Figure : Photo of those executed by Hizballah and posted to social media.
On October 8, 2013, the news website,
NewLebanon.info released
a video claiming to show members of Lebanon’s Iranian-backed
Shia Islamist Hizballah, executing what appeared to be wounded men
they pulled from the back of a van. The slain men were reported to be
Syrians, possibly captured rebels.
The video caused controversy with the
public and activists alike in Lebanon, Syria, the broader Middle
East, and the West. Hizballah has been silent on the issue, but one
spokesman said the organization would address the issue. Despite
accusations Hizballah had pulled-off the killings, along with audio
recordings demonstrating the executioners with Lebanese accents
talking about Iranian Revolutionary religious concepts (an important
underpinning for Hizballah’s ideology), there was still enough
plausible deniability available for Hizballah and other Shia militia
groups to argue they had no part in the killings.
Nevertheless, after analyzing Shia
militia social media pages, I did come across the proverbial,
“Picture worth a thousand words” in relation to the execution
video: A photo featuring the same men who had been killed in the
grainy execution video, were in fact the dead men in another
photograph. This picture was uploaded to a prominent pro-Shia
militia Facebook page which promotes the “Al-Muqawama al-Islamiyah”
(“The Islamic Resistance”). This term regularly describes Iranian-backed Shia Islamist groups
with militia apparatuses established in Iraq and Lebanon. It was also
of a higher definition than the video recording. Adding to the
photograph’s credibility was the fact that it was posted on October
1, 2013; Seven days before the video was released.
One of the dead men, the first to be
dragged from the van in the video and wearing visible red boxer
shorts is in the photograph. Another man, in a white T-shirt covered
in blood, was summarily executed in the video. For the photo, he was
placed in the pile of the other dead. The man in the striped sweater
was taken out of the van at 0.48 and was then shot in the head twice.
His destroyed cranium is easily spotted in the photograph and the
video.
Figure : The man in the red boxer shorts. (video capture)
Figure : The black shirted man lying dead over the legs of the man in the red boxer shorts. (video capture)
Figure : The killed man in the white blood-stained T-shirt. (video capture)
Figure : The dead and executed men lying in the same position as the hi-res photo above. (video capture)
When one follower of the page asked why
such a graphic image needed to be posted, the admin responded, saying
this would be the fate for anyone who wishes “to abuse Sayyida
Zaynab”. Another outspoken member of other pro-Shia militia
Facebook sites responded that the dead bodies were the result of,
“self-defense”.
The admin for the page claims to be located in Tehran, Iran and the page he administers says it is based in Iraq. The administrator is also a prominent poster of graphics which promote the cause of Iraq’s Kata’ib Hizballah, Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, and Lebanese Hizballah—all Iranian-backed suppliers of foreign Shia fighters to Syria. These graphics have been widely circulated in these circles, suggesting a more formal link between the administrator and these organizations.
After processing around eighty Facebook pages (posts from August 15th-October 23rd ) which promote pro-Shia militia in Syria material, only this Facebook page posted the photograph. When measured against more directly controlled Assad groups on social media, the same photo could not be found. Most interesting was the lack of any type of watermark which would demonstrate the photograph was taken from another website or source.
However, photographs of the executed had circulated elsewhere prior to the release of the video and to this particular photograph posted on Shia militia social media. On September 23, 2013, the same dead men were part of a post placed online by Bousla.net. At that time, it was claimed they were part of the Salafi rebel organization, Liwa’a al-Islam, and were ambushed in the rural East Ghouta region outside of Damascus. Furthermore, it was reported in the article that elements of Liwa’a Zulfiqar, a Syrian based Shia militia whose fighters primarily come from the aforementioned groups in Iraq, and work in conjunction with Lebanese Hizballah, led the attack. Elsewhere, on LiveLeak, the pictures were republished and it was added that the executed individuals were, “near jordanan border the place where the cia saudi arabia and jordanian intelligence finance and train rebels [sic]”.
Figure : Three of the photos published by Bousla.net which clearly showing the executed men in the video.
Most intriguing about the video and photo posts in news media (as opposed to social media), were the two sources to which this material was leaked. Both market themselves as “independent” Lebanese (as opposed to Iraqi, Iranian, Syrian, or other Arab outlets) news providers, have little original content, and do not have much of a share of an already packed Lebanese media market. Ironically, Bousla.net, the original poster of the images of those executed in the video, published a piece claiming the video was a fabrication and that Lebanese Hizballah had no role in the killings. Bousla.net also drew no connection between the original photos and the video.
