“Al-Qaeda” reforms its cluster cells inside Egypt

Since the appearance of Daesh 2014 in Syria and Iraq, The terrorist organization lost more than 90% of the Iraqi and Syrian territory, which lead the organization to spread its elements in a number of countries on Africa and Asia.

Al-Qaeda tries to restructure its ranks in many countries of the world, especially in Egypt, as an alternative of Daesh.

New Elements

Egypt is one of the countries in which al-Qaeda sought to be present, sources close to the jihadist scene in Egypt confirm that Al-Qaeda has developed several theses and scheme to re-attract new elements to join its ranks then engage in a declared struggle with Daesh during the next stage.

According to the sources, the plan of al-Qaeda to re-attract the new elements in Egypt depends on teaching some books and Jihadi documents related to the intellectual references to jihadist organizations, such as Abu Mohamed al-Maqdisi and Abu Qatada al-Filistini.

The sources pointed out that al-Qaeda has adopted a plan to attract young people, demanding that its supporters in Egypt should broadcast speeches to the Mujahideen, or the so-called “publishing the news of jihadist”, as well as participating in the official channels of the Mujahedeen.

The sources added that al-Qaeda has directed its young people to follow up the writings of many of the figures who espouse the ideology of the organization, headed by: Omar Rifai Sorour and Abu Amer al-mohajir.

The sources pointed out that many elements dissenting from the organization, continued with the leaders of al-Qaeda in order to join them. The sources stressed that al-Qaeda is seeking during this period to recruit new elements, Not to carry out any terrorist operation, whether in Europe or America or other, so as not to draw attention to restore the luster of Daesh.

Abu Mohamed al-Maqdisi

Abu Mohamed al-Maqdisi is the assumed named of Abu Mohamed Assem ibn Tahir al-Hafi al-Outaibi al-Maqdisi. Nicknamed Assem al-Barqawi, the Jordanian-Palestinian Jihadist ideologue was born in the Palestinian city of Nablus in 1959. His writings and teachings have a big influence on Al-Qaeda’s young fighters.

Abu-Mohamed al-Maqdisi is also known as the most influential scholar and ideologue of Takferee ideology across the world. Perpetrators of bombings, which took place in Riyadh in 1955, confessed that they were acting under the influence of al-Maqdisi’s writings and explanations.

Al-Maqdisi travelled to Kuwait in 1979 to join Ahl Al-Thawryieen, which was linked to an extremist group formed by Jihman al-Outaibi. However, he decided to quit after he was engaged in ideological and methodical dispute with al-Outaibi.

He had to travel to Pakistan after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990. During a brief sojourn in Peshawar, he concluded his book “Highlights of the Blasphemy of the Saudi State”, in which he launched a scathing attack on religious institutions in the kingdom.

Al-Maqdisi came across Al-Qaeda’s Ayman al-Zawahri in Afghanistan. He returned to Jordan in late 1980s to join Baiyat al-Imam group (allegiance to the Imam), which was formed by Jordanian Jihadists, who returned from Afghanistan in early 1990s of the last century.

In 1993, He was arrested, together with Ahmed Fadil al-Khalaylla, nicknamed Abu Mosaab al-Zarkawi. They were given 15 years in prison. Both Jihadists were pardoned in 1999 when Jordanian King Abdulla II celebrated his ascension to the throne. Nonetheless, he was rearrested in Jordan in 2000 and was given 30 days for violating traffic rules. 

Abu Qatada al-Filistini

He is one of the most figures Al-Qaeda asked its elements to read their writings; he began his life in Jama’at at-Tabligh and Dawaa and then traveled to Afghanistan at the end of the Russian-Afghan war in 1991 through Peshawar. He traveled to Britain and obtained political asylum. He was called in Europe the “Emir of Al-Qaeda”.

Omar Rifai Sorour

Omar Rifai Sorour; one of the most important figures on which Al Qaeda relies on the recruitment of Egyptians. Sorour is a close friend of Hisham Ashmawi, the founder of the Al-Murabitin group, currently based in the Libyan city of Derna.

Abu Omar al-Muhajir

Abu Omar al-Muhajir is the dynamic name of Hisham, who runs Derna camp to carry out armed operations inside Egyptian territory.

Al-Muhajir joined to Ansar Bait al-Maqdis for a short time, but disagreed with them and went to Libya, where he joined al-Qaeda and formed a terrorist group including the dismissed officers.