(New York, N.Y.) – The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) reports weekly on the methods used by extremists to exploit the Internet and social media platforms to recruit followers and incite violence. Last week, CEP researchers located numerous ISIS nasheeds on SoundCloud, including versions in Arabic, French, German, and English. In addition, ISIS released an Amaq News propaganda video on multiple websites that allegedly shows the gory aftermath of an improvised explosives attack on a Syrian army vehicle in the region of Homs.
Meanwhile, CEP researchers located an Instagram account for a clothing line affiliated with the white supremacist Rise Above Movement (RAM) that advertises RAM branded apparel—including images of RAM co-founder Robert Rundo—and contains links to its merchandising website. Also, CEP researchers located two posts made by a white supremacist Telegram channel, originally posted on December 4, that provided addresses and instructions for contacting imprisoned mass shooters, including Brenton Tarrant, Dylann Roof, Anders Breivik, Patrick Crusius, among others. Finally, neo-Nazis celebrated the 36th anniversary of the death of Robert Jay Mathews, the leader of the neo-Nazi extremist group The Order, who was killed in a shootout with federal agents on Whidbey Island, Washington, while on the run.
ISIS Nasheeds Located on SoundCloud
On December 10, CEP researchers located numerous ISIS nasheeds on SoundCloud. One account—which used imagery taken from official ISIS propaganda—uploaded 57 tracks to the website on December 9, including nasheeds in Arabic, French, German, and English. Another account uploaded 33 audio files to SoundCloud on November 25 and also used standard ISIS iconography.
“The trove of ISIS content on SoundCloud follows a similar, concerning discovery made by CEP in October, when ISIS was found to have used the platform to upload almost 100 ISIS nasheeds on the audio website Spreaker,” said CEP researcher Joshua Fisher-Birch. “SoundCloud should immediately remove the audio files and has a responsibility to establish more effective measures for identifying and removing large volumes of extremist propaganda.”
ISIS News Propaganda Video Located on Several Websites
On December 9, ISIS released an Amaq News propaganda video on multiple websites that allegedly shows the gory aftermath of an improvised explosives attack on a Syrian army vehicle in the region of Homs. The video was spread via the RocketChat platform and uploaded to at least eight other websites: File.Fm, Streamable, PixelDrain, Top4Top, Dropbox, the Microsoft One Drive, the Internet Archive, and Mega.Nz. Approximately 24 hours later, the video was still available on three websites: File.Fm, Top4Top, and the Internet Archive.
Rise Above Movement Affiliated Instagram Account Located
CEP researchers located an Instagram account for a clothing line affiliated with the white supremacist group Rise Above Movement (RAM). The account advertises RAM branded apparel—including images of RAM co-founder Robert Rundo—and contains links to its merchandising website. The first photo on the account was uploaded on November 22, 2020, and the page had over 300 followers on December 10.
Despite being reported, the account has not been removed by Instagram. Instagram previously allowed a RAM-affiliated clothing store to operate on their platform, only removing it in August 2018 after being contacted by the Huffington Post. A separate Instagram account belonging to an online community affiliated with RAM was located by CEP in September 2020 and is still online.
White Supremacist Telegram Channel Posts Instructions for Contacting Imprisoned Mass Shooters
CEP researchers located two posts made by a white supremacist Telegram channel, originally posted on December 4, that provided addresses and instructions for contacting imprisoned mass shooters, including Brenton Tarrant, Dylann Roof, Anders Breivik, and Patrick Crusius, among others. The posts received approximately 800 and over 2,600 views each. The channel provided tips for writing, operational security, and the successful delivery of letters. The channel urged its audience to use a P.O. box or someone else’s address instead of the writer’s address, mail it from a mailbox far from the individual's place of residence, and wear gloves to avoid fingerprints. The channel stated that those listed “sacrificed everything for us.”
Neo-Nazis Celebrate Anniversary of Robert Jay Mathew’s Death
On December 8, neo-Nazis celebrated the 36th anniversary of the death of Robert Jay Mathews, the leader of the neo-Nazi extremist group The Order. Mathews was killed in a shootout with federal agents on Whidbey Island, Washington, while on the run. The Order was a militant white supremacist extremist group formed in September 1983 and heavily inspired by the book The Turner Diaries. The group was responsible for the murder of the Jewish radio show host Alan Berg, the attempted bombing of a synagogue, counterfeiting U.S. currency, and several robberies, including armored cars and a bank.
A website that glorifies the Atomwaffen Division and the National Socialist Order and is dedicated to spreading the work of James Mason posted a commemoration of Mathews calling for others to follow in his footsteps. Approximately a dozen white supremacist Telegram channels, including channels from France and Ukraine, also posted commemorations of Mathews. Telegram commemorations included videos eulogizing Mathews and urging others to learn from his example.