Forgeries: The Fake Internal Islamic State Letters of Asaad Almohammad

Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham

To our brothers in the Islamic State, you must deal with the security and media files particular to the organisation [in cooperation] with the higher security office entrusted to the mujahid brother Abu Humam al-Amni, and also see the Supreme Majlis Shura affiliated with the organisation.

And God is the guarantor of success.

Abu Liqa’

2 May 2018

Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham

[Stamp]: Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham

Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham
Unified Amni Diwan
Wilayas sector

Decision: 1323

Letter directed to the personnel of the Islamic State. We ask all the brothers in the organisation on ribat inside and outside the areas of the Islamic State to hurry to form the covert [/security?] Diwans with the help of your brother Abu Humam al-Amni and the brother Abu Ayub al-Ansari. Please also refer a letter via the brothers to the Diwan of Amirship regarding this matter. All the sectors are requested to comply with the orders of the amni brothers, and in the event of there being any fault, the central committee for public security is to be informed, and God is the One behind the intention.

Unified Amni Diwan
Abu Muhammad al-Hashimi

Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham

[Stamp]: Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham

Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham
Unified Amni Diwan
Eastern Sector

Copy: 23

The mujahid brother Abu Osama al-Iraqi is entrusted with tracking the formation of the security matters inside the wilyas and contacting the Unified Amni Diwan as well s bringing all the security portfolios particular to the muhajirin to the Diwan al-Wilaya.

5 March 2018

Amni Diwan
Abu Ayyub al-Ansari

Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham
[Stamp]: Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham

Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham
Unified Amni Diwan
Eastern Sector

All the muhajirin and ansar brothers operating inside the media offices and media teams affiliated with the agencies of the Dawla must go and see the security office to get to know the nature of the course of work in addition to suggesting a mechanism of operation regarding the news of the organisation and the victories. This should take place in a period not exceeding one week.

And God is the one behind the intention.

6 April 2018

Amni Diwan
Abu Ayyub al-Ansari

Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham
[Stamp]: Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham

Analysis

In October 2019, the New York Times published forged Islamic State receipts that purported to show payments made by the group to members of the al-Qa’ida-loyalist Hurras al-Din. Those receipts came from Asaad Almohammad, who at the time was a senior fellow at George Washington University’s Program on Extremism (GWUPOE) and was hawking the receipts and other documents with GWUPOE’s director Lorenzo Vidino as advance media hype for a study Asaad was going to publish with GWUPOE allegedly showing the Islamic State’s strategy of co-opting Hurras al-Din. In my own commentary on the affair, I had mentioned that I had been given a set of purported “internal letters” to look at that had also been supplied by Asaad Almohammad. I determined at the time that they were forgeries and I present them above in their originals with translations. They are forgeries for reasons I stated in that post back in 2019. Indeed I must add that they are very poor forgeries. Retrospectively also, I should note that the same ‘Abu Humam al-Amni’ character who appears in two of the above forged letters also appears in the forged receipts, establishing a link between the two sets of forged documents, despite the contrary impression conveyed by Asaad at the time. To be clear, we can all fall for forgeries on occasion and make mistakes, but in this case these forged letters are of such poor quality that I strongly question the judgement of anyone who would endorse them in the first place.

I publish these forgeries now because I have noticed that people still cite Asaad’s other published work on Islamic State from time to time, as though it is somehow separate from these forgeries. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Consider the data he contributed as part of a co-authored study for West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center. The same study talks repeatedly about a supposed “Unified Security Center” that clearly corresponds to the “Unified Amni Diwan” in these poor forgeries. There is no attestation of these bodies in authentic documentary evidence or other lines of evidence. The same “Unified Security Center” also appears in the data he contributed to a co-authored study in Perspectives on Terrorism.

The justification that some of his work was peer-reviewed prior to publication is also not a basis to take the work as reliable. Peer-review is a human and flawed process. Precise details can escape the attention of peer-reviewers who might only be concerned with giving a general picture, personal biases can come into play etc. Moreover, as is the case with fact-checking at newspapers, there is a major gap in the review process whereby sometimes the only data you have to go by are the data supplied by the writer, with no independent way for the peer-reviewer to verify them. If an author writes a study based on supposed interview data collected from remote locations inside of Syria or Afghanistan (for example) with subjects whose existence cannot be independently confirmed or who cannot be independently accessed, then the reviewer essentially has to take the author’s data on trust. For an author who is not so scrupulous or dishonest or who relies largely or entirely on outsourcing of interviews to individuals whose existence cannot be verified, there is very little in peer-review or fact-checking to prevent fabrication and manipulation of data.

Expulsion of fighters who disobey mobilisation disorders without legitimate excuse

Islamic State
Wilayat Halab

No. 968
Date 13 Dhu al-Q’ida 1436 AH corresponding to 28 August 2015 CE

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

The brothers: officials of the areas, centres and sectors (may God protect him [sic])

As-salam alaykum wa rahmat Allah wa barakatuhu

I ask God for this letter of mine to reach you while you are in the best state of health and wellness, and that He should make you among those who serve His religion, and that He should make Islam and Muslims benefit through you.

