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Global Jihad: Case Studies in Terrorist Organizations Global Jihad: Case Studies in Terrorist Organizations Ingrid Borárosová, Aaron T. Walter and Ondřej Filipec Reviewed by: Doc. PhDr. Jozef Klavec, Ph.D., Professor at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Trnava, Slovakia Mgr. Jan Charvát, Ph.D., M. A., Assistant Professor at the Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem Corrections: Aaron T. Walter Executive editor: Jaroslav Mihálik Publisher: Research Institute for European Policy Instytut Badań nad Polityką Europejską Address: ul. Nowiny 26G/2 80-020 Gdańsk, Polska/Poland © Aaron T. Walter © Ingrid Borarosova © Ondřej Filipec The Monograph has been published under grant the research scheme of FPPV 16-2017 awarded to the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Slovakia. 2 3 Reviewed by: Content Doc. PhDr. Jozef Klavec, Ph.D., Professor at the Ss. Cyril and Introduction 5 Methodius University in Trnava, Slovakia Mgr. Jan Charvát, Ph.D., M. A., Assistant Professor at the Jan Part I 9 Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem 1. Introduction to Jihadism 9 2. Media and Jihadist Terrorism 26 Corrections: Aaron T. Walter Executive editor: Jaroslav Mihálik 3. Legal issues of Terrorism 53 Publisher: Research Institute for European Policy Part II 71 Instytut Badań nad Polityką Europejską 4. Al Qaeda 71 Address: ul. Nowiny 26G/2 80-020 Gdańsk, Polska/Poland 5. The Islamic State (Daesh) 89 6. Al Nusra Front 107 © Aaron T. Walter 7. Al-Shabaab 123 © Ingrid Borarosova © Ondřej Filipec 8. Boko Haram 137 9. East Turkmenistan Islamic Movement 155 10. Arab Mujahideen in Chechnya 168 The Monograph has been published under grant the research scheme of FPPV 16-2017 awarded to the Faculty of Social Sciences, 11. Lashkar e Tajiba 183 University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Slovakia. Conclusions 197 References 199 Résumé 227 Author’s Biographies 229 2 34 4 5 Introduction In the book Global Jihad: Case Studies in Terrorist Organizations, written by Ingrid Borárosová, Aaron T. Walter and Ondřej Filipec, eight of the most important Jihadist organizations are introduced. The book is divided into two parts. In the first part the concept of Jihad is presented with special focus on Islamism and radical interpretation of Salafism. A special chapter is dedicated to terrorism and media, especially medial strategies and the presence of Jihadist groups in new media. The last chapter is of theoretical introduction presenting selected and highly actual issues of international law. The second part of the book consists of eight case studies dedicated to jihadist organizations which are most relevant in the contemporary medial context. Selected organizations are very diverse in their nature. Some are focusing on state building and territory control, some are working like a hub or international network, while others have more of a regional focus. Despite sharing similar ideological backgrounds based on radical interpretation of Islam they are all unique. For this reason, the authors of the case studies presented in this volume have been left flexibility regarding the form of their individual studies. However, the main aim of the case study is to present deeper insight into the jihadist organizations in order to explore their historic background, aims, activities, structure and leadership. For this reason the authors followed only the recommendation of the structure which might slightly differ in some cases. From the methodological point of view, all case studies provide deeper understanding of jihadist organization and thus might be considered intrinsic case studies based mainly on a descriptive method. The book is divided into eleven chapters. The first chapter presents basic ideological background which is similar to jihadist 4 5 terrorist organization. For this reason it focuses mainly on selected aspects of Islamism, especially the concept of Jihad and introduces basic principles of Salafism. The second chapter is dedicated to the role of media which are an important intermediary between terrorist organizations and the audience and which strongly contribute to the environment in which Jihadist organizations operate. This is also true for international law related to international terrorism. For this reason the third chapter introduces some important topics related to terrorism, especially the issue of legal resources, human rights and child soldiers. The second part of the book is opened by chapter four dedicated to Al-Qaeda, the militant Sunni Islamic organization which follows the ideology of Salafism and a well-known name after the horrific terror attacks on September 11, 2001. But there is more to al-Qaeda than this single event. From its origins to its ideological struggle with the Islamic State there is more than a terror organization founded by Osama bin Laden. The fifth chapter is dedicated to the organization known as the Islamic State (or better Daesh) also called in Western media, ISIS. The organization is infamous for its brutal executions of captured enemies and barbaric