The road to media Jihad: The propaganda actions of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb

Terrorism and Political Violence

Volumn 23, Issue 1, 2010, Pages 72-88

  Torres Soriano, Manuel R ^a  

^a UNIVERSIDAD PABLO DE OLAVIDE   (Spain)

Author keywords

Al qaeda; Algeria; Communication; Internet; Jihad; Maghreb; Propaganda; Terrorism

Indexed keywords

EID: 78650508074     PISSN: 09546553     EISSN: 15561836     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/09546553.2010.512839     Document Type: Article

References (68)

1. On the importance of this facet of terrorist activity and propaganda's role as a mobilisation resource, see Joanne Wright, Terrorist Propaganda: The Red Army Faction and the Provisional IRA, 1968-86 (London: MacMillan, 1991)
2. David L. Paletz and Alex P. Schmid, eds., Terrorism and the Media (Newbury Park, CA: Sage, 1992)
3. Brigitte L. Nacos, Terrorism & the Media (New York: Columbia University Press, 1994)
4. Pippa Norris, Kern Montague, and Marion Just, eds., Framing Terrorism: The News Media, the Government, and the Public (New York: Routledge, 2003).
5. GSPC, "An Interview with the Chief of the Media Wing from the Salafist Group for Prayer and Combat," al-Jamaa, No. 1, December 2004 (In Arabic). Available at http://www.archive.org/details/GSPC-magazine[Accessed 10 March 2010].
6. GSPC, "The Group is a Blessing," 24 April 1999 (In Arabic). Available at: http://www.jarchive.info/details.php?item_id=3980& [Accessed 10 March 2010].
7. GSPC, "Unit," 16 September 1998 (In Arabic). Available at: http://www.jarchive.info/details.php?item_id=3978& [Accessed 15 May 2009].
8. Video: Abu Musab Abdul Wadud, "Message a notre oumma au maghreb islamique," 21 September 2008. Available at http://www.jihadarchive.com/details.php?item_id=4289
9. Video: Abu Musab Abdul Wadud, "Dites non aux tyrans," 6 April 2009. Available at http://www.archive.org/details/Musab-Abdaludod
10. Audio recording with text attached: AQIM, "Interview du Comité?Médiatique avec le cheikh: Abou Abd Al Ilah Ahmed [Le Président du Comite?Politique d'Al Qaida au Maghreb Islamique]," 4 May 2009. Available at http://worldanalysis.net/modules/news/article.php?storyid=588
11. Text: AQIM, "La France, mère de tout les maux," 28 June 2009. Available at http://www.jihadica.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/06-30-09-ansar-france-mother-of-all-evils.pdf [Accessed 15 June 2010].
12. For example, during the period 1998 and 2003 (inclusive) 47 attacks (189 dead and 60 injured) were clearly linked to GSPC. See Global Terrorism Database (START- University of Maryland) http://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/. For a broader count, including attacks for which responsibility has not been clearly established,
13. see Yonah Alexander, Maghreb & Sahel Terrorism: Addressing the Rising Threat from al-Qaeda & other Terrorists in North & West/Central Africa, International Center for Terrorism Studies - Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, January 2010. Available at: http://www.potomacinstitute.org/attachments/524_Maghreb%20Terrorism%20report.pdf
14. See: Brynjar Lia and Ashild Kjøk, "Islamist Insurgencies, Diasporic Support Networks, and their Host States: The Case of the Algerian GIA in Europe 1993-2000," FFI/RAPPORT-2001/03789. http://rapporter.ffi.no/rapporter/2001/03789.pdf
15. See: Omar Nasiri, Inside the Jihad: My Life with Al Qaeda (New York: Basic Books, 2008).
16. See: David H. Gray and Erik Stockham, "Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb: The evolution from Algerian Islamism to transnational terror," African Journal of Political Science and International Relations 2, no. 4 (December 2008): 91-97.
17. The two recordings can be viewed on: http://www.archive.org/details/Algeria-War-S-o-Tandhttp://www.archive.org/details/Algeria-War2-S-o-T [Accessed 15 February 2010].
