Murad Batal al- Shishani
Murad Batal al-Shishani is an Islamic groups and terrorism issues analyst based in London. He is a specialist on Islamic Movements in the Middle East and in the North Caucasus. He is a regular contributor to several publications in both Arabic and English. He is also author of the book “The Islamic Movement in Chechnya and the Chechen-Russian Conflict 1990-2000”, Amman, 2001 (in Arabic), “Iraqi Resistance: National Liberation vs. Terrorism: A Quantitative Study,” November 2005 Iraqi Studies Series, Issue 5, Gulf Research Center-Dubai, and “Al-Qaeda: Geopolitical, Strategic Outlook and Social Composition, 2012, ECSSR-Abu Dhabi”.
Contact Murad Batal al- Shishani
Articles by Murad Batal al- Shishani
Shakir Wahib: The Face of the Islamic State in Anbar Province
In the hot summer of 2013, jihadists filmed themselves stopping trucks on the main road linking Iraq with Syria and Jordan. [1] Their leader, wearing a shalwar kameez and wrapped
Abu Muhammad al-Adnani: The Syrian Face of ‘Islamic State’
One of the major pieces of advice that jihadist ideologues have been giving their followers in the new areas where they are operating is to make local members leaders in
The Islamic State’s Strategic and Tactical Plan for Iraq
Since the announcement of the Islamic State, Iraq’s Sunni jihadist movement has been obsessed with controlling geographical space in order to declare an Islamic caliphate, a move that, in addition
Islamist North Caucasus Rebels Training a New Generation of Fighters in Syria
As Syria’s bloody conflict enters its fourth year in March, it continues to provide a battlefield that attracts jihadists from all over the world. North Caucasians, including Chechens, are no
Sami al-Aridi: The Ideologue of Syria’s Jabhat al-Nusra
Dr. Sami al-Aridi (a.k.a. Abu Mahmoud al-Shami) is an influential ideologue in Jabhat al-Nusra who is effectively appealing to locals in an effort to appear distant from radical groups. Al-Aridi
Syrian Jihadists React to the Threat of U.S. Military Intervention
Various reservations have been raised by the opponents of a military action in Syria by Western countries against the Bashar al-Assad regime for its alleged use of chemical weapons. Perhaps
Using Syria to Inspire Jihad: A Profile of Lebanese Salafi Ahmad al-Assir
Tension between Sunnis and Shiites in Lebanon has risen over the last few years in response to the increasing influence of Hezbollah on Lebanese state institutions as well as a
“Inheriting Jihad”: A Portrait of Saudi Arabia’s Senior al-Qaeda Member Ahmed Abdullah Saleh al-Khazmari al-Zahrani
The Department of State designated Ahmed Abdullah Saleh al-Khazmari al-Zahrani (a.k.a. Abu Maryam al-Azdi) a “global terrorist” on January 24, describing him as a senior member of al-Qaeda. Al-Zahrani has
“Obliged to Unite under One Banner”: A Profile of Syria’s Jaysh al-Muhajireen wa’l-Ansar
A video posted on YouTube in the last week of March documented the unification of two Syrian armed groups; the Katibat al-Khattab (Army of Khattab Brigades) and the Katibat Jaysh
Who’s Who in the Jordanian Opposition: Part Two
Inspired by the Arab Spring, the Salafi-Jihadists of Jordan have been holding demonstrations in several cities. As citizens take to the street to demand political reform, jihadists have shown that
Who’s Who in the Jordanian Opposition: Part Two
Inspired by the Arab Spring, the Salafi-Jihadists of Jordan have been holding demonstrations in several cities. As citizens take to the street to demand political reform, jihadists have shown that
Murad Batal al-Shishani cited by UPI
Jamestown analyst Murad Batal al-Shishani was cited by UPI in an article about Islamist militants who are creating a stronghold in the Sinai Peninsula.
