Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi

Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi (Arabic: أبو الحسن الهاشمي القرشي, romanized: Abū al-Ḥasan al-Hāshimī al-Qurashī), born Nour Karim al-Mutni (نور كريم المطني;[4] died 15 October 2022[2]), was an Iraqi[9] militant and the third caliph[lower-alpha 1] of the Islamic State. He was named as caliph on 10 March 2022, in an audio message by the new spokesperson of IS, Abu Omar al-Muhajir, whose announcement came more than a month after the death of his predecessor Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi.[13][14] The message said that Abu al-Hassan was given a pledge of allegiance in response to the will of the former caliph.[15] The Turkish government claimed that he was arrested in Istanbul on 26 May 2022.[16] Later, Islamic State sources denied news reports of his arrest in the 347th issue of their weekly newsletter Al-Naba.[17]

Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi
أبي الحسن الهاشمي القرشي‎
Image of Abu Al-Hassan released by the Iraqi government
3rd Caliph of the Islamic State
Reign
4 February 2022[1] – 15 October 2022[2]
Preceded byAbu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi
Succeeded byAbu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi[3]
Personal details
Born
Nour Karim Al-Mutni[4]

Rawa, Iraq
Died15 October 2022[2]
Jasim, Syria[5]
ReligionSunni Islam
Nickname(s)Sayf al-Baghdad ('Sword of Baghdad')[6]

"Carrier of Banner of Jihad and Khilafah"[7]

"Commander of Battalions of Mujahidin"[8]
Military career
Allegiance
Battles/warsWar on Terror

In November 2022, Islamic State spokesman Abu Omar al-Muhajir announced that Abu al-Hasan had been killed in combat. After confirmation by the Islamic State and the United States Central Command of his death in Syria, Abu Omar announced Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi as Abu al-Hasan's successor.

Identity

Abu al-Hasan was his kunya. Al-Hashimi and al-Qurashi indicate that he belonged to the Banu Hashim clan of the Quraysh tribe.[18] Al Ain News reported in March 2022 that al-Qurashi's real name was Zaid, an Iraqi national and the former emir of the Diwan of Education.[19] A May 2022 United Nations Security Council (UNSC) report expanded on this, claiming that the most likely candidate as to his real identity was an Iraqi national by the name of Bashar Khattab Ghazal al-Sumaida'i, also known as Haji Zaid,[20] stating:[21]

Abu al-Hassan's identity is not yet established but has been much discussed among Member States, with Iraqi national Bashar Khattab Ghazal al-Sumaida'i cited as the most likely candidate. Some Member States suggested that al-Sumaida'i was arrested in Turkey near Istanbul in May; others maintain that he remains at large. IS has not yet commented.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan corroborated this after his arrest, claiming that al-Sumaida'i had been acting as the highest figure in the Islamic State since the death of former caliph Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi.[22] IS, however, have never named their caliph to be al-Sumaida'i, and denied that he was imprisoned.[17][23]

There are also other theories as to his identity. According to two unnamed Iraqi security officials, al-Qurashi's real name was Juma Awad al-Badri, and he was the elder brother of former IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Research by Iraqi historian Hisham al-Hashimi published in 2020 stated that al-Badri was head of the five-member Shura Council.[24]

It was reported by IS-linked sources that Abu al-Hasan was actually Islamic State leader Abdur Rahman al-Iraqi (Sayf Baghdad), born in Rawa, Iraq and killed in mid-October 2022 in the city of Jasim in Daraa Governorate, Syria.[25][9] Later on, it was revealed that the real birth name of Abu Al-Hassan/Abdur Rahman Iraqi was Nour Karim Al-Mutni and he belonged to the Bu Obaid tribe in Anbar.

Biography

Abu Al-Hassan Al-Hashimi was born Nour Karim Al-Mutni and belonged to the Bu Obaid tribe in Anbar. Some additional details about his life stated that in 2005, his brother and seven of his relatives were kidnapped and killed by the Shiite militia "Wolf Brigade" in Adhamiya, Baghdad. He fought United States forces during the Iraqi insurgency and was imprisoned at some point.[26][27] According to Iraqi intelligence, he joined AQI in 2005 and operated in Baqubah city, Diyala.[28]

During 2014, Abul Hassan worked as an Islamic State operative in Baghdad city in Iraq and in al-Bukamal city in Syria. Some of his relatives work in Al-Rawi Financial Network, subject to US sanctions. His brother, Firas, was detained in Idlib by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.[29]

By 2018, he use to work under Abu Salem Al-Iraqi (IS leader of Damascus in Yarmouk). In May of same year, he left the Yarmouk camp and moved to Southern Syria where he was appointed Governor of Hawran region. During his tenure, Islamic State second leader Abdullah Qardash choose him to be his successor.[30]

In 2022, he arrived from Iraq to Daraa province and started working under aliases of Abdur Rahman al-Iraqi and Sayf Baghdad[31] where he headed IS cells that were involved in killing of reconciled rebel leaders. He ordered execution of prominent rebel leader Sheikh Abu al-Baraa who refused to accept his authority.