18. In a communiqué entitled "Statement of support" released on the second anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the GSPC leader blamed the United States for spearheading the war against Islam and expressed his support for all the mujahideens who had taken up the cause of the Jihad against the common enemy, including Osama Bin laden.
19. See Abu Ibrahim Mustafa, "Statement of support," 11/03/2003 (In Arabic). Available at: http://www.jarchive.info/details.php?item_id=3955& [Accessed 15 May 2009].
20. Daniel Lav, "The Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb: The Evolving Terrorist Presence in North Africa," MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis Series, Report No. 332 (March 7, 2007). Available at: http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/90/1825.htm [Accessed 15 May 2009].
21. Evan F. Kohlmann, "Líaeas de fractura. Estrategias para hacer frente a Al Qaeda en el Magreb Islámico (AQIM)," in Javier Jordán, Pilar Pozo, and Miguel G. Guindo, Terrorismo sin fronteras. Actores, escenarios y respuestas en un mundo global (Madrid: Aranzadi, 2010): 129.
22. Evan F. Kohlmann. "New Video from the GSPC in Algeria," Globalterroralert.com, 30 September 2004. Available at http://www.globalterroralert.com/library/north-africa/151-new-video-from-the-gspc-in-algeria.html [Accessed 15 May 2010].
23. For a translation, see: Abu Yasser Sayyaf, "Congratulations and greetings from the Salafist Group for Prayer and Combat to Al-Qaida's Jihad Committee and its beloved Commander," Globalterroralert.com, 24 January 2005. Available at http://www.globalterroralert.com/images/documents/pdf/0105/gspc0105-4.pdf [Accessed 15 June 2010].
24. Omar Ashour, The De-Radicalization of Jihadists: Transforming armed Islamist movements (London; Routledge, 2009): 132.
25. Ibid., 133.
26. See: Thomas Hegghammer, "The Ideological Hybridization of Jihadi Groups," Current Trends in Islamist Ideology 9 (November 2009). Available at: http://www.currenttrends.org/research/detail/the-ideological-hybridization-of-jihadi-groups.
27. Fernando Reinares, "Bajo sombras de espadas. Al Qaeda y la amenaza terrorista en el Magreb," Claves de Razón Práctica, no. 175 (September 2007): 16-22. Available at: http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/Programas/TerGlob/publicaciones/Clavesseptiembre07Reinares.pdf
28. The eight issues of this publication can be consulted at: http://www.archive.org/details/GSPC-magazine [Accessed 10 March 2010].
29. Thomas Hegghammer, Jihad in Saudi Arabia: Violence and Pan-Islamism since 1979 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010).
30. The quantitative study by researchers at the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point of the most quoted and most influential ideologists of the global Jihadist movement makes no mention of members of or individuals linked to the group. Indeed, the fact that not one Algerian or Maghrebi appears illustrates the lack of militants with the intellectual profile to articulate their own discourse in the Maghrebi Jihad.
31. See: William McCants, ed., Militant Ideology Atlas (West Point: Combating Terrorism Center, 2006). Available at: http://www.ctc.usma.edu/atlas/Atlas-ResearchCompendium.pdf
32. Translation available at: Globalterroralert.com, "Interview with Abu Omar Abdul Bir from the Media Wing of the Algerian Salafist Group for Prayer and Combat (GSPC)," January 31, 2005. Available at: http://globalterroralert.com/images/documents/pdf/0105/gspc0105-5.pdf [Accessed 18 March 2010].
33. See: Lav (note 12 above)
34. Stephen Ulph, "Declining in Algeria, GSPC Enters International Theater," Terrorism Focus 3. no. 1 (January 9, 2006). Available at: http://www.jamestown.org/programs/gta/single/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=634&tx_ttnews[backPid]=239&no_cache=1.