Gazan Jihadists Unite to Create New Operational Base in Sinai
After Hamas seized power in Gaza in 2007, jihadist groups began to emerge in the small Palestinian-controlled strip along the Mediterranean. The emergence of these groups was neither in the
Who’s Who in the Jordanian Opposition: Part One
Inspired by the Arab Spring, the Salafi-Jihadists of Jordan have taken to the streets for the first time and have been holding demonstrations in several cities, including Amman, Ma’an, Salt,
Syria Emerges as a New Battlefield for Jordan’s Jihadists
While the influence of jihadists is increasing in Syria where they are fighting alongside other Syrian armed groups to topple Bashar al-Assad’s regime, the country is increasingly attracting Arab fighters
Jihad in Syria: A Profile of Jabhat al-Nusra
The jihadists that began to emerge in Syria several months after peaceful protests against the Bashar al-Assad regime began in March 2011 can be broadly categorized into two groups: al-Qaeda-style
Syria’s Surprising Release of Jihadi Strategist Abu Mus’ab al-Suri
After weeks of rumors, a well-known contributor to jihadi web forums has confirmed the release from a Syrian prison of Abu Mus’ab al-Suri (real name Mustafa Abdul-Qadir Mustafa al-Set Mariam),
Jihadists and Saudi Arabia in the Shadow of the Arab Spring
In the 1980s the Saudi Arabia-United States alliance supported the mujahedeen in Afghanistan in their battle against the Soviet Union. Hostility has since grown between al-Qaeda, which formed later and
Bringing Shari’a Rule to Yemen and Saudi Arabia: Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s Post-Revolution Strategies
Since it began last February, the youth-led peaceful revolutionary movement in Yemen demanding an end to President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s regime has provided a political alternative to the Yemeni people
Jihadists in Syria: Myth or Reality?
In a speech on June 20, Syrian president Bashir al-Assad identified three components of the unrest in his country: citizens with legitimate grievances and needs that must be addressed; criminal
A Portrait of Abu Bakr bin Abdul Aziz al-Athri: Salafi-Jihad’s Emerging Internet Ideologue
In mid-June 2010, the brother-in-law of Abu Mus’ab al-Zarqawi, the late leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), Abu Qudama al-Hami, [1] posted a lengthy article on several jihadi web forums
Salafist Ideologue’s Book Urges the Tribes of Yemen to Join al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
As both government and opposition forces in Yemen vie for the allegiance of the nation’s powerful tribal groupings, the Salafi-Jihadi movement is now also trying to rally tribal fighters to
From Saudi Arabia to Yemen: Faris al-Zahrani, the Ideologue of Jihadi Operations in the Gulf
The then-Saudi Crown Prince (now King) Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz announced a four week long amnesty in 2004 and a pardon program for al-Qaeda operatives who were engaged in an
Understanding Strategic Change in al-Qaeda’s Central Leadership after Bin Laden
Since the leader of al-Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden, was killed on May 2, much analysis has appeared speculating potential changes to the organization and its leadership. This article aims to
Jordan’s New Generation of Salafi-Jihadists Take to the Streets to Demand Rule by Shari’a
Jordan has not escaped the political turmoil and street confrontations that have enveloped the Middle East during the so-called “Arab Spring.” The on-going debate between the Jordanian government and protestors
Qaddafi Tries to Secure Loyalty of Circassians of Misrata
Forces loyal to embattled Libyan leader Mu’ammar al-Qaddafi have battled for days to take the coastal city of Misrata. Qaddafi’s efforts to take Misrata shed light on the little known
Special Commentary: Popular Movements in the Middle East and the Role of al-Qaeda
In light of recent developments in the Arab political scene, Salafi-jihadists have been notably absent from the major uprisings taking place namely the "Jasmine Revolution" in Tunisia, the "Lotus Revolution"
“How I Joined Jihad”: Nigerian Bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab in His Own Words (Part Two)
Part one of this article examined the growing alienation that consumed would-be airline bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab as a student in a school with few other Muslims, and the transformation
From 9/11 to Iraq: The Long Arm of Saudi Arabia’s Suliman al-Elwan
Abdulaziz al-Omari, one of the five hijackers on board American Airlines Flight 11 that crashed into the North Tower of New York’s World Trade Center on 9/11, devoted part of
“How I Joined Jihad”: Nigerian Bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab in His Own Words (Part One)
The story of 23-year old Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who attempted to blow up North West Airlines Flight 253 en-route from Amsterdam to Detroit on December 25, 2009, presents a
Is the Islamic State of Iraq Going Global?
