Interview with Deputy Emir of Army of Emigrants and Supporters Abdul-Karim Crimean
Publication time: 3 March 2014, 19:00
Sham News has published an interview with Deputy Emir of the Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar (JMA)/Army of Emigrants and Supporters, Abdul Karim Krymsky, or Crimean, in which he raised the question of actions by ISIL in Syria. The interview was translated by EA World View.
***
Question: After ISIL left settlements near Aleppo, mass graves were discovered in areas where they had been based. Many corpses showed signs of torture. According to several reports, 200 people disappeared without trace from Hraytan, Anadan, and Kafr Hamra. More than 130 corpses have been found. Corpses continue to be found. These facts had a lot of resonance with Mujahideen and local population. What can you say on the matter?
Abdul-Karim: Yes, unfortunately, you can’t escape the facts. However, someone might want to close his eyes or deny it, tens and hundreds of corpses, mass graves, became a kind of calling card for ISIS wherever it went.
Most worryingly, these events came to be part of everyday life, whereby ISIS was not ashamed of its crimes and people were not surprised by them.
Local residents say with sadness, the Assad regime kills us because we are Muslims and ISIL kills us proclaiming us infidels. And their methods are the same.
Before they left, representatives from ISIL often say to us: “Are you sure that after we leave no one will lay a finger on you?” We didn’t consider that question to be relevant because JMA don’t blow up innocent people and don’t execute prisoners, so what have we to be afraid of?
Now it’s clear that people’s anger might well have spilled over against all emigrants. At the start, locals took every emigrant for a member of ISIL. Those who had to travel on the roads felt that. At every checkpoint there were checks, suspicions, alertness.
But we understood that we had to put up with it. Time had to pass. After all their brothers, fathers, sons were killed. And who were the killers? The newcomers. Just put yourself in their shoes and you can understand that the Syrian people has a far more tolerant attitude toward people than we do.
Praise be to Allah, despite these crimes, the local people don’t confuse all emigrants with ISIL and they have a kind attitude toward us. If the leaders of ISIL thought they had besmirched the word “emigrant”, then they, Allah willing, didn’t manage it.
Well, in order to sow doubt into people’s souls, unfortunately, they make trouble in public, saying, don’t think that all ISIL have left from there, some of them remained in sufficient numbers, you know.
And I think that they do this to arouse people’s suspicions against emigrants in general.
ISIL propagandists intimidated a lot of young emigrants, especially those with families, saying that after we leave, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) will come and shoot dead the lot of you. Moreover, they intentionally associate any brigades that don’t agree with them with the FSA. Many Mujahideen have bought into this, unfortunately.
Q: These insulting facts could explain why ISIL gave various excuses for refusing to create the Sharia court, under absurd conditions. But what is their aim? It could not be that they killed civilians just for the hell of it? Could their leaders, who give the nod to mass summary executions, really not know what the reaction of the locals would be? Why do they throw the corpses of people on the road? Just to scare people?
A-K: Yes, it’s not an easy question. When they resorted to demonstrations of brutality against the population, it doesn’t smell like Islam at all. And such a policy for those who supposedly want to build an Islamic State, it looks really strange.
You can, of course, intimidate civilians. They lived for years under fear and oppression. But when these same several thousands armed men try to intimate tens of thousands of armed men, it looks very illogical, not to say stupid.
Any unbiased view sees an enormous gulf between the words of ISIL and violent crimes that they did. Again, it is impossible to discern any common sense, not to mention sincerity, in these acts.
But if we ignore the pompous chatter and judge by their real deeds, then there is a suspicion that the purpose of the leadership of ISIL is to isolate emigrants, to deprive them of popular support and to stop the flow of emigrants into Syria. In this case, everything is logical, everything falls into place.
And when you consider the fact that ISIL does not hold any meter of the front line against the Assad regime, and all their activity is directed toward the battle against Muslims, then the question becomes even more interesting.
This is, as we know, one of the main aims of Kharijites. A hadith says that they (the Kharijites) “will ignore worshipers of idols and kill the faithful”. That is what we actually observe. They declare takfir for anyone they dislike and without hesitation allow themselves to spill the blood of Muslims, showing tenacity and brutality in it.
Q: But ISIL propagandists categorically deny that they declare takfir on the population and all brigades who oppose them. Although their actions show the contrary.
A-K: Just one example. Their real attitude can be known from negotiations and correspondences between the youth of ISIL and our Mujahideen. They ask: “Is it true that you are united with infidels to fight against infidels?”. By “infidels” they mean Nuraddin az-Zinki Brigade, with whom we have carried out joint operations.
