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ABSTRACT
This study explores the main building blocks of participatory activism utilised by sympathisers of the Islamic State within their online media networks. The organisation has named this militant practice “media jihad” or militancy (munasara), which is built on the cultural patterns of traditional ground-based jihad. The practice involves transferring cultural values and war manoeuvres into the virtual ecosystem. The virtual tactics used by sympathisers are linked to the cultural norms of jihad, resulting in a combination of battlefield jihad values and digital resistance practices. The term “Jihacktivism” is introduced to describe this complex combinative Jihadist contention model promoted by the Islamic State. It is a digital resistance paradigm that decentralises the production and dissemination of the Islamic State’s propaganda and empowers sympathisers to contribute to the organisation’s communication of jihad. By doing so, sympathisers may foster a sense of solidarity and become more identified with the group’s cultural schemas and ideological beliefs.
Acknowledgements
I thank the International Institute For Counter-Terrorism (ICT), particulary Pr. Gabriel Weimann, Pr. Boas Ganor and Pr. Eitan Azani, for inviting me to present on the Jihacktivist model at the World Summit last September (11-15) 2022. I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to CST anonymous reviewers for their invaluable and constructive comments, which significantly contributed to the improvement of this work. My research project on online Jihadi Culture is funded by CNRST, Morocco as part of a research program –IBN KHALDOUN (Grant#IBK-2018-40). The arguments raised here are those of the author. ORCID: https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0003-3644-5039
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1. Here are several examples: In Ramadan 1436, Maktabat al-Himma released the booklet You Media Mujahid (mujāhidun anta ayyuhā al-i‘lāmi), which explains the duties and principles of media jihad. ‘The Story of a Martyr’ was issued in an article in Naba’, issue 221 on 19 Jumada II 1441, demonstrating the role of media jihad in battlefields. As for Taqwā Foundation, it released the booklet Electronic War (al-ḥarb al-Iliktrūniya) in Jumada I 1441, detailing the media warfare between IS and the forces of secularism. Besides, the essay “Victorious in Media War” (Muntasirūn fi al-ḥarb al i‘lāmiya) depicting similar themes was published in Naba’, issue 210, Rabi II 1441. The most recent examples are a video titled The Electronic War issued by the Electronic Horizons Foundation (afāq), and a video titled Inside 8 released in Arabic and English by the al-Hayat media Centre in Safar 1440 H.
2. Elite sympathisers are privileged in IS virtual ecosystem. They are typically well-trained in media production and are tasked with developing sophisticated messaging and media campaigns that promote the group’s ideology and objectives. They may also occupy positions of leadership within the organisation or have connections to influential members in the network. Elite sympathisers are essential to the success of IS’s media jihad, as they help to train new recruits and shape the group’s narrative and communicate its message to a wider audience.
3. We pledge allegiance to Ameer al-Mumineen and the Caliph of Muslims Aba al-Husain al-Husaini to listen to him and obey his orders both in times of Ease and hardship, prosperity and woe, that we would not contest the orders of whoever is in command unless we see overt disbelief on which we have a clear proof from Allah, who is the Almighty Witness to what we say (Trans. Mine).
4. The Islamic State emphasises the cultural value of “Steadfastness” (thabāt) as a key aspect of their ideology. This value is promoted through various forms of propaganda, including videos, leaders’ speeches, booklets, martyrs’ biographies, poster designs and chants. The famous cappella song entitled “steadfastness” (thabātan thabātan) is a good case in point. The concept of steadfastness emphasises perseverance and commitment to one’s battlefront, and it is seen as an important component of IS’s cultural propaganda. This value is also associated with regular presence and commitment to one’s duties and is used to promote a sense of unity and devotion among IS sympathisers.
5. One of the functions of chants utilised in IS propaganda is to shape Jihadists’ cultural perceptions of violence. These chants, such as “the Sword is the Sincerest You Unbelievers!” and “Ravished by the Sword,” created by Sadāh al-Inshād, utilise poetic rhythms and sonorous words that resonate with the sacred to legitimise violence towards opponents in their political dynamic. While images may have a more immediate impact, the significance of chants in this context lies in their historical role in justifying violence. By employing poetic means, IS seeks to establish its own regime of truth, using poetry and chants to legitimise their violent actions and establish the discursive and social practices that determine what is considered true knowledge. This poetic regime of truth that resonates with the sonority of the sacred text allows IS to control the narrative surrounding their actions and legitimise their violent tactics.
6. Due to technical glitches and malfunctions, Text Now is currently seeing a decrease in usage. As a result, most IS sympathisers have resorted to procuring virtual phone numbers from external websites, such as https://5sim.net/, as an alternative means of communication.
7. Concerning Express VPN, in a recent revision of its archive, the Electronic Horizons Foundation (EHF) issued a caution against its use. The company allegedly sold its service to an Israeli corporation co-founded by a former Israeli intelligence agent, according to EHF post-design warning. As an alternative, the EHF recommends utilising the Tor network and considering secure alternatives such as Riseup, Hide.me, Nord VPN, and F-Secure Freedome VPN. This warning emphasises the significance of user security and privacy in the IS digital ecosystem.
Additional information
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Mohammed Maarouf
Mohammed Maarouf is an Ethnographer, cultural Studies practitioner, and author of ethnographic research on online jihadi culture and popular and political Islam in Morocco.