The Amir suggested from the US government to withdraw their troops in Iraq. He expressed his belief that their current state of power is only temporary, he gave the example of the current financial crisis to stress on the possibility of an end of American dominance. Al-Baghdadi also believed that the war in Iraq was one of the reasons behind the financial crisis and it would be best for the different states if the US ends the war.

Al-Baghdadi requested from the US president not to interfere with Iraq; he promised that he the Iraqis will allow trade between the two countries. Such a statement reflects an over confidence that the Islamic State of Iraq will be able to establish its Islamic Caliphate in Iraq. The Amir disregarded the dispute between them and the different Jihadist groups; these groups rejected their hostile actions against the Iraqi citizens.

Nevertheless, Al-Zawahiri’s speech do not reflect any support to Obama; he labeled him as an apostate who was born from a Muslim father and decided to convert to another religion and to support the infidels. Such an approach shows al Qaeda’s concern that Muslims will support Obama who sought a massive international popularity. If Muslims supported the new US president, al Qaeda’s agenda will fail to prosper. The clash between civilizations has to prosper in order for al Qaeda to survive. Al-Zawahiri concluded his speech emphasizing on the US having the same agenda towards Muslims regardless of the change that occurred to its surface.

“Our experience last year with the hajj was wonderful and insightful,” says Wael Shihab,deputy manager of IOL Shari`ah Department.

There will be regular guided tours in both English and Arabic taking place under the guidance of counselors from IOL Shari`ah department.The tours will be fully voice-enabled and will allow the visitors to ask any questions they have, getting live answers from the guides.

The first tour, which will be in English, will start on Wednesday, November 19 2008.Last year, the hajj training simulation in Second Life attracted more than 2,000 visitors. IOL plans to use the simulation as a training tool for people who are going to hajj this year in Qatar.

A trainer will take his avatar through the hajj step by step and explain to the trainees what happens at every stage.

Overhauled

IOL has done a complete overhaul of its virtual hajj training simulation inside Second Life. “Last year we only had two weeks to finish the hajj training island. It was hectic and crazy but we managed to do it to the best of our abilities,” says Ahmed Fawzy, the lead designer in the project.

“This year, however, we are going for realism. We may have got 60 percent of the hajj right the first year, now we want to take it up to 85 or 90 percent.” The bulk of the upgrade work went into the Safa and Marwa, the Jamarat Bridge, and the Haram Al-Makki, which houses the Ka’bba.

“We expanded the Haram to give it more of the breathtaking effect it has in real life,” explains Fawzy. “We also made the Ka’bba bigger and gave it much better textures. As one enters the mosque, the effect now is spectacular!”

The upgrade project took more than 150 collective hours from three different designers from Bahrain, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. “This is the most important project inside Second Life that I worked on,” says Ali Assiri, the designer from Saudi Arabia.

“The first challenge I faced was finding the material to work with. This was tricky because there aren’t enough pictures on the internet,” he explained. “

Assiri, who designed Namira and Kheef mosques in the simulation, found the experience very inspiring.

Interfaith

IOL will hold regular seminars and lectures targeting both Muslims and non-Muslims on the issue of hajj. “We want the simulation to be the best reference for people who want to learn about hajj, whether Muslims or non-Muslims,” says Ahmed Fathy, the Arabic material coordinator of the project.

IslamOnline.net is the first major Islamic media organization to have a presence inside the computer-generated world. It launched its first Ramadan tent in the virtual world in 2007, drawing hundreds of visitors. IOL hajj island still remains the most highly visited Islam-themed place in Second Life, a fully 3D virtual world that is maintained entirely by its visitors.

Flip Side

IOL activities and inter-faith dialogue services in SL have unfortunately attracted some unwanted attention. Attackers, called ‘griefers’ inside the virtual world, have targeted the island several times. The latest attack occurred only two days ago.

“The first attack was pretty devastating,” recalls Fawzy. “Since then, however, we have learned how to deal with griefers.” The attackers usually flood the island with indecent sexual pictures.

Article Excerpts from: http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1226908809967&pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout 

It appears that jihadists are continuously learning and adapting in the cyber world. The counter terrorism community needs to keep up. The two suggestions given by forum participant “Riah al-Ghobar” on the jihadi forum Alhesbahweb.net under the topic “Guerrilla Warfare on the Mountain Range of the Internet” include creating support email systems and Encrypted Messenger software. This would ensure the continued of the flow of ideological influence via the internet in the event that Islamist Websites are hacked and shut down. Driving them “underground” in the cyber world will not solve the problem but may inadvertently make counter-terrorism efforts more complex. As a consequence, efforts against ‘cyber-terrorism’ need to be able to penetrate into closed networks. This means that their networks are more discriminatory and securely protected.Anybody who intends to join these networks would need to acquire more passwords and permission from the administrators. The problem would arise when the administrators implement stringent filtering methods, such as asking for evidence that the user is committed to the cause through writing jihadist rhetorics, in order to gain membership and access into these networks.Such arrangements would also make it easier for the administrators to monitor users more closely and single out potential misfits.