Q: Maybe young emigrants have fallen into ISIL unaware of the extrajudicial executions and other crimes?
A-K: If only it were so. Unfortunately, the facts show that they not only know, but also approve those crimes, but that they also participate in some of them themselves. When asked why they do not hold front lines against Assad, they reply that they had, say, another job — that at night, they are “working against the hypocrites”.
And how many times have we been personally convinced that this “work” was basically looting the local population. There were cases when our Mujahedeen caught them in the act and handed them over to their Emir, so the criminals could be judged by Sharia. But no measures were taken against them. The next day they were seen driving around in cars as if nothing happened.
There was a local Ansar/Supporter here. He repaired weapons and kept a small shop selling firearms. Many of our weapons were handed over to him for repair or sale. Before leaving, ISIL killed him and completely took away all that was in store. And this is not an isolated case.
On these cases, the main propagandists of ISIL usually say: “Everyone makes mistakes”. There’s explanation and “high” ideals for you.
Q: After the assassination of the ally of Osama bin Laden, Sheikh Abu Umeir for which many people blamed ISIL, its representatives said that Sheikh Abu Umeir (al-Suri) was killed by his entourage because he was preparing to go over to ISIL.
A-K: Whoever has talked to the Sheikh knows that it is a dirty lie. And this lie is more characterized by arrogance and shamelessness. Generally, it is striking how many lies ISIL can tell. Of those who identify themselves as Muslims, only Shiites and Rafidites lie like that. For them it is an integral part of their faith.
Only a sick imagination could slander Sheikh Abu Umeir. On the contrary, he repeatedly met with the Emirs of ISIL, gave them good instructions, asked them to stop bloodshed and infighting. But every time he ran into lies and treachery from them. What he told us he personally said many times, also in public.
Q: All will be as determined by Almighty Allah. And no tricks, cunning or treachery from any party will be able to damage the true believers and those standing on the correct path.
A-K: The current situation is very sad for us. We are particularly concerned about the fate of Mujahideen who genuinely went for Jihad, but were deceived by slogans and flags and fell into turmoil and became accomplices by removing weapons from infidels and turning them against Muslims.
Let us pray to Allah that He saves us from every kind of delusion, and won’t let us leave the right path. May Allah save us from shedding innocent blood, the blood of Muslims.
- Ameen. May Allah reward you the best way. Peace be upon you.
A-K: And you too. And upon you be peace.
Department of Monitoring
Kavkaz Center
***
Question: After ISIL left settlements near Aleppo, mass graves were discovered in areas where they had been based. Many corpses showed signs of torture. According to several reports, 200 people disappeared without trace from Hraytan, Anadan, and Kafr Hamra. More than 130 corpses have been found. Corpses continue to be found. These facts had a lot of resonance with Mujahideen and local population. What can you say on the matter?
Abdul-Karim: Yes, unfortunately, you can’t escape the facts. However, someone might want to close his eyes or deny it, tens and hundreds of corpses, mass graves, became a kind of calling card for ISIS wherever it went.
Most worryingly, these events came to be part of everyday life, whereby ISIS was not ashamed of its crimes and people were not surprised by them.
Local residents say with sadness, the Assad regime kills us because we are Muslims and ISIL kills us proclaiming us infidels. And their methods are the same.
Before they left, representatives from ISIL often say to us: “Are you sure that after we leave no one will lay a finger on you?” We didn’t consider that question to be relevant because JMA don’t blow up innocent people and don’t execute prisoners, so what have we to be afraid of?
Now it’s clear that people’s anger might well have spilled over against all emigrants. At the start, locals took every emigrant for a member of ISIL. Those who had to travel on the roads felt that. At every checkpoint there were checks, suspicions, alertness.
But we understood that we had to put up with it. Time had to pass. After all their brothers, fathers, sons were killed. And who were the killers? The newcomers. Just put yourself in their shoes and you can understand that the Syrian people has a far more tolerant attitude toward people than we do.
Praise be to Allah, despite these crimes, the local people don’t confuse all emigrants with ISIL and they have a kind attitude toward us. If the leaders of ISIL thought they had besmirched the word “emigrant”, then they, Allah willing, didn’t manage it.
Well, in order to sow doubt into people’s souls, unfortunately, they make trouble in public, saying, don’t think that all ISIL have left from there, some of them remained in sufficient numbers, you know.
And I think that they do this to arouse people’s suspicions against emigrants in general.
ISIL propagandists intimidated a lot of young emigrants, especially those with families, saying that after we leave, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) will come and shoot dead the lot of you. Moreover, they intentionally associate any brigades that don’t agree with them with the FSA. Many Mujahideen have bought into this, unfortunately.
