Syria rebel interview, outright Islamic fascism
An interview with Jabhat al-Nusra
The interviewee is a young fighter from Jabhat al-Nusra, an extremist Sunni group in Syria affiliated with al-Qaeda in Iraq. A former teacher and then tiler, he is dressed in well-ironed black trousers, a white shirt and a black turban. A gun rests on his lap. He is accompanied by an older man, who appears to be judging him on his answers. Both are Syrian and ask not to be named because they do not have permission to speak to the press.
How has Jabhat al-Nusra become so powerful?
The reason is the weakening of the other groups. Jabhat al-Nusra gets the advantage because of our ideology. We are not just rebels; we are doing something we believe in. We are not just fighting against tyranny; Bashar Assad is only part of our fight. The other groups are only a reaction to the regime, whereas we are fighting for a vision.
What is that vision?
We are fighting to apply what Allah said to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. We are fighting so people don’t look to other people but only to Allah. We don’t believe in complete freedom: it is restricted by Allah’s laws. Allah created us and he knows what is best for us.
What future do you see for Syria—or do you even see a Syria in the future?
We want the future that Islam commands. Not a country with borders but an umma [worldwide Islamic community of believers] of all the Muslim people. All Muslims should be united.
Syria has long been known for its sectarian diversity. How do you view the other sects?
The other sects are protected by the Islamic state. Muhammad, peace be upon him, had a Jewish neighbour, for example, and he was always good to him. But the power and authority must be with the believers [Sunnis], not the unbelievers.
What about other Sunnis who are more moderate than you?
We will apply sharia law to them.
What about Alawites?
Allah knows what will happen to them. There is a difference between the basic kuffar [infidels] and those who converted from Islam. If the latter, we must punish them. Alawites are included. Even Sunnis who want democracy are kuffar as are all Shia. It’s not about who is loyal and who isn’t to the regime; it’s about their religion. Sharia says there can be no punishment of the innocent and there must be punishment of the bad; that’s what we follow.
Did you lose or gain fighters following the announcement that you are linked to al-Qaeda in Iraq?
We’re with anything that represents real Islam, whether al-Qaeda or otherwise. If there is a better group, we’ll go with them instead. The effect of the announcement is that now we know our friends and our enemies. The good people will come to our side and the bad people will leave.
Many, maybe most, Syrians do not share your views. Do you care?
It would be great if the Syrians were with us but the kuffar are not important. Abraham and Sarah were facing all the infidels, for example, but they were doing the right thing. The number with us doesn’t matter.
Which other rebel groups do you see as acceptable? Ahrar al-Sham, another Salafist group, criticised your links to al-Qaeda.
I think only 5% of the battalions are against the Islamic vision. Ahrar al-Sham are a mixture of Islamists and people who like Allah so we are not sure about their vision. We are very clear as the Prophet, peace be upon him, made it very clear to us. Other groups have good beliefs but we are the only committed ones.
Will the differences lead to clashes, as have happened in some places? And how would you react if Western powers decide to arm other rebel groups?
If the arms reach people who will fight Assad and Hizbullah that’s okay. If they use them against us, then that’s a problem. We’ll avoid fighting [other groups] if we can. The West wants to ruin Syria.
How hard is it to become a member of Jabhat al-Nusra?
We examine those who want to join. First you must be loyal to the idea of Jabhat al-Nusra. Second, you must get a recommendation [from someone in the organisation]. Third, you go to a camp to be educated and practice, and take the oath of loyalty to the emir [the group’s leader].
Do you plan to carry out operations against the West in the future?
There is no permanent friendship and no permanent enemy. We’ll do whatever is in the interest of Muslims. The first duty on us is to fight the kuffar among us here in the occupied Muslim lands. The next duty will be decided later.
Do you have contact with the Syrian regime?
If it is in the interest of the Muslims, such as for gas or water, then we have no problem. These matters are in the hands of the emir.
Your presence helps the regime which has long tried to portray the opposition as extremist. What do you think about that?
The regime maybe benefits but in the end we’ll show all humans, Syrian and otherwise, the way, and true Islam.
What are your views of women?
The woman in Islam has a special role. She is respected as a wife, a sister, a mother, a daughter. She is a jewel we should preserve and look after. In the West they gave women freedom but they use them and don’t respect them. The woman is to use in adverts. We don’t have an issue with the woman working according to her mind and body. But not jobs that humiliate. Jewellery is okay on women, but not on men, and not too much. Make up should be just for your husband. You can wear coloured clothes and show your face. [The older man disagrees, saying women should cover their face and hands.]