Figure : The banner photograph for the Facebook page featuring the execution photo in question. The title reads, “Al Muqawama” (“The Resistance”). The logos for (left to right) Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, Lebanese Hizballah, Kata'ib Hizballah, and Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada are shown on the poster with the golden dome for the Sayyida Zaynab shrine in Damascus. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is shown prominently in the left.
The dates these photographs were posted, their higher resolution (when compared to the video), the source(s) which published the information, and the utilization of the same bodies, conclusively establish that a Shia Islamist militia—most likely involving Hizballah, was behind the killings. The publishing of the photographs and the leak of the video of the killings further symbolize a new and carefully coordinated social and traditional online media campaign to show Syria’s rebels that Iranian-backed groups will resort to brutal means to win in Syria.
Uploaded onto YouTube on October 8, 2013 was a 1 minute and 40 seconds long video claiming to show members of Lebanese Hizballah brutally executing, “wounded Syrians”.
The film was shocking for more than its sadistic contents. Accusations of Lebanese Hizballah carrying out massacres and executions have been part and parcel of the pro-Syrian rebel narrative for some time. Yet, despite claims of that variety and daily doses of ultra-violence pouring endlessly onto the web for the past two years from pro-rebel and anti-Assad sides of the spectrum; little, in terms of videotaped human rights violations by Hizballah or by their allied Syria-based Iraqi Shia militias, could be found online.
Owing in large part to these groups’ Iranian-proxy status and clear religiously-based order, the aforementioned Shia Islamist organizations function in a far more militarily professional manner. Additionally, Lebanese Hizballah and their Iranian-backed Iraqi cohorts, operate advanced messaging and propaganda initiatives. In turn, this has allowed for them to successfully present their narratives and images to a wide audience.
Furthermore, there has been some criticism regarding the veracity and authenticity of the video clip. In part this is due to claims that the audio for the clip could not be verified and may be taken from other sources.
Nevertheless, after close analysis, this clip may be the first substantial video evidence demonstrating Lebanese Hizballah and/or other Shia militia (primarily staffed by Iraqis) groups in Syria of conducting blatant human rights abuses.
This piece will attempt to go through the evidence presented in the video by assessing the main data-points and other factors which have been at play in Shia militia circles and details found in the video:
Uniforms, headbands, and ribbons worn by the fighters.
The Lebanese accent of the shooters and those speaking
The discussion of Iranian revolutionary concepts adopted by Hizballah.
Trends in Hizballah and among fellow Iranian-backed Shia Islamist groups for filming and photographing dead rebels.
Assessing where the video originated.
An increase in the posting of brutal images featuring dead rebels by Shia Islamist groups in Syria.
A Rough Transcript of the Film
With the traffic from short wave radios and the lack of visible speech by particular fighters, the task of writing a highly accurate transcription was made somewhat difficult. Additionally, I did not write what was being said during the radio transmissions. Regardless, this is what could be picked-up:
Fighter to other militants: “Move it! Move it! Move it!” *The fighters run around a van to the vehicle’s trunk.* (0.01-0.05)
*Radio traffic* (0.05-0.14)
A chant from off camera: “fi sabil Allah” (0.11)
*The fighters pull what appear to be wounded men, most likely Syrians, from the back of a van or minibus. There’s heavy radio traffic obscuring what the fighters are saying.* (0.12-0.30)
A fighter says: “Fi sabil Allah” (0.20-0.21)
*Three men are pulled from the back of the van.* (0.20.-0.35)
*One of the men is immediately shot.* (0.35-0.37)
*Another man is pulled from the van.* (0.37-0.54)
A supposed militant says: “Bring him down.” (Meaning a man from the back of the van). (0.44)
A more hushed voice chimes in and says: “Hold on! Wait! Wait!” (0.53-0.54)
*This man is shot multiple times in the head.* (0.57-1.01)
Screaming voice off camera: “O guys!” (1.01)
Another fighter’s voice: “Enough” (1.02)
Said by another person (possibly the cameraman or a fighter to another fighter. Even added to the video’s context it can be viewed as a compliment or as sarcasm): “You’re a tough one.” (1.05-1.06) (some have speculated that the accent used is Syrian, still this section of speech is not definitive enough to be deemed Syrian).