Iraq’s director-general for anti-terrorism and organized crime operations, Major General Diya Husayn Sahi, recently told al-Arabiya TV that Iraqi citizen Taimur Abd al-Wahhab al-Abdali was given explosives training in the
Saudi Arabia’s Jihadi Jailbird: A Portrait of al-Shu’aybi Ideologue Nasir al-Fahd
In the mid-1990s, Saudi authorities clamped down on the relatively centrist Islamist opposition led by two prominent shaykhs at the helm of the al-Sahwa (awakening) movement named Salman al-Ouda and
Abdullah Azzam Brigades Claim to be Defenders of Sunnis in Lebanon
The Saudi leader of a Lebanese militant group has urged Sunni Muslims to refuse cooperation with institutions of the Lebanese state, which he claims are infiltrated and dominated by the
A Profile of Ibrahim al-Asiri: AQAP’s Unconventional Bomb Maker
Following the discovery of explosive-laden packages addressed to synagogues in Chicago, renewed attention has focused on al-Qaeda’s highly innovative branch in Saudi Arabia and Yemen, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
Al-Qaeda in Iraq Hopes Baghdad Church Attack Will Involve Egypt’s Traditional Salafists in Jihad
Gunmen from the al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) took hostages in a Syriac Catholic church in central Baghdad on October 31. About 52 people were killed and 67 injured
The New Ideologues of the North Caucasus Jihadists
With nearly 300 attacks or incidents of militant-related violence tied to the “Islamic Emirate of the Caucasus” this year alone, it is apparent that the Chechen jihad is spreading through
Iraqi Oil Facilities Threatened as Islamic State of Iraq Intensifies its Campaign Against the State
As the United States ends the combat phase of its occupation of Iraq and begins an “advisory phase” known as Operation New Dawn, there are fears that a resurgent Islamic
Al-Qaeda’s Sa’id al-Shihri Seeks to Revolutionize the Saudi Military
Jihadist web forums released an audio recording by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) Deputy Leader Sa’id al-Shihri (a.k.a. Abu Sufyan al-Azdi) on August 9 entitled “Ma’an li khali’ al-Sa’ud”
Al-Qaeda Ideologue Attiya Allah al-Libi Releases New Booklet Discussing Recruitment of Jihadis and the Use of Takfir
A senior al-Qaeda ideologue has issued a booklet addressing two of the most important issues for the jihadi community – the practice of takfir (labeling a group or individual as
A Portrait of Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi: Intellectual and Ideologue in the Global Salafi-Jihadist Movement
Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi posted a eulogy on June 13, 2010, announcing the passing of his 24-year old son, Omar Izz al-Din, who was killed fighting in Mosul. In the tribute,
Al-Zawahiri Releases New Message with Focus on the Levant and Iraq
Jihadi web forums released a new audio message on July 19 from Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, the second-in-command of al-Qaeda. [1] The message, entitled “Al-Quds Will Never be Judaized,” is only
Salafi-Jihadis and the North Caucasus: Is There a New Phase of the War in the Making?
