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updates about the al-Shabaab jihadist organization in Somalia; and even analysis of the formation of the jihad in East Turkestan. 21 This global focus of the Ar- Rahmah blog would be, more than likely, dictated from the Ar-Rahmah leadership, given the highly organized and calibrated approach that its website seems to take. The absence of blog posts on local or regional issues suggests either that such issues are being discussed elsewhere on the website, that the site administrators do not view local issues as being compelling to the readers, or are themselves not interested in discussing them. Either way, the finding is counterintuitive given the local nature of many conflicts ongoing in Southeast Asia. Ar-Rahmah’s “Local” section is the only section on the website that focuses specifically on political, religious, and social issues in Indonesia and the region. 22 The topics discussed the most include local elections, trials of regional Islamic terrorists, the inefficacy or hypocrisy of local governments, and apostate Islamic groups operating in the region. The posts tend to feature color photos and refer readers to other posts on similar topics. The Ar-Rahmah “International” section concentrates mostly on exposing the crimes of the United States, Israel, and the Arab governments, commonly identified as the global jihadist movement’s enemies. 23 In addition, this section highlights the accomplishments of the global jihadist movement. This approach again fits squarely with the media strategy employed in Arabic language jihadist websites. The Ar-Rahmah “Technology” section presents news stories about advances in technology or its application that might be of relevance to a jihadist audience. 24 Interestingly, most Arabic language jihadist forums have sub-forums on technology within their discussion forum section, but very few have a narrative and analytical technology section such as this one. Ar-Rahmah has identified a number of enemies through their products and website. Many include the usual enemies of jihadists, including the Muslim Brotherhood, HAMAS, and other more mainstream Islamist groups. Others are less obvious to non-Indonesia specialists. The website is particularly upset with a 21 The Ar-Rahmah “Blog” section can be accessed at http://www.arrahmah.com/index.php/blog. 22 The Ar-Rahmah “Local” section can be accessed at http://www.arrahmah.com/index.php/news/local. 23 The Ar-Rahmah “International” section can be accessed at http://www.arrahmah.com/index.php/news/international. 24 The Ar-Rahmah “Technology” section can be accessed at http://www.arrahmah.com/index.php/news/technology. 103
group named Al-Qiyadah al-Islamiyah that the Indonesian government, through the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), banned for its supposed deviance from Islam. Ar-Rahamah has taken repeated aim at this group. 25 Perhaps the most aggressive and innovative multimedia effort by Ar-Rahmah has been its recent publication and dissemination of the online global jihadist magazine, JIHADMAGZ, which is available at . 26 Although there are numerous jihadist online magazines in Arabic and several in English, there are few in this region. The magazine’s “About” page explains that its goal is to “make the world a better place.” 27 It references several key global jihadist figures, including Abdullah Azzam, Shaykh Yusuf al-Uyayri, and ‘Esa al- Hindi. 28 The identification of these figures helps to further place the website in the global jihadist, rather than Islamist or regional separatist, ideological camp. The magazine does not publish the names of its own local journalists or contributors, listing instead al-Qa’ida-linked or jihadist foreign media outlets as sources of its news. Some of these sources include Al-Fajr Media and Al-Furqan Media in Iraq; As-Sahab Media, As Sumud Media, and Lee Media in Afghanistan; Kavkaz Center in the Caucasus, Russia; As-Shabaab Media in Somalia; the website of American jihadist propagandist, Samir Khan; the Al-Firdaws Jihadist Forum (now defunct); and the English-language Islamic Thinkers Society. This eclectic combination of official and marginal global