One of the fighters: “That one is mine…The killer of the martyr Yahiya is mine!” (Meaning the fighter had selected a person on the ground to shoot) (1.06-1.10)
Another fighter says: “I am *inaudible* on my own (1.10-1.12)
In the background another fighter says: “Hizballah” (1.10-12)
Another voice (possibly a fighter): “Why are you using this rhetoric?” (1.12-1.13)
*What appears to be wounded a man is pulled from the back of the van.* (1.11-1.16)
Another Militant: “O! For the martyr Yahiya!” (1.16-1.19)
*Inaudible speech in background* (1.16-19)
A clearer voice says: “Come, come.” (1.16-1.19)
*The fighter who pulled down the man kicks him and is stopped by another militant.* (1.16-1.20)
Fighter referred to as ‘Hajj’ (speaking Lebanese dialect): “Wait. Wait. We are performing our taklif and we are not seeking personal vengeance.”*This fighter goes off camera and another comes to the fore and shoots the man on the ground.* (1:23-1:36)
Another fighter off-screen says: "fine, fine, Hajj. fi sabil Allah.” (1.28)
Another militant: "No! The martyr Yahiya! No!” (1.29-1.35)
*A rifle is fired by a militant who comes into frame at the man writhing on the ground* (1.35-1.38)
Off-screen militant: “Move it [“yallah”, in Lebanese slang], let’s go." (1.38-1.40)
Criticism of the Clip
Found on some pro-Assad
and pro-Hizballah
websites was a piece criticizing the movie by Mr. Ahmed M. Yassin. In
an interesting twist, the author blames the Syrian army and/or the
National
Defense Forces (a Syrian state-supported militia-style group
trained by Iran
and Hizballah). He also correctly states that the actions of
those in the video would constitute a war crime.
Yassin starts out by saying the radio
transmissions are taken from a clip involving Hizballah fighters in
Qusayr and their headquarters in May, 2013. These clips were
provided in the article. When compared, it is extremely hard to tell
whether there is any credibility to this criticism. Additionally, if
the radio traffic was faked, that would necessitate the other audio
sections were also added later. Still, the author does not come to
this conclusion. Plus, the audio tends to match with the actions seen
in the film.
Yassin added to this by claiming the
uniforms seen in the video do not match the type worn by Hizballah.
According to the author, this was due to the green and brown colors
not being as “dark” as some previously utilized by Hizballah. An
example from the 2006 Hizballah-Israel War is offered as supporting
evidence for this claim. Additionally, the author also claims that
the pants are not the same as those Hizballah. However, rationally
speaking, it’s not hard, nor is it unheard of fighters (in
professional or paramilitary organizations) altering their uniforms.
(See explanation covering uniforms used by Hizballah and other Shia
militias below).
The piece also stated that “fi
sabil Allah” would not be used by an ideologically educated
Hizballah fighter in the context of “killing” (a term used during
the film) for Allah. Only “fighting” in a justified and
sanctioned war for Allah (see explanation below regarding this
phrase). Though, this minor linguistic distinction appears to be more
about splitting
hairs, rather than establishing the statements made in the video
as spurious.
Where Did the Video Come From?
The clip was first uploaded to a
YouTube
account belonging to a website called NewLebanon.info.
This site appears to present itself as a more independent (as opposed
to being tied to the main Shia parties, Hizballah or Harakat Amal)
Shia-oriented news provider in Lebanon.
After the video was posted,
NewLebanon.info published
a piece defending its authenticity. In it, they argued that even
if the audio was added later, defenders of Hizballah had no
explanation for the material shown in the video. This form of defense
also leaves holes for further criticism, particularly regarding the
images presented in the video. Essentially, NewLebanon.info’s case
rests on the assumption the fighters shown were Hizballah members.
However, with the little information available, sans audio, it would
be impossible to confirm whether the fighters were from Hizballah or
not.
The Ayatollah’s New Clothes
Some viewers of the video have come to
the conclusion that the fighters shown in the clip must be Hizballah
members due to the presence of yellow ribbons tied to their battle
fatigues. While this sounds like an argument based on an odd piece of
minutia, Syrian rebel groups, their supporters, and onlookers
have repeatedly stated that yellow ribbons are a
clear identity marker for Hizballah members in Syria.
Additionally, one of the fighters in the video is wearing a green
headband as he drags wounded and possibly dead bodies from the back
of a van. This may be another sign he may belong to a Shia
organization.
It is true that the variety of Shia
militia groups backing the Assad regime have been photographed and
recorded wearing plain headbands or those featuring religious slogans
(most often, they are colored black, green, red, or yellow).
Additionally, there is quite a lot of
history of yellow ribbon decorations symbolizing Khomeinist causes.
In the early 90s, Iranian protesters would go to Mecca and
protest the U.S. and Israel wearing their yellow ribbons and
bands.
