Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) – Online Jihad: Monitoring Jihadist Online Communities

Earlier this week the IMU disseminated a new video, which is part two of the “Soldiers of Allah/God”. The video starts with a sermon by Tohir Yuldashev, who, according to some sources had been killed in a US Drone strike, but could not be verified. Also, in the video, no reference is made to a possible death of Yuldashev who is the unquestioned the leader – as propagandized – of the IMU and a leading ideologue within the group.

Video updates on the recent AQIM and ISI are coming! As usual, the tracking of online jihad stuff is plentiful.

The video starts with a introduction by Yuldashev, who – subtitled in German – addresses his fighters by calling out that now is the time to also be in rows against the infidel in Pakistan, just as much as it is the case for Afghanistan. “The Prophet said, that whoever awakens in the morning without worrying for this umma, does not belong to us. You must burn up due to the anxiety for the umma. And, God willing, He will lead this umma to victory, always be in the first rows of combat!”

The rows of combat/battle and such are a classic concept derived from the rows of the praying that must neither be breached nor fall. It is part of a wider perception of the jihadists that the rows in combat are similar, of course, and bound to key specific concepts of jihadists mindset and ideology.

After the short introduction reinforcing the need to avenge and defend the umma in Afghanistan and Pakistan, various members of the IMU are briefly shown and their corpses are examined in macro shots – a classical jihad video portraying the ‘martyrs’, the “Mujahidin, who died on the path of God”.

All of the captions are in German – “Abdul Hafidh came from Russia in the Summer of 2009. He died on the front of Waziristan-Mehsud” and is examined here, taken care of and such.

Other killed Mujahidin are also shown and later portrayed in the video. The video includes – again with German subtitles – the last testimonies of the killed and in a classical way they reinforce dogmatic concepts of jihadist ideology.

“Mansur Aka: A Fighter, a cook and teacher from Uzbekistan, since more than 15 years at the service of Jihad, fought in Tajikistan and in Afghanistan. He died on the front of Waziristan-Mehsud.”

After making their short statements, addressing their wishes and their firm belief in God and the justice of fighting for the sake of the umma, the corpses are again shown – while a nasheed is playing all the time (in Arabic). Some members are briefly shown, with their function (such as commander, teacher, instructor,…) and then the bodies are portrayed. Suicide bombers, such as “Abdul Azeez” are also shown, who gained some fame within Arab jihadist forums with his suicide operation in Waziristan and the video that comes along with it.

“Student of the Jihad-school “Commander Jumabai” died on the front of Waziristan-Mehsud”.

Also mutilated corpses are shown, that died due to explosions, mines or grenade attacks.

And other fallen Mujahidin, who had been portrayed like “Abdul Azeez” in individual videos are shown again. See my earlier posting on “er kam sah und siegte in jihadist speak” http://bit.ly/4xQ4uR.

“He just arrived early 2009 from Germany and died on the front of Waziristan-Mehsud.”

Besides the usual bunch of explosive experts, ideologues, snipers and particularly firm believers the IMU video also highlights its diversity:

“Talha Aka: Fighter and stablehand from Kyrgyzstan, who also died on the [same] front of…” His testimony contains the usual and he speaks out directly to his brothers and sisters:

“to remain steadfast on this path, after recognizing, that it is the true path and that you have been chosen by God from millions of Muslims in this world. God enabled to live with this honor, which value is only known by God and those, who tasted it. We are carrying arms with our hands and should thank God. God will reward the thankful. And those, who do not value the worthiness of being chosen and who leave this path due to some people or needs, must know that the retaliation of God is harsh. Is there another grace after this one? Or is there a bigger honor after this one? Know that this life is a “karama” [a life of dignity in the proper context of alleged correct interpretation of religious sources] and the death that follows it, is a shahada. This is the meaning of “two most beautiful things”, as referenced in the Quran, and our prophet already told us that Jihad is the best of all things.”

After portraying several ‘martyrs’ briefly, the video after 10 minutes shows the IMU leader again, marching proud or sitting in meetings and during prayer. The video continues with military operations, firing grenades, anti-tank weapons and sniper missions (mostly in Waziristan). Also wounded Mujahidin are shown, being taken care of and removed from the battlefield.

“God willing this one will fly to Berlin, or even better, to Washington and God willing it will fall exactly on the White House, destroying it. Cry the takber!” No such video without the usual threats…

… or the usual show of force. One fighters face is not shown, must have forgotten to mask it?

With Mujahidin moving out into the battlefields, there hugged by their brothers after a planning phase and mostly undertake mortar/grenade attacks and in some cases show the impacts.

The video is concluded with another sermon by IMU leader Yuldashev who this time is dubbed by a fluent German speaker. “Our prophet already claimed the victory of the umma, and now it is us, who will pass through this stage. (…) By our sacrificies and our will the Islamic caliphate will be founded. (…) Our goal is not only to conquer Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, no, our is the whole world, the rule is at a whole only Gods and by His rule it must be judged. The idols have taken His rule and shared it among them, with borders they have created. We do not accept this rule and we are conducting a jihad and for us, there are no borders.”

He then goes on to cite a historic source in regard of the ‘paradise women’, who every Mujahid will get once they perish in this world. These ‘women’, the al-Hur al-‘ayn are, quite interestingly, “watching you, so do not make them ashamed” by any lack of energy. “Because when the Mujahidin are on the battlefield and have shaped a row, then the al-hurr al-‘ayn are present and are watching. They are proud when their future partner is breaking through the rows of the enemies like a lion. He who is a wimp, his hurr will be ashamed. The Mujahid lives in a totally different world”, as everything by God is not visible “except when firmly believing it” and cannot be perceived.

The al-Furqan video “Crusher of the Peshmerga”, or the “destroyers”, the “conqueror” if you will, just went online by ISI’s media outlet, al-Furqan.

As announced yesterday, there is a lengthier posting coming forth sometime this week, when I have the time to do so. It will, however, include the IMU and AQIM video besides this al-Furqan publication.

The IMU video is more or less simply another eulogy of more fallen fighters and it is subtitled in German. Interesting, but nothing that new – most of the killed died, according to the video, in Weziristan and in “Weziristan-Mehsud”. The killed are being portrayed and their corpses shown – some had been trainers and coordinators, other had been simple Mujahidin who are shown in short sequences / testimonies.

The AQIM video (2h total running time) is a bit more interesting and consists of the usual ideological measures with the usual trainings sequences somewhere in the countryside. The usual AQ senior leadership figures come to light and reinforce the over extending ideology and bind this to practical and military implications: fulfilling the true command of God to move out into jihad, as defined by AQ and ideologues such as Abdallah Azzam.