Link to article:

Three videos and several articles on the execution of the Bali Bombers were detected in several jihadist websites. One of the articles included what it claimed to be yet another of Imam Samudera’s will. The theme underlying the materials is the glorification of the three Bali Bombers. This simultaneously emphasise on the malevolence of the government and urges for the continuity of jihad that is incessantly described as one that has to be perpetually waged against the infidels the US and Jews. The followings are brief descriptions of the three videos and the article containing what is claimed to be Imam Samudera’s will.

These YouTube videos were found in flash stream in Muslimdaily.net

Video 1 

Title: Interview with Son Hadi Media Centre after the Execution

Duration: 1 minute 50 seconds

Physical and environmental atmosphere observed during Amrozi and Mukhlas’s funerals were described and used to justify the claims that indeed both Bali Bombers have died as martyrs. There were 3 signs of martyrdom stated in the video. The first two were the presence of 3 black birds circling the clouds which were claimed to have been shaped in such as way that it formed the word, “Allah.” The last sign was said to have been the sweet smelling fragrant of the bodies of both men. These signs were said to concretise that the Bali Bombers were in the right path and simultaneously increase the jihad rigour in the jihadist community.

Video 2

Title: Advice to the Government

Duration: 1 minute 20 seconds

This is a video of one of Abu Bakar Ba’ayir’s speeches in a demonstration against the execution of the three Bali Bombers. He said that it may appear weak that all the Muslims could do was demonstrate and voice out their opposition views on the State’s decision. Nonetheless, because they have been repressed by whom they regard as the apostate State, their prayers, he was certain, would be answered. He prayed to have God befall upon the country calamity but hoped that the Muslims who fought in the true path be spared from the calamity.

Video 3

Title: Do not awaken the very ferocious tiger

Duration: 2 minutes

Capturing the reaction of the jihadist community on the execution of the Bali Bombers, this video portrays the increase spirit of jihad in the supporters as they condemn the government for its decision made.

Imam Samudera’s Will

Posted on 9.11.08

URL: http://muslimdaily.net/?UR5DRlNKVUIHUB5FRlVCSk0HSh4TEhoZ&title=Surat%20Wasiat%20Imam%20Samudera

Similar to his latest statement, Imam Samudera in his last will urged for the continuity of the armed struggle that he had always unyieldingly advocated. He emphasised the need for Muslims to fight against the US and the Jews. He motivated that Muslims should not be afraid of condemnation and should have their lives filled with their killings of the infidels. The future generation according to him too should be nurtured to become terrorists to the infidels. He too included that Muslims should always remember to perform their daily Islamic rituals and to remember to devote their nights for prayers to God.

The usual tactics of the extremist and radical websites are yet again observed here. The State and the government are condemned to be of the villains. The Muslims are then regarded to have been oppressed as their opinions are left ignored. The Bali bombers whom they regard as the holy warriors of Islam were considered to have been maligned and condemned by the State, this ultimately leading to the perspective that it is Islam that the government is repressing. This justifies their call for the continuity of armed struggle against those who do not adhere to their form of ideology. Readers should remain objective and should not be swayed into taking the side of the extremist and radical community. The Bali Bombing had killed 202 and injured 164 innocent lives and this act of violence is definitely not one that is justified and advocated in Islam.

 Partial translation:

STATEMENT

To all our Muslim brothers! Regarding the execution befallen upon us, we state:

1. We surrender our fate to Allah.

1. It is haram (forbidden) that we accept the decision of the apostate law (Q.S An-Nisa 4:60). And we oppose to this decision forever.

1. If Allah were to have us fated that we die from the bullets of the apostate Police, we will still condemn this uncouth act although at the same time we too are obliged to be patient with the fate given to us by Allah.

1. To our brothers, especially to the holy warriors wherever they are, it is mandatory for you to declare war and kill all individuals involved in this execution, such as SBY and J.Kalla, Andi Mattalata, Hendarman Supandji, A.H Ritonga, all the judges and the unbeliever Hindu and infidel Christian lawyers, as well as the hypocrites and execution team, the children of the infidel America and such.

1. The supporters of the execution such as Hasyim Muzadi who sells the NU name and the other hypocrites should be fought against and killed as stated in point number 4.