Note the letter of the General Supervisory Committee no. 81 on date 7 Dhu al-Q’ida 1436 AH, which contains the following: “…As the basis on which one has joined the ranks of the Islamic State is jihad in God’s path and fighting the disbelievers and apostates in order to make supreme the word of God and obey His commands, the principle among them [those who have joined] is that they should obey when commanded, mobilise when ordered to do so, and heed when called. If those ranks have been not safe from the recruitment of some of the hypocrites and people who cause others to abandon and people who spread false rumours (and God is the One whose help is to be sought), and the impact they have on the unity of rank and its steadfastness, then it is decided to expel from the ranks of the Islamic State- by the permission of God Almighty- those whose refusal to answer orders for mobilisation without a Shari’i excuse is established, and all the measures taken against those who have been expelled will apply to them. And God is the Self-Sufficient and One Worthy of Praise…”

Therefore we hope you will inform all those under your stead of this directive so that no one has an argument against us after this letter.

May God reward you best.

The wali.

Islamic State
Wilayat Halab
Deputy wali

cc. Wali’s office (for the record).

Regulations on validity of official letters

Islamic State
Wilayat Halab
General Administration

No. w.h/b: 2765
Date: 10 Muharram 1437 AH corresponding to 24 October 2015 CE

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Dear brothers: amirs of the areas, sectors, centres, and military brigades and battalions (may God help them).

Subject: duration of official letters

As-salam alaykum wa rahmat Allah wa barakatuhu

We praise God for you. There is no deity besides Him. We ask the Exalted and Almighty to make use of us and you in obedience to Him, and make us and you avoid what brings about His wrath. Indeed He is trustee of that and capable of it. As for what follows:

By directive from the wali, we would like to inform you that a period of duration until expiry for official letters has been set as follows:

. Orders to disburse money: 5 days.
. Letters to disburse things or furniture: 7 days.
. Letters for transfers inside the wilaya: 7 days.
. Letters for transfers outside the wilaya: 10 days.

Therefore every official letter is considered cancelled and must be renewed when the specified period for implementing it passes.

We also remind our brothers of the necessity of specifying the date on official letters and correspondences.

May God reward you best.

cc.:

. The wali
. Deputy wali.

God is the trustee of success.

Islamic State
Wilayat Halab
General administrative official

Report on Ruqya Shari’iya for wife of an Islamic State member

Islamic State
Da’wa and Mosques Centre
Ruqya Shari’iya Office
Date: 6 Dhu al-Hijja 1437 AH

Medical report

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

To whom it may concern

As-salam alaykum wa rahmat Allah wa barakatuhu

As for what follows:

The wife of the brother Abu Mus’ab al-Jaza’iri has been subjected to more than one session for ruqya shari’iya, and it has become clear to us that she is suffering from symptoms of sahr, and she needs to continue the treatment. It is not possible to set the length of treatment. This is so and God knows best.

May God make us and you keys for good and locks for evil.

Official of the Ruqya Shari’iya Office
Faris Mansur

Stamp

Islamic State
Wilayat al-Raqqa
Amir of the Da’wa and Mosques Centre

[In handwriting]: we hope you will give the brother a new report

Islamic State
Wilayat al-Raqqa
Wali’s office

Abu Abdullah

10/9

Opening of a temporary market to sell cars

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Islamic State
Wilayat Halab

Military vehicles administration

Circular

To the mujahideen brothers in all the battalions and sectors of the Islamic State

We the sector of the military vehicles in the Islamic State announce the establishment of a market to sell cars. This will be in the vehicles farm located behind the mazout market in the town of al-Bab. Sale begin from Monday 14 Muharram until Monday 21 Muharram.

From Monday 21 Muharram begins sale to the Muslim masses, and we inform you that the prices will be discounted for the mujahideen only.

Note: with regards to the brothers affiliated with the vehicles’ sectors in Wilayat Halab, they have no right to buy on Monday 14 Muharram, but rather they have the right to buy n Monday 21 Muharram only.

Islamic State
Wilayat Halab

Regulations on movement of personnel within a Brigade’s Battalions

Islamic State
Wilayat Halab

Liwa al-Furqan
Date: 13 Muharram 1437 AH
No. 1503

The brother/s: amir and admin official of the battalion (may God protect them)

As-salam alaykum wa rahmat Allah wa baraktuhu

“May God make us and you steadfast and make us among the supporters of His religion.”

Circular

In the event of any reinforcements sent by the battalion to another battalion inside the brigade or outside it, it is absolutely forbidden to receive the brothers after their return and permit them to return to the battalion, except with a document from the brigade’s administration or the battalion in which the brother provided auxiliary support, making clear the end of the period of his ribat and that he has returned by official permission.

My God may reward you best and bring benefit through you.

