What's in common between beauty tips and a Kalashnikov? Not much a priori, but the first issue of Al-Shamika (Woman majestic). This new magazine from the radical Islamist movement, presents itself as a kind of "Cosmopolitan" or "She" for aspiring jihadist wife. Al-Shamika and tries to make jihad a lifestyle.
Released these days, and discovered on Monday by the British daily The Independent, he suggested, in Arabic, an explosive mix between practical advice for the modern Muslim woman and more traditional calls for jihad.The term "jihad", with multiple definitions through the ages, has been hijacked by radical movements to legitimize the armed struggle against fellow Muslims or non-Muslims.
On its front, Al-Shamika shows a submachine gun on purple background with two pictures of women covered by a niqab. The magazine mentions and, throughout its 31 pages, cosmetics (foundation ...) and practical advice (interior design ...).
"Good" raising children
In addition to these subjects "light", the magazine is very clear on his message: "The Nation of Islam requires women who know the truth about their religion and who understand what we expect of them," Can reads the editorial in the first issue.They are asked "to raise children in the tradition of jihad" or develop "a stable home for their husbands can devote itself fully to the Jihad."
"The message of Al-Shamika nothing innovative in the sense that Islamist radicals have always given a very important role to support women as men engaged in jihad," said Gilbert Ramsay, an expert on Islamist networks and Internet Center for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence at the University of St. Andrews (England).Al-Shamika also does not call for violent action.
The magazine follows the example of the ephemeral "Little Girls Khansa" newspaper also for Muslim women who disappeared after two issues.
Jihad everywhere
In terms of women's magazines of this type, the true reference would rather "Inspire", which caused a sensation in 2010. This magazine, promoted by the American preacher of Yemeni origin, Anwar al-Awlaki, became the first online publication written entirely in English, hoping to attract potential recruits in Western countries. He is currently in its fourth edition.Unlike "Inspire", Al-Shamika has not been formally identified as a publication from Al-Qaeda nebula.
"These two magazines convey the same idea: that the precepts of jihad can be applied even in occupations most routine of daily life," Gilbert Ramsay analysis.
He said jihad has led, over the Internet, the emergence of a genuine subculture that is not dominated by calls to violence. "The movements that advocate jihad will give trouble on forums and blogs to explain that support the jihad by small daily gestures, but also to participate," he says.In order to open the mind to these new converts to the next opportunity to participate in violent acts?
