The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) has announced the restoration of the Khilafah over the areas under its control.
In a video, Sheikh Abu Mohammed al-Adnani (a spokesman for ISIS) declared Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi as the calipha and called upon all Muslims to give him bay’ah (pledge of allegiance).
According to the statement, the new caliphate stretches from Iraq’s Diyala province to Syria’s Aleppo.
An exert of the speech translated in English:
“Therefore, the shūrā (consultation) council of the Islamic State studied this matter after the Islamic State – by Allah’s grace – gained the essentials necessary for Khilafah, which the Muslims are sinful for if they do not try to establish.
In light of the fact that the Islamic State has no shar’ī (legal) constraint or excuse that can justify delaying or neglecting the establishment of the Khilafah such that it would not be sinful, the Islamic State – represented by ahlul-halli-wal-‘aqd (its people of authority), consisting of its senior figures, leaders, and the shura council – resolved to announce the establishment of the Islamic Khilafah, the appointment of a Khalifah for the Muslims, and the pledge of allegiance to the Sheikh, the Mujahid, the scholar who practices what he preaches, the worshipper, the leader, the warrior, the reviver, the descendent from the family of the Prophet, the slave of Allah, Ibrahim ibn Awwad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ali ibn Muhammad Al-Badri Al-Hashimi Al Husayni Al-Qurayshi by lineage, as-Samurrai by birth and upbringing, al-Baghdadi by residence and scholarship. And he has accepted the bay’ah (pledge of allegiance).
Thus, he is the imam and Khalifah for the Muslims everywhere. Accordingly, the “Iraq and Sham” in the name of the Islamic State is henceforth removed from all official deliberations and communications, and the official name is the Islamic State from the date of this declaration.”
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Sheikh al-Adnani said all jihadist organisations including Al Qaeda and their global cells must offer their physical and material support to al-Baghdadi, the “calipha” of the new state.
The “Islamic State” has removed Iraq and al-Sham (the Levant) from its name and stated “a new era of international jihad”.
Iraq
In recent weeks, ISIS has captured large areas of western and northern Iraq (Mosul and Tikrit) and for two years has held parts of Syria.
Meanwhile, Iraqi officials said they had received delivery of the first Russian fighter jets it has bought second-hand to help stop the militants’ advance.
The five Russian Su-25 planes are expected to enter service in the next three to four days, with more of the planes understood to be arriving soon.
The US has deployed drones to the region around Tikrit, Saddam Hussein’s hometown, though the White House said it has not yet authorised air strikes against the Sunni insurgents and the drones will only be used for “force protection”.
Iran has also stationed military equipment and forces in the region.
The translation in various languages of Sheikh al-Adnani’s speech announcing the Khilafah can be read here:
https://t.co/9WiaBhQ5oH or https://
