Thread by @Minalami

Thread: Key jihadist responses to Russia’s war on Ukraine 👇

1) Jubliation. Overall, jihadists welcome the war. They see it as a distraction for their "Crusader" enemies -Russia & West – away from jihadist affairs. Therefore, they are hopeful it turns into a protracted war that weakens all those involved and eases prssure on jihadists

2) Just revenge against Russia. Jihadists welcome the war as retribution against Russia primarily for its involvement in Syria, which they hope the war in Ukraine will weaken

3) Division. Jihadists divided over whether it’s religiously permissible to support Ukraine. Pragmatic jihadists, such as members & supporters of Syria-based HTS, have explicitly or implicitly expressed solidarity with Ukraine and cheered “losses” inflicted on Russian forces

Cont. Pragmatists say it’s religiously permissible to express or offer support to any oppressed person or people. Hardliners says such a stance is impermissible given Ukraine is a Christian country and it participated in the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003

Cont. Hardliners say Muslims must not volunteer to join the fight alongside Ukraine, unless to defend Muslims in Ukraine. They also argue this is a fight amongst “Crusaders” that Muslims have no interest in and therefore must not die for

4) Gloating. A few hardliners have been gloating at the fate of Ukrainians, saying tables have turned and now “Crusaders” are experiencing the fear and death that Muslims experienced in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and other conflicts

5. Chechen fighters: Jihadists have overall strongly condemned the participation of some Chechen units in the fight alongside Russia. Hardliners, rather than pragmatists, also stress that Muslims must not fight alongise Ukraine either

6. West’s "double standards"– foreign fighters. Jihadists strongly condemned "double standards" of the West, in ref to expressions of support by some Western politicians (eg Foreign Secretary Lizz Truss) for foreign nationals to fight for Ukraine

Cont. Jihadists argue that by contrast, Muslim foreign fighters would be labelled “terrorists” rather than freedom fighters. They mostly refer to the example of foreign nationals who went to Syria to fight the government of Bashar al-Asad

Cont. Jihadists conviently faile to mention that many of the foreign fighters who went to Syria ended up joining global jihadist groups whose agendas exptended beyond "librating" Syria

Cont. Some pointed to a Sun article that described a Ukrainian soldier who reportedly blew himself up to slow down Russian advance, as a “hero”: thesun.co.uk/news/17771153/…

7. West’s "double standards"- refugees. Jihadists have accused the West of racism, arguing that Ukrainian refugees are being welcomed with open arms in Western countries while, they add, Muslim refugees are largely unwanted or viewed with suspicion

Cont. They cite some European media outlets and reporters as allegedly using implcitly racist words to highlight the difference between Ukrianian and non-European refugees

Cont. The last two points on the West’s “double standards” and “racism” – with regard to foreign fighters and refugees – were also more widely voiced in social and mainstream media in some Muslim-majority countries

Sorry about the typos here. Don’t know what happened! 😓

#ISIS has now commented on the Russia-Ukraine war. Warns Muslims against taking part alongside any camp, saying this is a "Crusader-Crusader war" that Muslims mustn't get invovled in. Prays it'll be a protracted war leading to bigger "Crusader" conflicts that'll break its enemies

ISIS condemns Chechens who took part in the conflict alongside Russia and also warns against Muslim scholars or influencers who call on Muslims to support or fight for Ukraine. The comments came in the editorial of the group's weekly paper al-Naba

Published with full details and insight: monitoring.bbc.co.uk/product/c203ai…