Administrative official of Liwa al-Furqan

Islamic State
[Admin official of?] Liwa al-Furqan

Summons to attend Zakat office

Islamic State
Wilayat Halab
Zakat and Sadaqat Centre

al-Ra’i Office

Warning

The Zakat and Sadaqat office in al-Ra’i warns the one called Abd al-Razzaq bin Hunaifi that he must go see the Zakat and Sadaqat office within two days from date 20 Jumada al-Thani 1437 AH. Otherwise, his file will be referred to the Islamic court to take appropriate measures against him.

[In handwriting]: See with olive receipt

The one who has warned has been excused.

Abu Rashid

Official for the office of Zakat and Sadaqat

Islamic State
Diwan al-Zakat wa al-Sadaqat
Wilayat Halab/al-Ra’i Office/The amir

Regulations on Work in the Services Department, Aleppo Province

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Islamic State
Diwan al-Khidamat al-‘Aama

cc. Accounting office
Date: 11 Muharram 1436 AH

Admin order

To all those working in the Diwan al-Khidamat al-‘Aama, please comply with the work hours specified by the Diwan’s administration. Work starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m.

Note: it is forbidden to leave the Diwan without prior permission from the general official for any reason whatsoever. Also as regards sick leave or justified absence, we must be informed of that.

Any violation of the prior order will result in immediate dismissal of the worker.

Note: work is in accordance with winter timing.

We thank you for your cooperation, and may God reward you bes.

10 Muharram 1436 ah

Stamp of the general official

Islamic State
Diwan al-Khidamat al-‘Aama
General official

Warning military personnel not to mock those assigned to non-military roles

Islamic State
Wilayat Halab

No.: 7-3-h
Date: 23 Dhu al-Q’ida 1436 AH corresponding to 7 September 2015 CE

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Statement on warning against mockery of those the Imam has held back from mobilisation

Praise be to God alone who gives victory to His servant, makes mighty His soldiery, lowers disbelief and its party and has established the Caliphate through those who love God and are loved by Him, and prayers and peace be upon the one to whom God brought joy and whose status He elevated, while bringing humiliation and lowliness on those who contravened his command.

As for what follows:

The greatest thing that the one who hopes to meet his Lord fears for Himself is that his heart should be afflicted with a disease such that he should possess what is of the characteristics of the hypocrites while not realising it, and he should incur anger from God from where he does not realise. The most ugly aspect of this is ghurur, which makes man slander the monotheists and disparage them. God Almighty says: “Those who defame those of the believers who generously give charity and make a mockery of those who do not find anything besides what little they have to give: God will make a mockery of them, and for them is a painful torment.” The consequence after that is the futility of one’s work, the loss of one’s blessing, the coming down of God’s anger upon that person, and as such that person is subsequently not successful and is not granted success in his jihad at all.

This reminder has been written because of the apparent behaviour of some of those claiming affiliation with jihad and its people and reckoning themselves to be safe of Satan’s entrances and windows, as they have assumed that they are in God’s eyes among the best of His servants and the retinue of His allies. As such they have disparaged the works of their brother around them, so made light of the affair of the Hisba and the Hisba personnel or mocked those calling to God and the teachers assigned by the imam of the Muslims for these works in order to realise the intentions of the Caliphate and to obey Gd’s command to establish the religion through jihad and da’wa for God on the basis of insight. Indeed they have thought that the Shari’i works and undertaking the affairs of the citizens are only suitable for those content with sitting back and preferring ease and indifference to the toil of ribat and fighting. Indeed their disparaging of their brothers has got to the point of disparaging and belittling their works, which put those people in the position of mocking what is part of God’s religion.

So out of concern for the religion of our brothers and the soundness of their hearts and in order to prevent their deeds from losing their good aspects or becoming futile, may the soldiers hold back their tongues, for the one upon whom be prayers and peace said: “The man who says a word that incurs God’s anger and does not take it seriously will be thrown into in the fire for 70 years.” He (prayers and peace be upon him) also said: “Are people thrown prostrate in Hellfire for anything except the harvests of their tongues?”

The guarantee of Paradise and profit of the transaction is in keeping your mouthes away from saying falsehood and what God has forbidden. He (prayers and peace be upon him) said: “He who guarantees for me what is between his jaws and what is between his thighs, I will guarantee Paradise for him.”

Islamic State
Wilayat Halab
Deputy wali

Referral of a woman for Ruqya Shari’iya

Islamic State
Wilayat al-Raqqa
al-Qada wa al-Madhalim Office

Date: 12 Jumada al-Awal 1438 AH corresponding to / /201… CE

To the brother (al-Ruqya centre)…may God protect him

As-salam alaykum wa rahmat Allah wa barakatuhu

We ask you to perform ruqya on the sister A’isha Turkistaniya and inform us of her condition

May God reward you best

Islamic State
al-Raqqa court
Judge of family affairs

Abu Taha [?] [illegible]