demolitions of cultural heritage. Moreover, it is the first terrorist organization in history which controls huge areas in Iraq and Syria and spreads the idea that they created a real Islamic state. The initial success of the organization in the context of the Syrian civil war attracted jihadists and donors from around the world. As a result, the Islamic State is the most powerful terrorist organization and a great danger for international security. The sixth chapter focuses on Daesh’s rival, Al-Nusra Front. This organization has grown to be a similar threat for global security as its above-mentioned counterpart. Al-Nusra Front formally known as Jabhat al-Nusra (JN) can be considered as the official al-Qaeda (AQ) affiliate in Syria and it is able to operate with strategic, intelligent planning and follow-up in sophisticated actions. ISIS and 6 7 terrorist organization. For this reason it focuses mainly on selected JN are rivals, although their strategic goals overlap. The most aspects of Islamism, especially the concept of Jihad and introduces dangerous feature about JN is also the main difference to ISIS. ISIS’s basic principles of Salafism. The second chapter is dedicated to the creation of its own self-announced state – was done through force, by role of media which are an important intermediary between terrorist conquering territory. JN is preferring to select different methods and organizations and the audience and which strongly contribute to the operating by provoking of social and religious transformations, environment in which Jihadist organizations operate. This is also true unrests and infiltrating into the local revolutions with a patience and for international law related to international terrorism. For this reason planning. The current situation in Syria region has created almost the third chapter introduces some important topics related to ideal conditions to execute the strategy of JN, steered indirectly terrorism, especially the issue of legal resources, human rights and by Al-Qaeda. child soldiers. The seventh chapter is dedicated to the organization Al- The second part of the book is opened by chapter four dedicated Shabaab (Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen) which can be to Al-Qaeda, the militant Sunni Islamic organization which follows translated as „Mujahideen Youth Movement“ and is one of the the ideology of Salafism and a well-known name after the horrific dominant forces in Somalia since 2006. The group has been formed terror attacks on September 11, 2001. But there is more to al-Qaeda as the hard-line militant wing of Islamic Courts Union (ICU) which than this single event. From its origins to its ideological struggle with tried to create a rival administration to the Transitional Federal the Islamic State there is more than a terror organization founded by Government of Somalia. However, the war with Ethiopia led to Osama bin Laden. The fifth chapter is dedicated to the organization increasing tensions within ICU and secession of Al-Shabaab after known as the Islamic State (or better Daesh) also called in Western ICU disintegrated following several defeats. Al-Shabaab continues to media, ISIS. The organization is infamous for its brutal executions of fight against the government and which continued to fight against the captured enemies and barbaric demolitions of cultural heritage. government and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Moreover, it is the first terrorist organization in history which forces. The main aim of the group is the creation of a Somali controls huge areas in Iraq and Syria and spreads the idea that they caliphate in “greater” Somalia, however the organization is active created a real Islamic state. The initial success of the organization in also in Yemen and other areas in the “Horn of Africa”. the context of the Syrian civil war attracted jihadists and donors from The eighth chapter focuses on another Africa based around the world. As a result, the Islamic State is the most powerful organization called Boko Haram, Group of the People of Sunnah for terrorist organization and a great danger for international security. Preaching and Jihad. Boko Haram has operated since 2002 in The sixth chapter focuses on Daesh’s rival, Al-Nusra Front. Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon where their militants controls This organization has grown to be a similar threat for global security over 50,000 square kilometres. The ninth chapter focuses on the East as its above-mentioned counterpart. Al-Nusra Front formally known Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) founded by the Turkic- as Jabhat al-Nusra (JN) can be considered as the official al-Qaeda speaking militant Uighurs the ethnic majority in northwest China in (AQ) affiliate in Syria and it is able to operate with strategic, the province of Xinjiang. intelligent planning and follow-up in sophisticated actions. ISIS and 6 7 The tenth chapter focuses on the small jihadist organization Arab Mujahideen in Chechnya which operated from the 1990s to 2011 in the North Caucasus area.
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