More recently, Hizballah fighters have
also been recorded
in Syria with yellow-ribbons tied to their uniforms. In Lebanon, the
group used yellow-ribbon
wearing street-toughs when intimating and attacking their Shia
opposition. Members of the Iranian-backed Iraqi Shia groups, Asa’ib
Ahl al-Haq and Kata’ib
Sayyid al-Shuhada, often feature their fighters in Syria wearing
these types of adornments. Liwa’a
‘Ammar Ibn Yasir (see videos marked: “LAIY Fighters With A
Captured Rebel & Engaged In Combat” and “LAIY Fighters Record
Syrian Rebels They Killed”), another Shia militia group formed
primarily from Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq and Kata’ib
Hizballah members, has also been filmed with their members
wearing green
headbands featuring Shia religious slogans and yellow ribbons.
The emphasis on these color
combinations has roots which trace back to Hizballah’s official
party colors, yellow and green, which are featured on the group’s
flag (though, in most occasions, yellow is more normally
associated with Hizballah). Green also finds its place into the color
spectrum of Shia Islamists since it is the color
of Islam and the Ahl al-Bayt (the descendants of the Prophet
Muhammed to whom Shia pay special devotion).
While markers such as these serve as
interesting circumstantial evidence pointing to Lebanese Hizballah
involvement, they are hardly enough to establish that fighters from
Hizballah or Iraqi Shia militia members were in the video. Shia
militia groups operating in Syria and militias directly controlled by
the regime of Bashar al-Assad have donned many different styles of
colored ribbons as identity markers. Members of Liwa’a
al-Imam al-Hasan, a primarily Iraqi Shia militia which operates
in conjunction with Hizballah in Rif Dimashq, has been recorded
wearing red and yellow ribbons. Assad’s own Ba’ath Party militia,
Kata’ib al-Ba’ath and the National
Defense Forces have also been shown wearing
red (in an ironic twist, the video link actually has a Lebanese
Hizballah song playing in the background) and yellow
ribbons.
Ribbons and headbands aside, there is
also the issue of the taped fighters’ uniforms. The pattern,
appears to be modeled off of or an actual U.S. M81
Woodland Pattern Battle Dress Uniform (BDU). This uniform type is
seen quite regularly on Lebanese Hizballah members and with other
Shia militiamen operating in Syria. Additionally, Woodland Pattern
types are widely available across the Middle East. Hizballah’s main
backer, Iran, has even manufactured
its own varieties. This style of uniform is also commonly worn by
Hizballah and other Shia militias fighting in Syria.
Figure : A Kata'ib Sayyid Shuhada member in a Woodland Pattern-style BDU (covered in dust) and with a headband featuring a Shia slogan ("Husayn ya aba al-shuhada"or “Husayn O father of the martyrs”)
Figure : Lebanese Hizballah’s Mahdi Yaghi. His death in Syria was announced on October 1, 2013. Note his woodland pattern-style uniform and the headband.
Figure : A Hizballah figher who was kiilled in September during a fight in Ba'albek, Lebanon. He too wears the woodland pattern-type camouflage.
Khomeinism Rears Its Head
Throughout the clip, “In the path of
Allah” (“fi sabil Allah”, also transliterated as, “fi
sabillah”) is said a number of times, underlining a religious
message from executioners. In the context of the video, the phrase is
used as another religious justification for the killings. While this
phrase is important for Sunni and Shia Muslims alike, particularly
those waging jihad, it has a special place in Hizballah propaganda
and in the party’s background. One of Hizballah’s earliest songs,
“Ya Aba
Abdillah”, repeats the phrase as part of the lyrics. When
Hizballah’s “martyrs” havebeenannounced,
the slogan finds its way into online commemorations. As a long-arm
for Iran’s Islamic Revolution, the group itself is also cast as
following “in
the path of Allah”. Thus, the “Party of Allah”, is
presented as executing his will on earth.
One of the filmed Hizballah members
pauses to state the goals of the executions and possible chide
another fighter who kicked a prisoner. In a very clear Lebanese
accent he states, “We are performing our taklif and we are
not seeking personal vengeance”. The mention of performance of a
taklif is one of the most important sections of the video
demonstrating these fighters likely originated from Hizballah.
In a June USA
Today article which covered Hizballah’s involvement in Syria, a
Hizballah fighter noted, "Everyone who is
sent to fight in Syria has received a 'Taklif Sharii'". USA
Today added the taklif sharii is “a religious command that
means he will go to heaven if killed.” Nevertheless, the taklif
sharii is more than just a religious edict which guarantees a
martyred fighter’s spot in heavenly paradise. It is a religious
obligation put forth by a cleric and must be followed. In fact, it is
a form of religious ruling which underpins the Khomeinist ideology
guiding Iran, Hizballah, and all of the main Iraqi Shia organizations
sending militiamen to Syria.
