Abul-Mughirah al-Qahtani

In the September 2015 issue of its English-language magazine Dabiq, ISIS named Abul-Mughirah al-Qahtani as the leader of its wilayat (province) in Libya.“Interview With Abul-Mughirah Al-Qahtani,” Dabiq, September 2015, https://azelin.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/the-islamic-state-e2809cdc481biq-magazine-11e280b3.pdf. He was killed that November in a U.S. airstrike in Derna, Libya.Callum Paton, “New Isis leader in Libya – Abdel Qader al-Najdi threatens Daesh invasion of Rome through Africa,” International Business Times, March 10, 2016, http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/new-isis-leader-abdel-qader-al-najdi-threatens-daesh-invasion-rome-through-north-africa-1548697. According to U.S. officials, al-Qahtani was the first ISIS leader targeted in Libya,“Statement From Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook on November 13 airstrike in Libya,” U.S. Department of Defense, December 7, 2015, http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/633221/statement-from-pentagon-press-secretary-peter-cook-on-nov-13-airstrike-in-libya. and the first one successfully targeted outside of Iraq and Syria.Benoit Faucon and Tamer El-Ghobashy, “A Divided Libya Struggles Against Islamic State Attacks,” Wall Street Journal, February 3, 2016, http://www.wsj.com/articles/a-divided-libya-struggles-against-islamic-state-attacks-1454552044. After his death, ISIS praised al-Qahtani as “the noble, brilliant, courageous and serious man, whom America and its allies refused to encounter on the ground through their agents.”Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, “Translation: Eulogy to Abu Nabil al-Anbari, Islamic State Leader in Libya,” Middle East Forum, January 7, 2016, http://www.meforum.org/blog/2016/01/abu-nabil-al-anbari.

At the time of al-Qahtani’s ascendency, the International Business Times cited an unnamed Libyan activist who suggested al-Qahtani might not be a native Libyan. According to the source, there had been no mention of al-Qahtani in Libya prior to ISIS’s announcement of his leadership. Further, the source claimed, al-Qahtani’s name had been mentioned on Facebook in connection with fighting in Syria. The source did not know whether al-Qahtani had already arrived in Libya, or if he would.Callum Paton, “Isis in Libya: New leader of Islamic State in Sirte – Abul-Mughirah al-Qahtani – steps out from the shadows,” International Business Times, September 14, 2015, http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/isis-libya-new-leader-islamic-state-sirte-abul-mughirah-al-qahtani-steps-out-shadows-1519702. Sources later revealed that al-Qahtani had been a senior Iraqi commander who played a key role in ISIS’s 2014 battle in Tikrit, Iraq. Al-Qahtani was also suspected of narrating a February 2015 ISIS propaganda video featuring the execution of Coptic Christians.Callum Paton, “New Isis leader in Libya – Abdel Qader al-Najdi threatens Daesh invasion of Rome through Africa,” International Business Times, March 10, 2016, http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/new-isis-leader-abdel-qader-al-najdi-threatens-daesh-invasion-rome-through-north-africa-1548697.

According to ISIS’s eulogy for al-Qahtani, the ISIS militant joined the Iraqi insurgency against U.S. forces after the 2003 invasion of that country. He was imprisoned in Baghdad in 2008 for a year and a half. After his release he returned to the battlefield. Al-Qahtani was soon re-captured and sent to Abu Ghraib prison, where he remained until an ISIS-led jailbreak in July 2013. ISIS credited al-Qahtani with participating in the establishment and growth of its caliphate and leading its expansion into North Africa.Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, “Translation: Eulogy to Abu Nabil al-Anbari, Islamic State Leader in Libya,” Middle East Forum, January 7, 2016, http://www.meforum.org/blog/2016/01/abu-nabil-al-anbari.

Al-Qahtani told Dabiq that Libya “has a great importance” for the global Islamic community because of its geography in Africa and proximity to Europe. He called Libya a “gate to the African desert stretching to a number of African countries,” and noted “Libyan resources are a concern for the kafir West due to their reliance upon Libya” for oil and gas. He further said ISIS control over Libya will cause “economic breakdowns” for Italy and the rest of Europe. The “Islamic State” in Libya is still young, he said, and needed medics, religious scholars, and administrative personnel, in addition to fighters.“Interview With Abul-Mughirah Al-Qahtani,” Dabiq, September 2015, https://azelin.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/the-islamic-state-e2809cdc481biq-magazine-11e280b3.pdf.

