fight the Dawla [Islamic State] group" from
other members of Jaysh al-Fatah, notably
Ahrar al-Sham. The statement
lists conditions for Jund al-Aqsa's return to the coalition, including that it
formally commit to "fighting the Americans and Russians."
Islam
101 According to the Islamic State (Oct. 27)
An annotated translation of an Islamic State
da'wa pamphlet on
aqeeda (creed/doctrine) and
manhaj(ideological program/direction)
that Jawad al-Tamimi calls "one of the most basic outlines of Islamic State
ideology available from the Islamic State itself."
"Be with
God"- New Nasheed from the Islamic State (Oct. 29)
Translation of a short musical chant (
nasheed) produced by Islamic
State. Excerpt: "Whoever has obeyed and sacrificed everything precious has been
successful."
New
Mobilization Calls By the Islamic State in Aleppo Province (Oct.
30)
JihadologyAnalysis and translation of new mobilization calls
by IS within Aleppo province in the wake of Russian intervention. Includes the
first document known to have been officially issued by an IS "Shari'a Committee"
since the declaration of the Caliphate.
Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi is a research fellow at the Middle East Forum's
Jihad
Intelproject.
Related Topics: Iraq,
Syria |
Aymenn Jawad
Al-Tamimi
Στις τρεις τα ξημερώματα της Τετάρτης, ο Μάκης Ψωμιάδης πέθανε από... πνευμονικό οίδημα στα χέρια του γιου του, του Σταύρου που ήταν κοντά του!Ο Μάκης Ψωμιάδης ήταν 67 ετών και στα τέλη του Αυγούστου είχε αποφυλακιστεί μετά από 4 χρόνια και 2 μήνες κράτησης. Ο άλλοτε ισχυρός άνθρωπος του Ελληνικού ποδοσφαίρου, είχε καταδικαστεί τον Απρίλιο του 2014 από τους δικαστές του Τριμελούς Εφετείου Κακουργημάτων σε δεκαετή φυλάκιση, καθώς τον έκριναν ένοχο για υπεξαίρεση 21,5 εκατ. ευρώ από τα ταμεία της ΑΕΚ, κατά την διάρκεια της προεδρίας του, την περίοδο 2001 με 2003. 