Several Jordanian newspapers and websites published details in early June about 24-year-old Jordanian Anas Khalil Khadir, stating that he was killed in Chechnya after joining the jihad there. Khadir’s family
Generating Leaders: The Rise of Uthman al-Ghamdi within AQAP
On May 26, 2010 Al-Qaeda in Arabian the Peninsula (AQAP) released a propaganda video entitled Amreeka w’al-Fakh al-Akheer (America and the Final Trap). The video, which was produced by the
AQAP’s New Strategy: Targeting Westerners and Promoting the Individual Jihad
A recent article appearing on jihadi websites insists that al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) members will "carry out Osama bin Laden’s orders” to capture and execute U.S. nationals if
In the Shadow of al-Zarqawi: A Profile of the Saudi Militant Saleh al-Qara’wi
The late leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq Abu Mus’ab al-Zarqawi, who was killed on June 7, 2006 in a U.S. missile strike, always had ambitions to create a Salafi-jihadi movement
Mass Arrests of al-Qaeda Suspects in Saudi Arabia Illustrate Security Threat from Yemen
The Interior Ministry of Saudi Arabia released a statement announcing the arrest of 113 persons “constituting a network and two cells” tied to al-Qaeda on March 24. The network was
Adel al-Abbab: Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s Religious Ideologue
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) consists of several divisions: the Shura Council, which is the highest authority of the organization; the Media division; the Military division; and the Shari’a
Salafi-Jihadis in Mauritania at the Center of al-Qaeda’s Strategy
Salafi-Jihadi activities in Mauritania have increased significantly in the last couple of years, indicating that al-Qaeda affiliated groups are becoming more effective in that country. The frequency of attacks and
An Assessment of the Anatomy of al-Qaeda in Yemen: Ideological and Social Factors
Yemen has become one of the most important strongholds and safe havens for al-Qaeda. The impact of Yemen’s Salafi-Jihadist movement is no longer limited to that nation and its national
From Yemen to Detroit: The Expanding Influence of AQAP’s Sa’id al-Shihri
In the Saudi state television broadcast of a recorded conversation which took place on August 27, 2009 between Saudi Prince Muhammad bin Nayef and Abdullah Hassan Tali al-Assiri—moments before al-Assiri
Taking al-Qaeda’s Jihad to Facebook
Web forums associated with jihad and al-Qaeda sympathizers have become a major source of information about militant Islamist groups, as well as a platform for the dissemination of the audio,
Yemeni Clerics Announce Mandatory Jihad Against Foreign Intervention
In his Friday sermon on January 15, the well-known Yemeni Islamist and U.S. designated terrorism supporter Shaykh Abd al-Majid al-Zindani called for jihad to defend Yemen in the event of
Ibrahim al-Rubaish: New Religious Ideologue of al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia Calls for Revival of Assassination Tactic
The mufti (religious leader) plays an essential role for al-Qaeda and affiliated Salafi-Jihadi groups, particularly in Saudi Arabia, where the government’s counterterrorism strategy involves denouncing al-Qaeda’s religious credentials. There have been several
The Radical Source for Non-Arabic Speaking Muslims: Anwar al-Awlaki
In November 2001, an American Muslim cleric told the Washington Post that he had no sympathy for the perpetrators of 9/11, that Muslims and non-Muslims needed “more mutual understanding,” and
Ibrahim al-Rubaish: New Religious Ideologue of al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia Calls for Revival of Assassination Tactic
The Mufti, or religious leader, plays an essential role for al-Qaeda and affiliated Salafi-Jihadi groups, particularly in Saudi Arabia, where the government’s counterterrorism strategy involves denouncing al-Qaeda’s religious credentials. There
Neo-Zarqawists Target the Arab Christians of Jordan
On October 15, the State Security Court of Jordan imposed jail sentences of 15 to 20 years on 12 alleged Jordanian members of al-Qaeda accused of attacks against a church
Growth of Salafist Militancy in Palestinian Refugee Camps Poses Security Risks
U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Force Commander Major General Claudio Graziano recently told Al-Safir newspaper that small groups of terrorists from Palestinian camps continue to represent a threat to
Attempt on the Life of Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Marks the Return of Salafi-Jihadi Operations to Lebanon
Reports emerged on September 21 that Lebanon’s Forces de Sécurité Intérieure (FSI) had been placed on high alert in Beirut following the discovery of an alleged plot to assassinate Lebanon’s
Al-Qaeda Attempt on Saudi Royal’s Life Signals Tactical and Strategic Changes
Al-Qaeda’s recent attempt on the life of a Saudi royal suggests a change in tactics for an organization which has suffered substantial losses in the past few years. 23-year-old Abdullah
The Concept of Safe Havens in Salafi-Jihadi Strategy
The search for a "safe haven" in the strategic planning of the Salafi-Jihadi movement is a central issue in the intended establishment of the "Islamic State." The safe haven offers
Jihadis Turn their Eyes to Syria as a Post-Iraq Theater of Operations
In what might be described as Syria from a jihadist perspective, an article entitled “Al-Qaeda al-Sulbah” (the Solid Base) was posted to the jihadi website al-Faloja.com on July 21 by
Jihad Ideologue Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi Challenges Jordan’s Neo-Zarqawists
Salafi-Jihadi ideologue Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi gave his first interview since his release from prison on March 12, 2008 to the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood associated al-Sabeel weekly newspaper on June 4.