Q: These insulting facts could explain why ISIL gave various excuses for refusing to create the Sharia court, under absurd conditions. But what is their aim? It could not be that they killed civilians just for the hell of it? Could their leaders, who give the nod to mass summary executions, really not know what the reaction of the locals would be? Why do they throw the corpses of people on the road? Just to scare people?
A-K: Yes, it’s not an easy question. When they resorted to demonstrations of brutality against the population, it doesn’t smell like Islam at all. And such a policy for those who supposedly want to build an Islamic State, it looks really strange.
You can, of course, intimidate civilians. They lived for years under fear and oppression. But when these same several thousands armed men try to intimate tens of thousands of armed men, it looks very illogical, not to say stupid.
Any unbiased view sees an enormous gulf between the words of ISIL and violent crimes that they did. Again, it is impossible to discern any common sense, not to mention sincerity, in these acts.
But if we ignore the pompous chatter and judge by their real deeds, then there is a suspicion that the purpose of the leadership of ISIL is to isolate emigrants, to deprive them of popular support and to stop the flow of emigrants into Syria. In this case, everything is logical, everything falls into place.
And when you consider the fact that ISIL does not hold any meter of the front line against the Assad regime, and all their activity is directed toward the battle against Muslims, then the question becomes even more interesting.
This is, as we know, one of the main aims of Kharijites. A hadith says that they (the Kharijites) “will ignore worshipers of idols and kill the faithful”. That is what we actually observe. They declare takfir for anyone they dislike and without hesitation allow themselves to spill the blood of Muslims, showing tenacity and brutality in it.
Q: But ISIL propagandists categorically deny that they declare takfir on the population and all brigades who oppose them. Although their actions show the contrary.
A-K: Just one example. Their real attitude can be known from negotiations and correspondences between the youth of ISIL and our Mujahideen. They ask: “Is it true that you are united with infidels to fight against infidels?”. By “infidels” they mean Nuraddin az-Zinki Brigade, with whom we have carried out joint operations.
Q: Maybe young emigrants have fallen into ISIL unaware of the extrajudicial executions and other crimes?
A-K: If only it were so. Unfortunately, the facts show that they not only know, but also approve those crimes, but that they also participate in some of them themselves. When asked why they do not hold front lines against Assad, they reply that they had, say, another job — that at night, they are “working against the hypocrites”.
And how many times have we been personally convinced that this “work” was basically looting the local population. There were cases when our Mujahedeen caught them in the act and handed them over to their Emir, so the criminals could be judged by Sharia. But no measures were taken against them. The next day they were seen driving around in cars as if nothing happened.
There was a local Ansar/Supporter here. He repaired weapons and kept a small shop selling firearms. Many of our weapons were handed over to him for repair or sale. Before leaving, ISIL killed him and completely took away all that was in store. And this is not an isolated case.
On these cases, the main propagandists of ISIL usually say: “Everyone makes mistakes”. There’s explanation and “high” ideals for you.
Q: After the assassination of the ally of Osama bin Laden, Sheikh Abu Umeir for which many people blamed ISIL, its representatives said that Sheikh Abu Umeir (al-Suri) was killed by his entourage because he was preparing to go over to ISIL.
A-K: Whoever has talked to the Sheikh knows that it is a dirty lie. And this lie is more characterized by arrogance and shamelessness. Generally, it is striking how many lies ISIL can tell. Of those who identify themselves as Muslims, only Shiites and Rafidites lie like that. For them it is an integral part of their faith.
Only a sick imagination could slander Sheikh Abu Umeir. On the contrary, he repeatedly met with the Emirs of ISIL, gave them good instructions, asked them to stop bloodshed and infighting. But every time he ran into lies and treachery from them. What he told us he personally said many times, also in public.
Q: All will be as determined by Almighty Allah. And no tricks, cunning or treachery from any party will be able to damage the true believers and those standing on the correct path.
A-K: The current situation is very sad for us. We are particularly concerned about the fate of Mujahideen who genuinely went for Jihad, but were deceived by slogans and flags and fell into turmoil and became accomplices by removing weapons from infidels and turning them against Muslims.
Let us pray to Allah that He saves us from every kind of delusion, and won’t let us leave the right path. May Allah save us from shedding innocent blood, the blood of Muslims.
- Ameen. May Allah reward you the best way. Peace be upon you.
A-K: And you too. And upon you be peace.
Department of Monitoring
Kavkaz Center
http://www.kavkazcenter.com/eng/content/2014/03/03/18975.shtml