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Leveraging History in AQIM Communications APRIL 2009 . VOL 2 . ISSUE 4 Leveraging History in AQIM century conquests in North Africa and have galloped on forever like Alexander Europe. Others are revered for their the Great, upholding your faith and Communications role in resisting colonial influence in fighting the unbelievers!” From AQIM’s the 19th and 20th centuries; these figures perspective, Bin Nafi is relevant because By Lianne Kennedy Boudali include `Umar al-Mukhtar, who fought of his role in securing North Africa as Italian involvement in Libya, and `Abd Islamic territory. AQIM argues that it al-qa`ida in the Islamic Maghreb al-Karim al-Khattabi, who resisted is defending this same territory against (AQIM), formerly known as the Salafist French and Spanish involvement in infidels and apostates, thus framing its Group for Preaching and Combat Northern Morocco. All of these leaders violence as an extension of Bin Nafi’s (GSPC), is one of the most active al- are remembered for their roles in original conquest. Qa`ida affiliate organizations. The combat, conquest, and the defense of group’s primary goal is to overthrow Islam against occupying forces. Tariq bin Ziyad was a Berber military the Algerian regime in favor of Shari`a- commander who landed his forces in based governance and to end foreign AQIM references them for a number Spain in 711 and brought the Iberian influence in North Africa. Since its of reasons: to link successful historic Peninsula (al-Andalus) under control declaration of allegiance to Usama bin military campaigns to current terrorist of the Umayya Caliphate within several Ladin in the fall of 2006 and subsequent activity, to demonstrate a continuity months.2 Bin Ziyad was eventually name change in January 2007, AQIM has of opposition to Western forces and defeated in 732 at the Battle of Poitiers, largely maintained its prior operational interests, to claim an ancestral linkage but he is remembered as one of Islam’s focus on the Algerian state, while great military heroes.3 AQIM references simultaneously adopting tactics such “All of these figures are Bin Ziyad because his military conquests as suicide attacks and sophisticated remind audiences that Spain was roadside bombs that are reminiscent of either military heroes once part of ancient Muslim empires, al-Qa`ida and its global affiliates. who played a key role in implying that it is a contemporary duty to reclaim this lost territory. AQIM’s communications have evolved expanding the territory significantly in the last two years of the early caliphates, or Yusuf bin Tashfin greatly expanded the in both content and sophistication, Muslim Almoravid dynasty in North undoubtedly due in part to the fact that contemporary folk heroes Africa between 1074 and 1106. His it has developed a relationship with al- honored for their role in empire eventually included present-day Qa`ida’s al-Fajr Media Center. AQIM Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, remains dedicated to the removal of fighting colonial European and parts of Algeria and the Sahel. In the “apostate” Algerian government, forces.” 1086, the Muslim rulers of al-Andalus yet its messages increasingly reflect asked Bin Tashfin to bring his forces al-Qa`ida’s orientation toward to Spain to fight encroaching Spanish transnational jihadist activity, as Christian armies. Bin Tashfin’s forces evidenced by frequent references to to revered historical figures, and to won a key battle at Zalaqa (Sagrajas) the “Zionist-Crusader Alliance” and demonstrate the permanent nature of and Bin Tashfin later annexed most the need to re-establish a caliphate. In their struggle. AQIM is not alone in of al-Andalus to his own empire, short, AQIM’s communications reflect seeking to trade on these figures’ appeal: displacing the previous Muslim rulers. both local and international jihadist Tariq bin Ziyad in particular has been Bin Tashfin, like Bin Ziyad, was Berber, concerns. mentioned in speeches by Usama bin and he enforced a strict interpretation of Ladin and Hussayn bin Mahmud, the Islamic law. AQIM refers to Bin Tashfin One of the rhetorical devices by which latter of whom is a popular commentator because he was the ruler of a mighty AQIM bridges local and international on jihadist web forums. A brief review Islamic empire that included southern grievances is the use of references of the historical figures in question will Spain, and also because he was a native to historical figures whose military illuminate AQIM’s reasons for choosing North African known for his puritanical exploits in the North African context these individuals. zeal. He is, therefore, a perfect role resonate on both levels of analysis. model for what AQIM would like to This article will explore how AQIM has `Uqba bin Nafi was an Arab general of accomplish in North Africa today. sought to bolster its legitimacy through the Umayya Caliphate who led