Al-Qaeda Investigation Raises Questions on British Counterterrorism Cooperation with Damascus
In response to reports appearing in the British media, the Syrian embassy in London released a statement on May 10 regarding two British nationals who were arrested in Damascus on
Journal of the Turkistan Islamic Party Urges Jihad in China
The latest issue of a journal entitled Turkistan al-Muslimah (Muslim Turkistan) was recently published by a jihadi web forum (muslm.net, March 26). The journal is identified as the work of
Al-Qaeda Ideologue Describes Alleged Spread of Al-Qaeda in the Levant
A leading jihadi ideologue known as “the Spearhead of the Mujahedeen” claims that al-Qaeda already exists in Palestine and soon there will be “huge good news” to prove its existence.
BRIEFS
AL-QAEDA AND OIL FACILITIES IN THE SHADOW OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISISBy Murad Batal al-ShishaniIn its latest issue, Bahraini weekly business magazine The Gulf reported that Middle East oil companies
Salafi-Jihadis Turn Their Attention to the North Caucasus
In his recent audio tape expressing sympathy with the people of Gaza, the leader of al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, named Chechnya as one of the Muslim areas that have been
Al-Zarqawi’s Legacy Seen in Trial of Jordanian al-Qaeda Cell
On January 27, 2009, the trial of a Salafi-Jihadi group was launched in Amman, Jordan. The twelve Jordanians, all of Palestinian origin, were members of a group charged with carrying
The Neo-Zarqawists: Divisions Emerge between Jordan’s Salafist Militants
On October 27 an open letter signed by a number of prominent Jordanian Salafists and warning of a new zealot takfiri group in Jordan circulated on jihadist web-forums (alhesbahweb.net, October
Persuading the Uncertain and Punishing the Recalcitrant: Al-Qaeda Seeks to Absorb Iraq’s Awakening Councils
There are indications that al-Qaeda’s struggle with Iraq’s U.S.-sponsored tribal Awakening Councils is far from over. An attack on the Baquba home of Awakening Council militia leader Shaykh Abdul Karim
Is al-Qaeda Seeking Allies in Latin America?
U.S. officials have warned of a real danger Islamist extremists could form alliances with wealthy and powerful Latin American drug lords to launch new terrorist attacks against the United States.
