Mauritanian fighters appear in al-Qaeda video

Al-Qaeda is trying to take advantage of Ramadan to win new recruits after a series of recent defeats in the region. 

By Bakari Guèye for Magharebia in Nouakchott – 09/08/11

[File] Mauritanians appear throughout the latest AQIM video, in addition to fighters from Algeria and Mali.

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) just released a new terror tape to mark the start of Ramadan. The 100-minute documentary prominently features fighters from Mali and Mauritania, while reaffirming the group's loyalty to al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.

"In this film, al-Qaeda puts out its propaganda and aims to prove it is still here and able to cause trouble," said Mohamed Nagi, an expert on terrorist issues. A string of joint counter-terror operations by Mauritanian and Malian forces have put a desperate AQIM on the defensive.

According to Nagi, proving that the group still exists was the purpose behind the title of the documentary: "Enter through their door".

Religious leaders interviewed by Magharebia were troubled by what they saw in the new al-Qaeda video.

"This is Satan's propaganda," said Aliyine, an imam at a mosque in the working class district of El Mina, west of the capital. "These AQIM people have wandered from the right path. They are doing a huge disservice to Islam and Muslims."

The imam added, "God has forbidden us to kill our neighbour, whoever he might be. Violence is banned by Islam. Our young people need to be very careful, and never follow the example of these lost souls."

"The terrorists strike blindly, killing men, women and children," Imam Abdullah Sarr said. "This violence has nothing to do with Islam. And it's up to us to work at revealing the true face of Islam."

"The content of the film is quite revealing," said terror expert Sidi El Kheir. "It includes sequences from a number of Arab revolutions, in Egypt, Yemen, Syria and Libya. The stress is on the repression of the demonstrators by the forces of law and order."

He added that video "also makes a great deal of the organisation's leaders, starting with Osama Bin Laden and his successor Ayman al-Zawahiri."

"There are also Libyans Abu Yahya and Abu Leith, Sheikh Ali Belhadj and many other leaders," El Kheir said.

He also noted the appearance of AQIM members from northern Mali, as well as images from skirmishes with the Malian army, including the battle of El Wousra in 2009.

"In this film, Mauritanian elements of AQIM are strongly represented. The film also shows Abu Aymen Echarghi haranguing the troops. He was killed in Ouargla in 2008 in an engagement with the Algerian army," he said.

The strong presence of young Mauritanians at the heart of AQIM can be explained by fanaticism, imitation, poverty and a lack of education, analyst Gnokane Adam told Magharebia. Such factors can lead youths to join terror groups.

"These young people are the victims of a trade in souls and spiritual force-feeding. They are promised Paradise if they martyr themselves," he said.

Last March, the Ministry of Islamic Guidance held a conference in Nouakchott focused on moderate Islam. Communications Minister Hamdi Ould Mahjoub said at the time that the goal was to "pass on a message of non-violence, reminding people that Muslims have a duty to protect foreigners".

"Young Mauritanians are tempted by terrorism because of a lack of opportunities," commented Moktar, a young student at Nouakchott University. "More often than not, the only alternative is unemployment."

But Izid Bih, a young former AQIM member, said: "I chose to return to my country and to reject the culture of violence and my fellow members, because I could see no future for myself, or any noble goals."

Mauritanian officials have had a tough time dealing with the terrorist videos, which are readily accessible anywhere with internet access. Former military officer Ely Ould Maghlah told Magharebia that "the law bans any circulation of terrorist propaganda, but it remains hard to implement, particularly when laws on individual and public freedom are considered."

Nouakchott University student Brahim said that he had classmates who idolised AQIM fighters in the videos. "Speaking for myself, I'm not interested in this sort of films, because I'm against terrorism. It's not good to kill people and to take up arms against your own country," he said.

Cheikh, another student who watched the documentary, said: "I think these people are dangerous. These people are sick."

Source: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2011/08/09/feature-02