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language jihadist websites, which have similar numbers of members and posts.
Thus, although Ar-Rahmah receives less coverage by internet monitoring groups
and the Western media, it is operating on the same premiere level as the high
priority Arabic jihadist websites. Ar-Rahmah is also the most sophisticated of the
Indonesian jihadist sites in terms of its web design, as well as the most
comprehensive in terms of offering original content with more frequency on
diverse topics in a greater variety of languages. 11 The main website links include:
“Forum,” “Blog,” “Local,” “International,” “Technology,” “Jihad Analysis,”
“Interview,” and the “English Section.” What this expansive number of options
for original and translated media content suggests is that the Ar-Rahmah
organization has a robust staff of dedicated writers, web designers, and support
staff to keep all of these components functioning. This kind of operation simply
dwarfs most other jihadist websites today, including many of the Arabiclanguage
sites.
Ar-Rahmah has become a multi-media production and dissemination force in
recent years, making it a highly effective vehicle for the dissemination of global
jihadist propaganda around Southeast Asia. For instance, it is known broadly as
the production house of Abu Muhammad Jibril Abdulrahman, better known as
Abu Jibril,
12
the deputy chairman of the militant group, Indonesian Mujahidin
Council (MMI). A leading jihadist media operator, Abu Jibril has been
imprisoned in both Malaysia and Indonesia on charges related to terrorism and
extremism. 13 His organization, MMI, has partnered with Jemaah Islamiyyah (JI)
and Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT), a new jihadist organization founded by JI’s
former leader, Abu Bakr Basiyr. 14 At the same time, Ar-Rahmah brings some of
2009).
11
Most Arabic-language jihadist websites, including Al-Faloja and Ana al-Muslm, are exclusively
forums. There have been some now defunct Arabic language websites that have sought to offer
multiple formats of jihadist multimedia, including original media, news, streaming radio, a blog,
and a forum. The most notable example of this was the now-defunct, al-Tajdeed website, which
had been administered by British jihadist Muhammad al-Masaari. The fact is, however, that most
Arabic-language websites do not have the number of options to engage.
12
The Jakarta Post provides useful information about Abu Jibril. See, e.g., Tahil Ramani, Yogita,
and Kartika C. Bagus, “Alleged al-Qaeda-linked network in Central Java,” Jakarta Post, 26 January
2002.
13
For more information about Abu Jibril and the Indonesian jihadist movement, see Zachary
Abuza, “The Trial of Abu Bakar Ba'asyir: A Test for Indonesia Publication,” Terrorism Monitor 2,
no. 21 (9 May 2005); Zachary Abuza, “New Polling Data in Indonesia Shows “Significant”
Support for Terrorists,” Counterterrorism Blog, 15 October 2006,
http://counterterrorismblog.org/2006/10/new_polling_data_in_indonesia.php.
14
Tom Allard and Sunanda Creagh, “Tears Flow for Bali Victims,” Sydney Morning Herald, 13
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