Al-Qahtani also called Ansar al-Sharia in Libya part of “the apostate regime” in Tripoli. He accused the group of receiving resources from “filthy hands.” Al-Qahtani blamed an August 2015 rebellion in the ISIS-held Libyan city of Sirte on followers of Libyan army General Khalifa Hafter, who had led the fight against Islamist groups in the country.“Interview With Abul-Mughirah Al-Qahtani,” Dabiq, September 2015, https://azelin.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/the-islamic-state-e2809cdc481biq-magazine-11e280b3.pdf. In mid-August, ISIS beheaded 12 of the rebellion’s leaders.Callum Paton, “Isis in Libya: 12 beheaded and crucified by Islamic State in city of Sirte,” International Business Times, August 17, 2015, http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/isis-libya-twelve-beheaded-crucified-by-islamic-state-city-sirte-1515774.

In December 2015, the Pentagon confirmed the November 2015 death of al-Qahtani, using his aliases Abu Nabil and Wissam Najm Abd Zayd al Zubaydi.“Statement From Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook on November 13 airstrike in Libya,” U.S. Department of Defense, December 7, 2015, http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/633221/statement-from-pentagon-press-secretary-peter-cook-on-nov-13-airstrike-in-libya. The following month, ISIS released a eulogy confirming al-Qahtani’s death.Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, “Translation: Eulogy to Abu Nabil al-Anbari, Islamic State Leader in Libya,” Middle East Forum, January 7, 2016, http://www.meforum.org/blog/2016/01/abu-nabil-al-anbari.

Also Known As

Extremist entity
ISIS
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Type(s) of Organization:
Insurgent, territory-controlling, religious, terrorist, violent
Ideologies and Affiliations:
Islamist, jihadist, pan-Islamist, Salafist, takfiri
Position(s):
Former leader of ISIS in Libya (deceased)

ISIS is a violent jihadist group based in Iraq and Syria. The group has declared wilayas (provinces) in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the North Caucasus. ISIS has also waged attacks in Turkey, Lebanon, France, Belgium, Iraq, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tunisia, and Kuwait.

  • Rhetoric

September 2015

“My advice to the muhajirīn in general is that they should not become proud by their hijrah nor should they consider their jihad a favor they have done for Allah. They should make their intentions sincere, for there were those who performed hijrah to the Prophet for the sake of Dunya and a woman to marry, such as the man who was called ‘Muhajir Umm Qays.’ So we call you, our brother, to perform your hijrah for Allah and in support of His religion. Your path will be disturbed by difficulties and great obstacles. The actions are but by intention and comfort is not achieved by comfort.”“Interview With Abul-Mughirah Al-Qahtani,” Dabiq, September 2015, https://azelin.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/the-islamic-state-e2809cdc481biq-magazine-11e280b3.pdf.

September 2015

“There is no reward without hardship, especially when it comes to jihad and hijrah. But it is easy for those for whom Allah makes it easy. Those who have resolved to perform hijrah should purify their intentions, rely upon Allah, and make very much supplication. They should remember that despite the difficulties of hijrah, {Whoever leaves his home as a muhajir to Allah and His Messenger and then death overtakes him – his reward has already become incumbent upon Allah. And Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful} [An-Nisā’: 100].”“Interview With Abul-Mughirah Al-Qahtani,” Dabiq, September 2015, https://azelin.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/the-islamic-state-e2809cdc481biq-magazine-11e280b3.pdf.

September 2015

“We begin with advice to the Muslims in general to have zuhd towards the Dunya and its pleasures. They should not incline nor adhere to the Earth. They should be Ansar of Allah, perform hijrah, and strike the enemies of Allah. The supporters of the religion should know, {And whoever performs hijrah for the cause of Allah will find on the earth many locations and abundance} [An-Nisa’: 100]. We call them to march forth and incite them to support us.”“Interview With Abul-Mughirah Al-Qahtani,” Dabiq, September 2015, https://azelin.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/the-islamic-state-e2809cdc481biq-magazine-11e280b3.pdf.

September 2015

“The Islamic State here in Libya is still young. It is in great need of every Muslim who can come, especially medical, shar’i, and administrative personnel, in addition to fighters.”“Interview With Abul-Mughirah Al-Qahtani,” Dabiq, September 2015, https://azelin.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/the-islamic-state-e2809cdc481biq-magazine-11e280b3.pdf.

September 2015

“Libya has a great importance for the Muslim Ummah because it is in Africa and south of Europe. It also contains a well of resources that cannot dry. All Muslims have a right to these resources. It is also a gate to the African desert stretching to a number of African countries. It is important to note also that the Libyan resources are a concern for the kafir West due to their reliance upon Libya for a number of years especially with regards to oil and gas. The control of the Islamic State over this region will lead to economic breakdowns especially for Italy and the rest of the European states.”“Interview With Abul-Mughirah Al-Qahtani,” Dabiq, September 2015, https://azelin.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/the-islamic-state-e2809cdc481biq-magazine-11e280b3.pdf.

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