1. To our Muslim brothers especially the holy warriors wherever they are, especially to our leader in jihad; Asy-Syaikh Usamah bin Ladin and Asy-Syaikh Aiman Azh-Zhawaahiri and our brothers the holy warriors in Indonesia, you are obliged to seek revenge – blood with blood, life with life to all those who are involved in our execution be it if they were to still be in position or not, be it whether the holy warriors are already in power or not.

1. If with Allah’s will, we were to be killed by the apostate police, Allah’s willing, the drips of our blood will be of motivation to the Muslims to continue on their jihad, and that it will become the fire of destruction against the infidels and the hypocrites.

1. Pray that our deaths will be of a good ending and martyrdom in the path of Allah. Amen.

(Arabic verses)

From us who hopes for the blessings and forgiveness from Allah.

Mukhlas   Imam Samudra   Amrozi

LP Batu Nusakambangan

LP Batu Nusakambangan

03-Sya’ban 1429 H

5^th August 2008

Comment by ICPVTR Analyst Tuty Raihanah Bte Mostarom:

The statement by the Bali Bombers is aimed at inciting a reaction from the general public and more specifically, it appears to be targeted at their supporters. This comes as no surprise considering that the bombers are facing their imminent end. They are nonetheless adamant that their struggle (or their ‘jihad’ as they declare it to be) will not end with their deaths. The bombers are seizing the opportunity provided for by the prominence of their impending execution. They are assured of a ready and attentive audience rife with sufficient emotion thrust to reach out to their followers and to continue what they started. As such their deaths will not be insignificant but a start of greater things to come.

Their efforts at preparing their statements in three different languages prove that they are working hard to reach out to as broad an audience as possible. Even in their last days, they appear defiant. Readers should not be wavered by this desperate effort to sway their hearts and minds. Just as Islam has been wrongly utilized to justify the inhumane acts of violence and terrorism, the bombers are once again trying to use the same method to appeal for a revenge of their deaths.

  Comment by ICPVTR Analyst Ustaz Hanniff:

Commenting on the statement by the Bali Bombers, Ustaz Hanniff of ICPVTR acknowledges that the crimes confessed to by the Bali bombers are punishable, through consensus in Islam, by death. The methodology of punishment either through beheading, hanging, or shooting is of secondary importance. As a methodology of punishment, execution by shooting should not be an issue to the jihadists. Jihadists have on many occasions executed many by shooting, or even worse, by slaughtering. Execution by shooting was a common means of punishment even for the Taliban during their rule in Afghanistan. The Taliban rule in Afghanistan never attracted any negative remark from the jihadists.

The three are guilty by their own admission. This is binding in Islam. In Islam, punishment for acts such as murder can include death. The death of the three by execution therefore does not render them martyrs as claimed. Accordingly, avenging their death as instigated in the statement is a forbidden act of crime that should be prevented, and must not be construed as jihad for the blood of fellow Muslims.

*For further information on ideological refutation please refer to Ustaz Hanniff’s blog: http://counterideology.multiply.com/

To see the execution statement in Bahasa, Arabic and English, please click on this link: bali-bomber-preexecution-statement 

In a video published by Al-Sahab production days before the US elections Abu Yahya Al-Libi, al Qaeda’s commander presented a speech that was ambiguous and did not provide any impression on the following US president. This could be because the video was taped during Eid and was delayed in its release. Al-Libi only condemned Bush and the Republican Party when he concluded his speech.

 Al-Libi found it a religious opportunity to discuss the importance of supporting Islam in general as the savior for the civilization. Al-Libi represented himself as an angelic religious cleric who is simply asking Muslims to battle the devil inside of them and after fulfilling that fighting the infidels.

Abu Yahya Al-Libi presented an ideological speech, where he divided people between winners and losers, the winners being the religious people who do not waste a minute worshipping God and abiding to his rules, and the losers are what he described as the devil worshippers and sinners.

The speech did not provide any new threat and did not target a specific ethnic group; it was rather general where Al-Libi used Quranic versus and writings by the Prophet to stress on the importance of abiding to justice and by Islamic law, while as usual de-legitimizing the Middle Easters governments who do not provide that to the citizens. He stressed on the fact that no democracy will fulfill justice and that only Islamic law will fulfill it.

Abu Yahya ends his speech praying that God would support all the Mujahideen in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Chechnya, and Palestine. He condemns the enemies of Islam represented by the US, its allies. He specifically mentions President Bush and his political party in his prayer asking God to humiliate them and facilitate for the Mujahideen to win the struggle.

Al Qaeda did not provide a clear statement of their approach on the new presidency. The only condemnation was towards Bush and his followers, and the US in general. Their approach towards the new President Obama is not declared yet.