Abu Malik, a Saudi national, in Syria. [Photo credit: Charles Lister]
1. Omar Kayed (which appears to be a cover name) shares an interesting perspective on Syria's "mujahedeen". The piece is a must-read for Syria watchers. Kayed's conversations with Abu Malik al-Shahri, a Jabhat al-Nusra leader in the Levant, took place during May 2013. Malik made several distinctions between Jabhat and the seemingly less disciplined Isalmic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).
According to Abu Malik, Salafist jihadist ideology is based not on the idea of governance advocated by Sayyid Qutb and Abu Ala Mawdudi. [According to this ideology], a Muslim's goal is to strive to liberate Muslim lands from colonizers and establish God's law. God Almighty said: "Judgement is only through God," so any legislation [other than Sharia] is invalid. In Abu Malik's opinion, the way to establish God's law on earth is through jihad and fighting. This group was called Salafist jihadist because it adopts jihad as a means of achieving change, "so everyone who believes this idea becomes our brother in religion."
The second pillar [of Salafist jihadist ideology] is loyalty and disavowal. Al-Qaeda members believe that anyone who embraces this ideology is a Muslim brother who they must support. However, anyone who violates these beliefs is an infidel and an apostate, and they must disown him.
I asked him, "Pardon me, Abu Malik, but how did you enter into the world of al-Qaeda?" He told me that he had accompanied a friend to visit a man called Sheikh Abu Muhammed in Jordan. Later, he became convinced of Abu Muhammed's statements claiming that humans' purpose on earth is to apply this heavenly message and join their brothers to establish God's law.
2. Abu Malik al-Shahri was killed by Syrian forces in Latakia countryside in August 2013. He was originally from Saudi Arabia and a student of Osama Bin Ladan. He reportedly slaughtered scores of civilians and government forces across Syria.
3. Abu Omar al-Chechani made his way from Chechnya to Syria to join the latest jihad. His bright orange hair makes quite a fashion statement on the jihadi front. News reports involve him in Aleppo.
4. Turkey and Iran are probably expressing concern over the militarization of the Kurdish ethnic minorities in Syria, especially those in Rojava, where concerted actions continue to take place. The ongoing struggle for a united Kurdistan has only gained numbers and strength since the Bush administration's war in Iraq.
5. Saleh Muslim, the leader of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), deemed to be the most powerful politician among the Syrian Kurdish parties, was in Geneva to hold meetings with international organizations and explain his perspective. The PYD, which has close ties to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), controls areas inhabited by Kurds in northern Syria, and has a highly disciplined fighting force made up of a few thousand soldiers. Vicken Cheterian reports that Muslim is not seeking secession for the Kurdish groups in Syria.
6. Sami Nader believes the Saudi criticism of the UN revolves around its agreement to step back from Syria and allow the instability and war to continue. He makes reference to Saudi's position as reflecting that of the "Arab street".
7. The war between the regime of President Assad and the Syrian opposition has reached the Druze villages in the Golan Heights, with three youths from the community joining the ranks of Assad's army. So long as bombs continue to fall on Palestinian refugee camps, refugees from war are likely to morph into supporters of nearby revolution. Joshua Mitnik reports that "the Syrian Druze living under Israeli control in the Golan Heights are loyal to President Assad because they consider him an economic lifeline and a protector of minority rights".
8. Turkey and Iraq seek reasons to cozy up. Both concerned by the rise of al Qaeda in Syria, leaders announced today that their strained relations were improving and they would cooperate more closely to limit the spillover from Syria's civil war. The reporting is from Reuters.