Shouldn't men also cover up to avoid women looking at other people's husbands?
Our women ask the same question. Some men can’t control themselves and the woman is the source. It’s easier to prevent abuse. The men’s role is to go out and work. Man’s brain is bigger than the woman’s—that’s scientifically proven. Men’s brains have different areas for speaking and thinking, but women’s don’t which is why women they say what they think.
What if your interpretation of the Koran is wrong?
There are two types of verse. Firstly ones that are stable and unchanging, such as head-covering. Secondly ones on which people can differ, such as the rule demanding ablution after touching a woman. Does that mean touching her skin or intercourse? Opinions can differ.
Do you consider any Islamists too radical, like the Taliban, for example?
There are people committed to Islam and then those far from it. No one committed is too radical. We haven’t met anyone from the Taliban but they seem good Muslims because they defended their religion and the occupation, they kicked out the enemy and applied sharia.
Did you study religion?
I was poor but I read the Bible, and lots of Jewish and Islamic books. My head and heart told me to accept the Koran and the Sunna [accompanying religious texts]. Islam is different because it has a complete view of life, society, politics, economics—it is a complete system.
We hear there is a split inside Jabhat al-Nusra about your links to al-Qaeda. Do you disagree about that or other matters?
There are small differences, but when we give loyalty, we obey.
http://www.economist.com/blogs/pomegranate/2013/05/syrias-fighters-0?fsrc=scn/tw/te/bl/JabhatalNusra
The interviewee is a young fighter from Jabhat al-Nusra, an extremist Sunni group in Syria affiliated with al-Qaeda in Iraq. A former teacher and then tiler, he is dressed in well-ironed black trousers, a white shirt and a black turban. A gun rests on his lap. He is accompanied by an older man, who appears to be judging him on his answers. Both are Syrian and ask not to be named because they do not have permission to speak to the press.
How has Jabhat al-Nusra become so powerful?
The reason is the weakening of the other groups. Jabhat al-Nusra gets the advantage because of our ideology. We are not just rebels; we are doing something we believe in. We are not just fighting against tyranny; Bashar Assad is only part of our fight. The other groups are only a reaction to the regime, whereas we are fighting for a vision.
What is that vision?
We are fighting to apply what Allah said to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. We are fighting so people don’t look to other people but only to Allah. We don’t believe in complete freedom: it is restricted by Allah’s laws. Allah created us and he knows what is best for us.
What future do you see for Syria—or do you even see a Syria in the future?
We want the future that Islam commands. Not a country with borders but an umma [worldwide Islamic community of believers] of all the Muslim people. All Muslims should be united.
Syria has long been known for its sectarian diversity. How do you view the other sects?
The other sects are protected by the Islamic state. Muhammad, peace be upon him, had a Jewish neighbour, for example, and he was always good to him. But the power and authority must be with the believers [Sunnis], not the unbelievers.
What about other Sunnis who are more moderate than you?
We will apply sharia law to them.
What about Alawites?
Allah knows what will happen to them. There is a difference between the basic kuffar [infidels] and those who converted from Islam. If the latter, we must punish them. Alawites are included. Even Sunnis who want democracy are kuffar as are all Shia. It’s not about who is loyal and who isn’t to the regime; it’s about their religion. Sharia says there can be no punishment of the innocent and there must be punishment of the bad; that’s what we follow.
Did you lose or gain fighters following the announcement that you are linked to al-Qaeda in Iraq?
We’re with anything that represents real Islam, whether al-Qaeda or otherwise. If there is a better group, we’ll go with them instead. The effect of the announcement is that now we know our friends and our enemies. The good people will come to our side and the bad people will leave.
Many, maybe most, Syrians do not share your views. Do you care?
It would be great if the Syrians were with us but the kuffar are not important. Abraham and Sarah were facing all the infidels, for example, but they were doing the right thing. The number with us doesn’t matter.
Which other rebel groups do you see as acceptable? Ahrar al-Sham, another Salafist group, criticised your links to al-Qaeda.
I think only 5% of the battalions are against the Islamic vision. Ahrar al-Sham are a mixture of Islamists and people who like Allah so we are not sure about their vision. We are very clear as the Prophet, peace be upon him, made it very clear to us. Other groups have good beliefs but we are the only committed ones.
Will the differences lead to clashes, as have happened in some places? And how would you react if Western powers decide to arm other rebel groups?