On 14 August 2022, "reconciled" rebels in Tafas were able to apprehend a Syrian member of the IS shura council whose confessions indicated prominent IS leaders, including Abu Abdul Rahman al-Iraqi (who turned out to be the "Caliph") are present in Jassem.[32] It is said that that the intelligence from this arrested shura member eventually led to demise of Abul Hassan.[33] In December, it was reported that the body of Abu Al-Hassan has been handed over to the US by reconciled rebels.[34]

A pro IS media group created a tribute video on reign of Abu Al-Hassan Al-Hashimi and claimed that 1547 military operations were carried in his tenure as supreme leader of the Islamic State.[35][36]

Alleged arrest

On 26 May 2022, informed sources told Sky News Arabia that Abu al-Hasan had been arrested in Istanbul, and that security forces had reported the arrest to Erdoğan, who was expected to announce the news about the suspect.[37][38] Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency later claimed that Turkish intelligence had been tracking his movements in Syria for a long period of time, and arrested him promptly after he illegally entered Turkey.[39] In July, a UN Security Council report stated that there was no available clarification regarding the Turkish claim.[20] On 16 September 2022, Islamic State spokesperson Abu Umar al-Muhajir seemingly denied claims that their caliph had been arrested, calling on Muslims globally to pledge allegiance to him.[23]

Death

On 30 November 2022, the Islamic State announced that Abu al-Hasan had been killed while fighting.[40] The spokesman of IS, Abu Omar, confirmed the news that same day.[3][41] The United States Central Command confirmed that Abu al-Hassan killed himself by detonating a suicide vest during an operation carried out by former Free Syrian Army rebels which had aligned with government forces in Daraa Governorate in mid-October.[42]

Succession

He was replaced by Abu al-Husayn Al-Husayni as the fourth Caliph of the Islamic State.

Explanatory notes
  1. The Islamic State describes itself as a caliphate and its leader as a caliph, but this is not accepted by the vast majority of Muslims, and is disputed by multiple Muslim scholars and authors.[10][11][12]