the initial repeated references to these well-known conquest of North Africa in 662 AD. His `Umar al-Mukhtar, a Qur’anic instructor historical figures. forces established the city of Kairouan by trade, led Libyan resistance to Italian in Tunisia, which was the first new colonization from 1912 to 1931, when he Heroic Figures in North African History Islamic city in North Africa.1 According was captured and later executed.4 Al- AQIM’s communications mention to Arab historians, when he reached the Mukhtar was considered a master of historical figures whose heroic actions Atlantic Ocean in 682, he rode his horse on behalf of Islam are known to Muslims into the waters, exclaiming, “Oh God, if 2 Ibid. in North Africa and elsewhere. Some of the sea had not prevented me, I would 3 The name Gibraltar comes from the Arabic Jebel Tariq, these figures—such as Tariq bin Ziyad, or Tariq’s mountain. Yusuf bin Tashfin, and `Uqba bin Nafi— 1 C.R. Pennell, Morocco: From Empire to Independence (Ox- 4 John Wright, Libya: A Modern History (Baltimore, M.D.: are military heroes from Islam’s seventh ford: Oneworld Publications, 2003). Johns Hopkins University Press, 1981). APRIL 2009 . VOL 2 . ISSUE 4 guerrilla desert warfare, and his nearly Leveraging the Appeal of Historical Heroes linkage between his group’s terrorism 20-year campaign against colonial Between January 2007 and January 2009, and the glories of the past. The statement forces made him a North African folk AQIM communications have mentioned implies that current generations have hero. AQIM includes references to him one or more of these historical figures a duty to continue fighting what is an because he holds particular appeal to on at least 10 separate occasions. These ongoing struggle for Islam. Similarly, Libyans (AQIM seeks to incorporate references have been made by several an October 2008 speech by Abu regional jihadist factions under its different AQIM officials, including `Ubayda Yusuf contained the following umbrella) and because his anti-colonial amir Abu Mus`ab `Abd al-Wadud (also exhortation to North African Muslims: activity serves as an example for current known as Abdelmalek Droukdel), generations seeking to eliminate foreign Shari`a committee member Abu I end my message by saluting influence in North Africa. `Ubayda Yusuf, and media spokesman the steadfast mujahidin in the Salah Abu Muhammad. `Abd al-Wadud lands of the Islamic Maghreb, `Abd al-Karim al-Khattabi was a has mentioned Yusuf bin Tashfin six you the grandsons of Uqba, the Moroccan Islamic judge who resisted times and referred to Tariq bin Ziyad conqueror of the Maghreb, and French and Spanish colonial forces in the and `Uqba bin Nafi four times each in Musa Bin Nasir, the conqueror of Rif Mountains of Morocco. He inflicted a the past two years. Other AQIM officials Andalusia, and Tariq Ibn Ziyad, humiliating defeat on a large contingent frequently refer to all three figures at the vanquisher of the Romans and of invading Spanish forces in 1921, once, as well as other historical figures the Spanish, and [Yusuf] Tashfin, and later established an independent such as Musa bin Nusayr, `Abd al-Hamid the hero of Zalaqa, and Abd al- Islamic emirate that strictly enforced bin Badis, and al-Mu’iz bin Badis. The Hamid Bin Badis, the leader of Shari`a.5 Although he was defeated in AQIM media committee periodically the reforms. Today you are the references historical figures in its attack pride of the umma in a time of claims, and several of AQIM’s katibats exploitation; you are the hope “By framing AQIM’s (combatant elements) are named after in reclaiming its usurped honor actions as a continuation of historical military leaders. in our broken Islamic Maghreb and the appropriated Andalusia, Islam’s past battles, `Abd AQIM officials are adept at weaving Cordoba, Sicily, and Zalaqa. We al-Wadud seeks to create a historical references into calls for will not rest and we will not be greater action or commitment on the content until we regain every inch direct linkage between his part of contemporary Muslims, as in of our usurped land including the group’s terrorism and the this September 2008 audio communiqué occupied Sebta and Melilla, and let from AQIM amir `Abd al-Wadud, which us meet with our beloved people glories of the past.” included a message directed to the in the land of Palestine.7 Algerian people: The preceding passage challenges local Grandsons of Uqbah and Tariq Muslims to continue their ancestors’ 1926 by combined French and Spanish and Yusuf bin Tashfin and Al- achievements. It also frames AQIM’s forces, he was considered an exemplar Mu’iz Bin Badis and `Abd al- violence as part of a multigenerational of resistance to colonial occupation Karim al-Khattabi and `Umar al- effort to restore the caliphate, a goal and an early proponent of Salafism Mukhtar, rise from your inertia more traditionally associated with al- in Morocco.
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