If the arms reach people who will fight Assad and Hizbullah that’s okay. If they use them against us, then that’s a problem. We’ll avoid fighting [other groups] if we can. The West wants to ruin Syria.
How hard is it to become a member of Jabhat al-Nusra?
We examine those who want to join. First you must be loyal to the idea of Jabhat al-Nusra. Second, you must get a recommendation [from someone in the organisation]. Third, you go to a camp to be educated and practice, and take the oath of loyalty to the emir [the group’s leader].
Do you plan to carry out operations against the West in the future?
There is no permanent friendship and no permanent enemy. We’ll do whatever is in the interest of Muslims. The first duty on us is to fight the kuffar among us here in the occupied Muslim lands. The next duty will be decided later.
Do you have contact with the Syrian regime?
If it is in the interest of the Muslims, such as for gas or water, then we have no problem. These matters are in the hands of the emir.
Your presence helps the regime which has long tried to portray the opposition as extremist. What do you think about that?
The regime maybe benefits but in the end we’ll show all humans, Syrian and otherwise, the way, and true Islam.
What are your views of women?
The woman in Islam has a special role. She is respected as a wife, a sister, a mother, a daughter. She is a jewel we should preserve and look after. In the West they gave women freedom but they use them and don’t respect them. The woman is to use in adverts. We don’t have an issue with the woman working according to her mind and body. But not jobs that humiliate. Jewellery is okay on women, but not on men, and not too much. Make up should be just for your husband. You can wear coloured clothes and show your face. [The older man disagrees, saying women should cover their face and hands.]
Shouldn't men also cover up to avoid women looking at other people's husbands?
Our women ask the same question. Some men can’t control themselves and the woman is the source. It’s easier to prevent abuse. The men’s role is to go out and work. Man’s brain is bigger than the woman’s—that’s scientifically proven. Men’s brains have different areas for speaking and thinking, but women’s don’t which is why women they say what they think.
What if your interpretation of the Koran is wrong?
There are two types of verse. Firstly ones that are stable and unchanging, such as head-covering. Secondly ones on which people can differ, such as the rule demanding ablution after touching a woman. Does that mean touching her skin or intercourse? Opinions can differ.
Do you consider any Islamists too radical, like the Taliban, for example?
There are people committed to Islam and then those far from it. No one committed is too radical. We haven’t met anyone from the Taliban but they seem good Muslims because they defended their religion and the occupation, they kicked out the enemy and applied sharia.
Did you study religion?
I was poor but I read the Bible, and lots of Jewish and Islamic books. My head and heart told me to accept the Koran and the Sunna [accompanying religious texts]. Islam is different because it has a complete view of life, society, politics, economics—it is a complete system.
We hear there is a split inside Jabhat al-Nusra about your links to al-Qaeda. Do you disagree about that or other matters?
There are small differences, but when we give loyalty, we obey.
http://www.economist.com/blogs/pomegranate/2013/05/syrias-fighters-0?fsrc=scn/tw/te/bl/JabhatalNusra
(edited 10 years ago)
Scroll to see replies
Seriously why are we bothering to help these rebels? We never did the background check on these people from the outset, I suggested to my family when this started the rebels are probably themselves of dubious origin and lo and behold 
Original post by OedipusTheKing
Seriously why are we bothering to help these rebels? We never did the background check on these people from the outset, I suggested to my family when this started the rebels are probably themselves of dubious origin and lo and behold
The intelligence agencies know them better than any of us, and they knew them years ago before the rebellion even began.
The reason they are being supported is because Assad's government is aligned with Iran and provides support to Hezbollah, and Hezbollah is a threat to Israel.The Salafis, on the other hand, never have been.
It's not clear why Assad didn't just realign himself with the American-Israeli axis like the Saudis, Qataris and Bahrainis have.
Original post by Dirac Delta Function
The intelligence agencies know them better than any of us, and they knew them years ago before the rebellion even began.
The reason they are being supported is because Assad's government is aligned with Iran and provides support to Hezbollah, and Hezbollah is a threat to Israel.The Salafis, on the other hand, never have been.
It's not clear why Assad didn't just realign himself with the American-Israeli axis like the Saudis, Qataris and Bahrainis have.
The reason they are being supported is because Assad's government is aligned with Iran and provides support to Hezbollah, and Hezbollah is a threat to Israel.The Salafis, on the other hand, never have been.
It's not clear why Assad didn't just realign himself with the American-Israeli axis like the Saudis, Qataris and Bahrainis have.
Perhaps he didn't want to become another puppet satrap for the wonderful Western forces operating in the area, because you know, Israel is a bastion of freedom in the Middle East isn't it?