35. See: Manuel R. Torres, "Maintaining the Message: How Jihadists Have Adapted to Web Disruptions," Sentinel 2. no. 11 (November 2009). Available at: http://www.ctc.usma.edu/sentinel/CTCSentinel-Vol2Iss11.pdf
36. Mathieu Guidère, "Algeria's al-Qaida Franchise," Middle East Online, 20/11/2006. Available at: http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/opinion/?id=18380
37. This is the name given to propaganda falsely issued in the name of one of the sides in a conflict but which is really the work of the opposite side and is designed to vilify the enemy or distort its message.
38. GSPC, "A battalion of supporters announces the solution to the information office" (in Arabic), 18/09/2005. At: http://www.jarchive.info/details.php?item_id=3931& [Accessed 17 May 2009].
39. GSPC, "On the alert message attributed to the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat" (in Arabic), 30/04/2006. Available at: http://www.jarchive.info/details.php?item_id=3922&[Accessed 17 May 2009].
40. Site Institute, "Salafi Group for Call and Combat (GSPC) Released a Video Message Calling for Jihad Against the Americans and the Arab Rulers in Response to the Arab Summit," 21/03/2005. (By subscription).
41. See: MEMRI, "Al-Qaeda Deputy Leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri: Jihad Should Strive to Liberate Any Land that Was Once Islamic - From Andalusia to Iraq," MEMRITV.ORG, Clip #126, 18/98/2006. http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/1269.htm. (By subscription).
42. GSPC, "Statement and promise and pledge allegiance to the accession of the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat to Sheikh Abu Abdullah Osama bin Laden," 12 September 2006 (In Arabic). Available at: http://www.jarchive.info/details.php?item_id=3912&[Accessed 17 May 2009].
43. See Reuven Paz, "Qàidat al-Jihad: Moving Forward or Backward? The Algerian GSPC Joins Al-Qaeda," PRISM-Occasional Papers 4, no. 5 (September 2006). Available at: http://www.e-prism.org/images/PRISM_no_5_vol_4_-_GSPC.pdf
44. According to the communiqué the final decision to name themselves Al-Qaeda came only after "consultations with Shaykh Usama [Bin Laden], may God preserve him.and his consent."
45. See: AQIM, "Notice of the name change," 24 January 2007 (In Arabic). http://www.jarchive.info/details.php?item_id=3908&[Accessed 17 May 2009].
46. For a translation, see: Globalterroralert.com, "Speech by Abu Musab Abde Wadoud, Commander of the Algerian Salafist Group for Prayer and Combat (GSPC)," 3 January 2007. Available at: http://www.globalterroralert.com/images/documents/pdf/0107/gspcwadoud0107.pdf [Accessed 15 June 2010].
47. Brian Fishman, "Dysfunction and Decline: Lessons Learned from Inside Al Qàida in Iraq," Harmony Project - The Combating Terrorism Center at West Point (March 16, 2009). http://www.ctc.usma.edu/harmony/pdf/DD_FINAL_FINAL.pdf
48. Guidère (see note 25 above).
49. Andrew Black, "Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb's Burgeoning Media Apparatus," Terrorism Focus IV, no. 14 (May 15, 2007) http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=4158.
50. Javier Jordán, "El salafismo yihadista en el norte de África. Implicaciones para la seguridad españ ola," in CESEDEN, Evolución geopolítica del norte de África. Implicaciones para España (Madrid: Ministerio de Defensa, 2007): 81-99. Available at: http://www.portalcultura.mde.es/Galerias/publicaciones/fichero/DOCSEG_10.pdf
51. Andrew McGregor, "Leadership Disputes Plague Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb," Terrorism Focus IV, no. 30 (September 25, 2007). http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=4433.