jihadist sources spanning several languages suggests that the magazine’s editors are open to innovation and content from diverse sources. In other words, they seem to accept that many different outlets may offer useful insights and ideological direction. What seems to be occurring here, on a more tactical level, is that the magazine uses the global jihadist media outlets —major multimedia releases, including speeches, statements, interviews, and videos— for broad ideological direction and content. Anecdotal review of content suggests that the magazine’s editors fill their jihadist knowledge gaps by drawing on the commentary and analysis of the English websites. This lends further credence to the fact that these English jihadist websites have more influence than likely assumed because they help to shape the nature of the conversation and analytical focus of organizations like Ar-Rahmah. 25 For a list of twelve articles dating from 27 October 2007 to January 2009 on Ar-Rahmah, see http://www.arrahmah.com/index.php/search/results/6f571b1abb80fe3eabe5974d37e19c0f/. 26 “Prince of Jihad.” 27 See http://www.jihadmagz.com/v1/profil.html. 28 Ibid. 104
Page 1 and 2:
THE COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER AT W
Page 3 and 4:
Table of Contents Preface 3 The Lan
Page 5 and 6:
The Landscape of Jihadism in Southe
Page 7 and 8:
nationalist aims rather than a glob
Page 9 and 10:
Extremist Islam in Malaysia is a re
Page 11 and 12:
The first article, by Rohan Gunarat
Page 13 and 14:
The Current and Emerging Extremist
Page 15 and 16:
Mecca in 1979, the continuing Arab-
Page 17 and 18:
answers to such questions as: Who s
Page 19 and 20:
in 1999 by the son of the leader of
Page 21 and 22:
Indonesian friends some of who I ca
Page 23 and 24:
2. Al-Qa’ida Although JI is clear
Page 25 and 26:
In addition to the crackdown on the
Page 27 and 28:
- Transcriptions of audio speeches
Page 29 and 30:
that his teachers had a cut-and-pas
Page 31 and 32:
The historical development of Jihad
Page 33 and 34:
Ramadan fast observance, and attend
Page 35 and 36:
exponentially, quickly claiming ove
Page 37 and 38:
declare the Hezbollah controlled ar
Page 39 and 40:
Ja’far Umar Thalib, erstwhile lea
Page 41 and 42:
founder, Abu Bakar Ba’asyir, whos
Page 43 and 44:
it made a bloody intervention in Ja
Page 45 and 46:
their time learning how to shoot fi
Page 47 and 48:
died in 1999, Ba’asyir lacks conv
Page 49 and 50:
survey report, entitled “Attitude
Page 51 and 52:
Jihadi Publishing in Indonesia Publ
Page 53 and 54: Ladin who was killed by the Saudi a
Page 55 and 56: The Influence of Transnational Jiha
Page 57 and 58: there, he met Usama bin Ladin and b
Page 59 and 60: supporters among the Muslim populat
Page 61 and 62: will guide them and admit them to P
Page 63 and 64: Yousef’s arrest in the Philippine
Page 65 and 66: RSM’s Ideology RSM’s jihadist i
Page 67 and 68: will be granted seven special favor
Page 69 and 70: ay, and in the long run, to rid the
Page 71 and 72: nature of their political goals but
Page 73 and 74: motivation. 66 Moreover, without a
Page 75 and 76: Ideology, Religion, and Mobilizatio
Page 77 and 78: degrees of autonomy despite being f
Page 79 and 80: General Wattanachai Chaaimuanwong,
Page 81 and 82: liberationist ideology are invited
Page 83 and 84: Interestingly, even when the notion
Page 85 and 86: ensure that you deal with them in a
Page 87 and 88: uncovered a controversial manuscrip
Page 89 and 90: legislative elements of the Patani
Page 91 and 92: Buddhist colonialism supported by t
Page 93 and 94: eligious referents to the ongoing c
Page 95 and 96: Conclusion Given the increasingly p
Page 97 and 98: Southeast Asia. The raw number of u
Page 99 and 100: operating through websites. This ob
Page 101 and 102: language jihadist websites, which h
Page 103: sending representatives to make the
Page 107 and 108: Al-Muhajirun (http://www.almuhajiru
Page 109 and 110: other. The former are busy pursuing
Page 111 and 112: al-Qa’ida’s High-Command, Abdal
Page 113 and 114: on current events, new al-Qa’ida
Page 115 and 116: Viewing the Southeast Asian jihadis
Page 117: Germany, the United Kingdom, China,
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