Original post by OedipusTheKing
Perhaps he didn't want to become another puppet satrap for the wonderful Western forces operating in the area, because you know, Israel is a bastion of freedom in the Middle East isn't it?
I think he is motivated by self-interest rather than principles, but even supposing it was for that reason. Is it worth it? As a leader of a country, why put your people through this just to back a failing state (Iran), and a South-Lebanese militia? Hezbollah are only useful to him because he is enemies with Israel. If he weren't, he would not need them.
And Syrians are not like Saudis, Qataris and other desert people. In the long run, they would have built a nice country. Now Syria is infested with Salafi vermin who will be cutting heads off for years to come.
(edited 10 years ago)
Why are Unite Against Fascism wasting time with the EDL when there are people like this in the world?
I'm with Sweden, Germany and Austria on this one to put it bluntly.
Everytime we try and help, we seem to cause more problems and ramifications then had we not intervened at all.
Everytime we try and help, we seem to cause more problems and ramifications then had we not intervened at all.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2327694/Hagues-arms-warning-Syria-Foreign-Secretary-says-Britain-arm-rebels-unless-Assad-comes-negotiating-table.html
Does our government realise just what they are supporting and what it will lead to but don't care or are they just naive?
Anyone even thinking of screaming "daily fail" should look here
Does our government realise just what they are supporting and what it will lead to but don't care or are they just naive?
Anyone even thinking of screaming "daily fail" should look here
Original post by sugar-n-spice
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2327694/Hagues-arms-warning-Syria-Foreign-Secretary-says-Britain-arm-rebels-unless-Assad-comes-negotiating-table.html
Does our government realise just what they are supporting and what it will lead to but don't care or are they just naive?
Anyone even thinking of screaming "daily fail" should look here
Does our government realise just what they are supporting and what it will lead to but don't care or are they just naive?
Anyone even thinking of screaming "daily fail" should look here
Thy hypocrisy and double standards of Western regimes are just too much to bare. Is this Hague guy blind, deaf and stupid?
Original post by Basiji
Thy hypocrisy and double standards of Western regimes are just too much to bare. Is this Hague guy blind, deaf and stupid?
In any revolution there is always extremists, the STUPID OP took an interview of a terrorist and is trying to make it sound as if the entire opposition are like this.
To the OP - Al Nusra are only 5%-8% of opposition fighters, STUPID.
Western governments are supporting the FSA not Al-Nusra. The FSA is a secular organization, George Sabra, its spokesman, is a Christian and a well known Communist activist. Al-Nusra are hardline Salafists and are obviously an entirely different organization.
The two groups are not synonymous. The FSA is a militarized extension of the Arab Spring, not the Islamist nightmate everyone seems to caricature it as. With that said, I don't necessarily endorse arming them. I just want to clarify something that everyone on this forum seems to be eliding; there are many different groups in Syria, and even if they manage to win the war they will probably end up fighting each other.
The two groups are not synonymous. The FSA is a militarized extension of the Arab Spring, not the Islamist nightmate everyone seems to caricature it as. With that said, I don't necessarily endorse arming them. I just want to clarify something that everyone on this forum seems to be eliding; there are many different groups in Syria, and even if they manage to win the war they will probably end up fighting each other.
Original post by Spaz Man
Syria is just a game to Western governments. Stop all arms sales to the Middle East and sign a Nuclear-Free Zone Treaty which forces all countries to deactivate all nuclear weapons (especially Israel)
Its Russia and Iran that are sending weapons to kill Syrians, STUPID. The West have nothing to do with it.
Original post by ~EventHorizon~
Western governments are supporting the FSA not Al-Nusra. The FSA is a secular organization, George Sabra, its spokesman, is a Christian and a well known Communist activist. Al-Nusra are hardline Salafists and are obviously an entirely different organization.
The two groups are not synonymous. The FSA is a militarized extension of the Arab Spring, not the Islamist nightmate everyone seems to caricature it as. With that said, I don't necessarily endorse arming them. I just want to clarify something that everyone on this forum seems to be eliding; there are many different groups in Syria, and even if they manage to win the war they will probably end up fighting each other.
The two groups are not synonymous. The FSA is a militarized extension of the Arab Spring, not the Islamist nightmate everyone seems to caricature it as. With that said, I don't necessarily endorse arming them. I just want to clarify something that everyone on this forum seems to be eliding; there are many different groups in Syria, and even if they manage to win the war they will probably end up fighting each other.