Al-Qaeda’s Presence in the Territories
Other than launching Katyusha rockets at Israel in December 2005 and attempting to launch rockets at Eilat from Aqaba in Jordan in August 2005, al-Qaeda has not launched significant attacks
Egypt Breaks-up al-Ta’efa al-Mansoura Jihadist Group
On April 19, the Egyptian Ministry of Interior announced the capture of 22 members of a jihadist group that calls itself al-Ta'efa al-Mansoura (the Victorious Sect), and said that the
Salafi-Jihadist Movement Becoming a New Force in Lebanon
In July 2005, French scholar Olivier Roy argued that Iraq and Palestine are not factors in the prevalence of the Salafi-Jihadist movement. He based his argument on the fact that
Salafi-Jihadists in Jordan: From Prison Riots to Suicide Operation Cells
A Jordanian security source indicated that the General Intelligence Department (Mukhbarat) was able to foil a number of terrorist attacks in Jordan since the beginning of 2005. This was part
Jordanian Poll Indicates Erosion of Public Support for al-Qaeda
The ramifications of the November 9, 2005 Amman suicide bombings indicate that the terrorist act played a major role in changing people's attitudes toward terrorism. An opinion poll conducted by
Al-Qaeda’s Presence in Lebanon
After a missile attack on Israel from south Lebanon on December 27, 2005, the Organization of al-Qaeda in Iraq, or the Land of the Two Rivers, issued an audio-recording for
Al-Zawahiri Addresses Reform in Muslim World
Al-Qaeda's second-in-command, Egyptian national Ayman al-Zawahiri, appeared in a video-recording broadcast by al-Jazeera news network on January 6. What is striking in this statement is his discussion of reform and
Abu Omar Al-Saif: His Life and After His Death
The announcement of the killing of Abu Omar al-Saif, "the mufti of Arab fighters in Chechnya", on December 12, 2005, shed light on the movement's future and its presence in
Westerners Being Recruited by al-Qaeda
A statement entitled "al-Qaeda's Future Soldier: Rakan Bin Williams," published by a group calling itself "al-Qaeda's Voice on the Internet," indicates that al-Qaeda plans to recruite white European converts to
The Salafi-Jihadist Movement in Iraq: Recruitment Methods and Arab Volunteers
This is the second in a two-part series on al-Zarqawi and al-Qaeda in Iraq. This article focuses on the Salafi-jihadist base from which al-Zarqawi draws support and new recruits. The
The Amman Bombings: A Blow to the Jihadists?
The Amman bombings on November 9 were widely condemned by the Islamic world, particularly that many victims were civilians celebrating a wedding. This condemnation has again raised questions about support
Al-Zarqawi’s Rise to Power: Analyzing Tactics and Targets
This article is the first in a two-part series on Zarqawi’s rising influence in the jihadist movement. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is attaining legendary status. Glorified by militant Salafists and jihadists
UNCOVERING THE MOTIVES BEHIND ALKHANOV’S VISIT TO SYRIA AND JORDAN
President of the pro-Russian Chechen government, Alu Alkhanov, visited Syria and Jordan in mid-September in his first trip to the Middle East. This trip recalled the objectives that former president
Abu Mus’ab al-Suri and the Third Generation of Salafi-Jihadists
The decimation of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood in 1982 had many long-term implications, the most pernicious of which was the emergence of a particularly extreme form of Syrian Salafism. At
From Egyptian Islamic Jihad to Chechnya: A Portrait of Mahmoud Hinnawi
On April 20, the London based al-Hayat newspaper published details of the slaying of Mahmoud Hinnawi, an Egyptian Islamic militant. Although originally from the Middle East, Hinnawi was well traveled
Portrait of a Chechen Mujahid Leader
Salafi-Jihadists recently posted a recording by the Islamist Arab fighter Abu-Omar Al-Seif on the Chechen website www.qoqaz.com. The recording called for more assistance from Muslims to the Mujahideen in Chechnya
Abu Hafs and the Future of Arab Fighters in Chechnya
The specter of the "Arab fighter" in Chechnya has increasingly become an inseparable part of the Russian-Chechen conflict, particularly since 9/11, as Kremlin propagandists used the presence of a few
ABU HAFS AND THE FUTURE OF ARAB FIGHTERS IN CHECHNYA
The specter of the "Arab fighter" in Chechnya has increasingly become an inseparable part of the Russian-Chechen conflict, particularly since 9/11, as Kremlin propagandists used the presence of a few
Portrait Of A Chechen Mujahid Leader
Salafi-Jihadists recently posted a recording by the Islamist Arab fighter Abu-Omar Al-Seif on the Chechen website www.qoqaz.com. The recording called for more assistance from Muslims to the Mujahideen in Chechnya
Abu Omar Al-Saif: His Life and After His Death
The announcement of the killing of Abu Omar al-Saif, "the mufti of Arab fighters in Chechnya", on December 12, 2005, shed light on the movement's future and its presence in
UNCOVERING THE MOTIVES BEHIND ALKHANOV’S VISIT TO SYRIA AND JORDAN
President of the pro-Russian Chechen government, Alu Alkhanov, visited Syria and Jordan in mid-September in his first trip to the Middle East. This trip recalled the objectives that former president