References
  1. Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (18 March 2022). "'On the Path of the First Rightly-Guided Ones' – Islamic State Editorial on the New Caliph and Allegiance Pledge". Aymenn's Monstrous Publications. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  2. Mroue, Bassem (1 December 2022). "Syrian rebels didn't know jihadist they killed was Islamic State leader". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  3. "Islamic State leader Abu Hasan al-Qurashi killed, names successor". Hindustan Times. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  4. Charles Lister [@Charles_Lister] (1 December 2022). "More info on deceased #ISIS leader Abu al-Hassan, via @WaelEssam77: [...]" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  5. "Jihadi Casualty Database". International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR). Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  6. Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (1 December 2022). "The Killing of the Islamic State's Leader in Deraa Province: Analysis and Resources for Context". Aymenn's Monstrous Publications. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  7. He was referred to by this title by prominent Islamic State media group "Bayda al-Muwahidin"
  8. This is one of titles given to every Islamic State caliph by their supporters and use among their publications along with titles like Amir al-Momineen and Caliph of Muslims
  9. "ماذا يجري في منطقة جاسم؟ ثوار منطقة جاسم بريف درعا يؤكدون في بيان مرئي مقتل".
  10. Yusuf al-Qaradawi stated: "[The] declaration issued by the Islamic State is void under sharia and has dangerous consequences for the Sunnis in Iraq and for the revolt in Syria", adding that the title of caliph can "only be given by the entire Muslim nation", not by a single group. Strange, Hannah (5 July 2014). "Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi addresses Muslims in Mosul". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  11. Bunzel, Cole. "Caliph Incognito: The Ridicule of Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi". jihadica.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  12. Hamid, Shadi (1 November 2016). "What a caliphate really is—and how the Islamic State is not one". Brookings. Archived from the original on 1 April 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  13. "Islamic State names new leader, confirms death of predecessor". Beirut: France 24. Agence France-Presse. 10 March 2022. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  14. Hubbard, Ben (10 March 2022). "ISIS Names a New Leader, but Says Little About Him". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  15. "Islamic state confirms death of its leader, names new chief". Reuters. 10 March 2022. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  16. Kozok, Firat (26 May 2022). "Turkey Has Detained Islamic State's New Leader, Officials Say". Bloomberg L.P. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  17. Zelin, Aaron Y. (14 July 2022). "New issue of The Islamic State's newsletter: 'al-Nabā' #347". jihadology.net. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  18. Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (11 March 2022). "The Islamic State's Appointment of a New 'Caliph' (Old English Version)". Aymenn's Monstrous Publications. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  19. "أبو الحسن الهاشمي.. من هو زعيم داعش الجديد؟" [Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi.. Who is the new leader of ISIS?]. Al Ain News. 10 March 2022. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  20. Orton, Kyle (31 July 2022). "Reduced, but Rebuilding: United Nations Reports on Islamic State and Al-Qaeda". It Can Always Get Worse. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  21. S/2022/547 (PDF) (Report). United Nations Security Council. 15 July 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022. Abu al-Hassan's identity is not yet established but has been much discussed among Member States, with Iraqi national Bashar Khattab Ghazal al-Sumaida'i (not listed) cited as the most likely candidate. Some Member States suggested that al-Sumaida'i was arrested in Turkey near Istanbul in May; others maintain that he remains at large. ISIL has not yet commented.
  22. "Türkiye nabs senior Daesh terrorist in counterterror op". Daily Sabah. Istanbul. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  23. Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (16 September 2022). "Islamic State Editorial on New Speech by Spokesman Abu Umar al-Muhajir: Translation and Analysis". Aymenn's Monstrous Publications. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  24. "EXCLUSIVE New Islamic State leader is brother of slain caliph Baghdadi – sources". Reuters. 11 March 2022. Archived from the original on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  25. Aaron Zelin [@azelin] (30 November 2022). "Pro-IS accounts online circulating this alleged picture of the now killed Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi (aka 'Abd al-Rahman al-Iraqi and Sayf Baghdad). t.co/tM0XWCySvb" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  26. Jeff Seldin [@jseldin] (2 December 2022). "NEW: US able to make ID on #ISIS leader killed by #FSA in #Daraa in October because they had encountered Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi before & had the biometric data on file, US military official tells @VOANews A US official previously said DNA was used to make the ID" (Tweet). Retrieved 3 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  27. "Killed Islamic State Leader Had Previous Run-In with US".
  28. Reuters Arabic
  29. Hassan Hassan [@hxhassan] (1 December 2022). "Exclusive details from @WaelEssam77 about the ISIS leader killed by Syrian rebels in Deraa [...]" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  30. "لمن لا يعرف سيف بغداد (أبو الحسن الهاشمي القرشي) عراقي الجنسية من راوة واسمه الحقيقي".
  31. Charles Lister [@Charles_Lister] (1 December 2022). "Little snippets of info coming out on #ISIS's recently killed leader, Abu al-Hassan. [...]" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  32. Elizabeth Tsurkov [@Elizrael] (1 December 2022). "New details regarding killing of the ISIS "Caliph" in Jassem, Daraa announced yesterday, based on my sources who participated in the operation. The op was carried out by former rebels, mostly from Jassem, Tel Shehab, Tafas and Mzayrab" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  33. @ghazalhashim3 (1 December 2022). "قبل نحو شهر ونصف تم نشر اعترافات عنصر التنظيم رامي محمد فالح الصلخدي في بلدة جاسم – درعا ، تكلم فيها عن تناغم بين التنظيم والنظام هناك ، بعدها تم تحييد"ابوعبد الرحمن العراقي أو سيف بغداد "وقتله مع عدد من مرافقيه ببلدة جاسم وفيما يبدو انه هو الهاشمي المقتولt.co/86QK37rgPL" [About a month and a half ago, the confessions of the organization's member, Rami Muhammad Faleh Al-Salkhadi, were published in the town of Jassim – Daraa, in which he spoke of harmony between the organization and the regime there. After that, "Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Iraqi or Saif Baghdad" was neutralized and killed with a number of his companions in the town of Jassim, and it appears that he is the murdered Hashemi.] (Tweet) (in Arabic). Retrieved 3 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  34. "Body of Daesh/ISIS leader handed over to US forces".
  35. @ToreRHamming (21 December 2022). "New Islamic State supporter video on the 8 months reign of Abu Al-Hassan Al-Hashimi" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  36. Video titled أولئك أمرائي by مؤسسة الدرع السني
  37. "أبو الحسن القرشي.. من هو زعيم "داعش" المعتقل؟". سكاي نيوز عربية (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  38. "بعد أنباء عن اعتقاله في تركيا.. من هو زعيم تنظيم داعش الجديد؟". Al Ain News (in Arabic). 26 May 2022. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  39. Guldogan, Diyar (8 September 2022). "Senior executive of Daesh/ISIS terror group captured in Türkiye". Ankara: Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  40. Mina Al-Lami [@Minalami] (30 November 2022). "ISIS just released the message. announcing the death of its leader, Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, saying he died while fighting, without offering details t.co/xLFb4z90Ck" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022 – via Twitter.
  41. Kourdi, Eyad (30 November 2022). "ISIS acknowledges the death of its leader, announces his successor". CNN. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  42. "Death of ISIS Leader" (Press release). Tampa, Florida: United States Central Command. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.