Very true, though those who point out the presence of Islamic extremists amongst the opposition (many of whom, like George Galloway, are on record supporting far more open and extreme Islamists in Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq and Sudan) are much less willing to point out the Assad regime's well known far more extensive links to Hezbullah (little more that a Shia version of Al-Queda), or its role in promoting several years of sectarian civil war in Lebanon, as well as its own well known role in formenting sectarianism in the civil war (as early as March 2011, before there was even an armed opposition).
Something few seem to be mentioning is that Syria has turned into a proxy battleground for "the West" (US and EU) on one side at an informal anti-Western coalition (headed up by Russia) on the other. It's essentially a return to the later years of the cold war with pretty much the same sides involved. It exposes the sloppy thinking that the East-West hostilities would end because of an ideological shift in that East. It's therefore different than what's been happening in the other Arab countries. Egypt and Tunisia's regimes fell in entirely due to internal opposition. In Libya Europe and America intervened on the side of the rebellion in a civil war that was already ongoing but Gaddafi had no allies willing to rescue his oil kingdom. Syria, on the other hand, has strong links to other countries so the ruling family aren't going to be ousted without them getting involved. France et al know that all the talk about chemical warfare on the part of the regime is for nowt, the Russians will veto any UN resolution authorising force.
Stability, like freedom, is only good when it's supporting things that are morally sound. If this were democratic governments being destabilised by far-right militias the moral sense behind concern about destabilisation would be clear, here it is far more muddy. Should the Syrian people defeat Assad there's a risk that the post-Assad state would slip into theocracy or some other undemocratic regime; if Assad wins there is almost certainty that one-family rule will continue and there is a very strong likelihood that the regime would feel the need to punish its subjects in order to prevent the temptation of further uprisings, something the Assad family has form in.
Unfortunately there are a serious problems within the FSA and the Syrian opposition that we cannot ignore - and certainly not support. If we'd acted earlier, before Islamist groups emerged and began to fill the void, this would have been less complicated, but we sadly did not have the will to do that.
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by OedipusTheKing
Seriously why are we bothering to help these rebels? We never did the background check on these people from the outset, I suggested to my family when this started the rebels are probably themselves of dubious origin and lo and behold
To be fair I think a lot of people in the west are aware of the problems just choosing a side in this civil war (which is why we haven't gone in or even so much as armed them) and intervening, for domestic but mostly as well local concerns.
The sides in the Syrian war are not too different from choosing between the nazi's and the USSR in world war two, though Hitler made that decision for us.
Assad might be a dictator, and he might not be a very nice man, leading not very nice men, but the rebels terrorist links, it's use of chemical weapons and so forth show that it's hardly the better side in the conflict. Plus a rebel victory would most likely lead to more chaos and a power vacuum (read: the second half of the chaos and war) than if Assad just wins (which I think secretly many in the western governments would prefer to maintain some semblance of stability).
Mostly though it'll suck us in, cost us money and lives and just make us a target for pro-Assad terrorism, as well as probably rebel side terrorists to. History proves that usually we're hated by our 'friends' as much as our enemies in middle-east interventions.
Original post by Dirac Delta Function
An interview with Jabhat al-Nusra
http://www.economist.com/blogs/pomegranate/2013/05/syrias-fighters-0?fsrc=scn/tw/te/bl/JabhatalNusra
http://www.economist.com/blogs/pomegranate/2013/05/syrias-fighters-0?fsrc=scn/tw/te/bl/JabhatalNusra
I also read this.
You think that was bad? Watch this : http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=99c_1364916738
Original post by Th1rdeyeIL
Its Russia and Iran that are sending weapons to kill Syrians, STUPID. The West have nothing to do with it.
Syria and Iran are the only countries where Russia has any influence in the Middle East but yes I do include the Russians in the notion to stop sending weaponry.
Calling me stupid won't further your argument or denigrate mine...
Original post by Th1rdeyeIL
Its Russia and Iran that are sending weapons to kill Syrians, STUPID. The West have nothing to do with it.
Iran maybe... Russia does have semi and genuine causes to be sending weapons
a] they have prexisting and active arms contracs
b] if they keep sending them advanced AA and ASM systems the western forces arent going to go near Syria with a barge pole... i doubt the americans would be amused seeing aircraft worth hundredss of millions of dollars blown out of the sky or an aircraft carrier being sunk by an ASM, am i right? What theyre do may well be killing syrian in the short run but i believe it may well help in the long run and prevent further killing when someone like israel, europe or america decides to go in with the carpet bombing etc.
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