52. Olivier Guitta, "Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb's dilemma," Middle East Times (January 28, 2008). http://www.metimes.com/International/2008/01/28/alqaida_in_the_islamic_maghrebs_dilemma/1237/
53. See: Lianne Kennedy Boudali, "Jihadist Terrorism in North Africa and the Maghreb," in Alex P. Schmid and Garry F. Hindle, eds., After the War on Terror: Regional and Multilateral Perspectives on Counter-Terrorism Strategy (London: RUSI, 2009);
54. Camille Tawil, '"The Al Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb: Expansion in the Sahel and Challenges from within jihadist circles," The Jamestown Foundation, April 2010. Available at http://www.jamestown.org/single/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=36316&cHash=cfed9374bb
55. For example, in an interview in the Al Hayat newspaper in 2004, the first emir of the GSPC, Hassan Hattab, claimed that he had not been ousted and was still in charge of the group.
56. See: Stephen Ulph (2007) "GSPC Rival Leader Hattab Reclaims Title," Terrorism Focus 2, no. 21 (November 14, 2005). http://www.jamestown.org/programs/gta/single/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=608&tx_ttnews[backPid]=238&no_cache=1
57. See: Lianne Kennedy Boudali, "Leveraging History in AQIM Communications," Sentinel 2, no. 4 (April 2009). http://www.ctc.usma.edu/sentinel/CTCSentinel-Vol2Iss4.pdf
58. Daniel Kimmage, "Al-Qaeda Central and the Internet," Counterterrorism Strategy Initiative Policy Paper - New America Foundation (March 2010). Available at http://counterterrorism.newamerica.net/sites/newamerica.net/files/policydocs/kimmage2.pdf
59. Daniel Kimmage, "The Al-Qaeda Media Nexus: The Virtual Network Behind the Global Message," RFE/RL Special Report (2008). Available at http://docs.rferl.org/en-US/AQ_Media_Nexus.pdf
60. See: Manuel R. Torres, "Terrorismo Yihadista y nuevos usos de Internet: la distribución de propaganda," Análisis del Real Instituto (ARI), 110/2009 (July 2009). Available at http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/rielcano/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_es/zonas_es/terrorismo+internacional/ari110-2009;
61. Hanna Rogan, "Al-Qaeda's Online Media Strategies: From Abu Reuter to Irhabi 007," FFI-rapport 2007/02729. Available at http://www.mil.no/multimedia/archive/00102/02729102477a.pdf
62. NEFA Foundation, "Al-Qaida's Committee in the Islamic Maghreb: 'The Battle of Zouerate in Mauritania," September 22, 2008. Available at: http://www.nefafoundation.org/miscellaneous/nefaaqim0908.pdf
63. NEFA Foundation, "Al-Qaida's Committee in the Islamic Maghreb: A Response to the Recent Lies in the Media," January 20, 2009. Available at: http://www.nefafoundation.org/miscellaneous/FeaturedDocs/nefaaqim0109.pdf
64. NEFA Foundation, "Al Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM): "Good News: Declaration of al-Andalus Establishment for Media Production," October 4, 2009. Available at: http://www.nefafoundation.org/miscellaneous/nefaAndalusAQIM1009.pdf
65. The text is full of references to the Islamic past of the Iberian Peninsula: "Why al-Andalus?" Because it is the lost paradise of Muslims, and the Muslims owned it for eight centuries And with the collapse of al-Andalus because of the Muslims' failure to carry Jihad and their failure to defend it, the sun of Islam began to set in the Spanish peninsula, and with it came the countdown to the reign of Muslims. On the importance of Al Andalus in Jihadist propaganda
66. see: Manuel R. Torres, "Spain as an Object of Jihadist Propaganda," Studies in Conflict and Terrorism 32, no. 11 (November 2009): 933-952.
67. See: Peter Bergen, The Osama bin Laden I Know: An Oral History of al Qaeda's Leader (New York: Free Press, 2006)
68. Manuel R. Torres, El eco del terror. Ideología y propaganda en el terrorismo yihadista (Madrid: Plaza & Valdés, 2009).