ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi appears in video calling for jihad and Caliphate
The reported leader of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is allegedly the man appearing at a mosque in Mosul, calling on those gathered to wage a holy war, CNN reported, citing witnesses and a video posted to the extremist group’s website.
screenshot from new video may reveal Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
The video was promoted on social media sites tied to ISIS and supposedly shows Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi leading prayers at the Great Mosque of al-Nuri in Mosul.
CNN notes that the militant leader has not been videotaped or photographed regularly, so this may not be al-Baghdadi as the U.S. and Iraqi officials are examining the footage. He is seen in the video calling create an Islamic nation, a “caliphate,” to wage a Holy “jihad.”
“God created us to worship him and spread his religion, and ordered us to fight his enemies for him and for religion,” the man in the video said.
During the sermon, he added that Muslims are sinners if they don’t join him in establishing an Islamic state.
“I am being entrusted with this heavy burden and duty to be your imam, although I am not the best one among you,” he said.
“Therefore, if you see me as righteous, you should help me and if you see me wrong, you should advise me and help me. Obey me as long as long as I obey God in ruling you,” he said. “…If I disobey God, then you are no longer obligated to obey me.”
ISIS has already declared al-Baghdadi their official leader and declared the name change to “the Islamic state.” Al-Baghdadi was never identified by name, only as “the emir of the believers,” according to a woman who was at the mosque when he arrived. CNN is identifying the witness only as Bara’a out of a concern for her safety.
Their article affirms that “Very little is known about al-Baghdadi, but a biography posted on jihadist websites last year said he earned a doctorate in Islamic studies from a university in Baghdad.”
[…] ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi erupted into the headlines last month as the group called for a massive jihadist uprising, a caliphate and even an attack on Mecca. The video captured the chilling words and triggered a devastating campaign through Iraq, Syria and some neighboring Islamic countries. Check out that clip, more coverage – here. […]
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