Augustus
Richard Norton noted that Hizballah’s adherence to taklif
sharii is a theological legal ruling, “as though commanded by
Allah”. According to Mohammed
Sherri, an Al-Manar (Hizballah’s official TV channel)
commentator, “once a taklif is issued, violating it is similar to
any sin, like murder or adultery, or not praying or fasting.” In
traditional Shi’ism, the taklif sharii was rarely issued and
normally did not deal with political issues. The concept was actually
revived as an important Shia idea by the father of Iran’s
Revolution, Grand Ayatollah Khomeini and as an important support for
his form of clerical rule, Wilayat
al-Faqih (in Persian it’s known as Velayat e-Faqih).
In effect, the issuing of a taklif sharii by a high ranking Shia
cleric, in this case Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei—The
“Spiritual leader” of Hizballah and the other Iraqi Shia groups,
is a direct order coming from Allah.
Journalist Nicholas
Blanford notes that new Hizballah members, “absorb the
principles of the Islamic revolution in Iran, obedience to the wali
al-faqih [the head of an Islamic state, according to the system
of wilayat al-faqih, which holds that the preeminent religious
authority should be the supreme ruler]”. The same is true for these
Iraqi Shia fighters who cooperate with Hizballah in Syria.
All of these organizations received a
takif sharii from Iranian and higher-level local clerics to fight in
Syria. Thus, this concept’s appearance in the clip’s dialogue
underlines that the fighters are not simply “Shia volunteers”,
but ideologically trained fighters.
The Propaganda of Brutality
Ideology is not the only factor
pointing to Hizballah’s involvement in the video. Staged
photographs featuring dead rebel fighters is also hardly a new form
of propaganda for Hizballah and allied Shia Islamist organizations.
In fact, a prominent face for Hizballah “martyrdom” in Syria,
Hajj Ali Jamal al-Jashi (A.K.A.
Haidar) was filmed prior to his death (announced in April, 2013)
posing next dead rebel fighters (it’s important to note that the
footage seen after Jashi is shown supposedly comes from a Hizballah
“night time ambush” in
Syria in September).
The message presented is clear, the
rebels are being “punished” (a common term on Shia militia social
media on captions for dead rebels) for daring to oppose the
“Resistance” of Hizballah and its allied regional organizations.
Still, Hizballah and their social media sites do not often post the
more graphic varieties photographs of dead rebels and has rarely
posted photographs of its fighters with the dead. Nevertheless, this
is not the case for other Iraqi Shia organizations fighting in Syria
and the posting of these types of photos onto Shia Islamist social
media has been an increasing trend.
The executions also bear a striking
resemblance to photographs released by other allied Shia militia
organizations. In some respects, it can be argued that Kata’ib
Sayyid al-Shuhada has almost fetishized the posting of gruesome
photographs of dead rebels, at times featuring piles of dead, and of
their own fighters posing with the bodies (see the section marked,
“Gruesome
Uploads: KSS Promotes Their Kills”). Nearly 20 percent (37) of
the 207 photographs posted by Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada’s
official Facebook page are of dead rebels. Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq also
occasionally posts photographs of dead rebels. In April and May,
Liwa’a
Abu Fadl al-Abbas also posted graphic photographs of their dead
enemies. These same pictures have circulated around social media
circles which promote Shia Islamist militias in Syria.
Since piles of dead bodies are often
photographed together in open fields and other areas, it can be
assumed they have been piled there and then photographed. This allows
for Hizballah and their allied organizations to issue a more
effective message. With these photos, they can bluntly demonstrate
they are having success in the field and that they have contempt for
their enemies.
Figure : This photograph purportedly shows a member of Liwa’a Abu Fadl al-Abbas stepping on the head of a captured Syrian rebel. The picture has circulated on pro-Shia militia social media pages since April.
Figure : Another photograph posted in April supposedly showing Liwa'a Abu Fadl al-Abbas members standing over a dead rebel. This is a newer version of the photo with a new logo posted in the upper-right corner.
Figure : Two Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada militiamen pose with the bodies of dead rebels. One of the Shia militiamen has his boot on the face of a dead rebel.
Figure : Another photo supposedly showing a Shia militiaman with his foot on the body of a "Nusra Front terrorist" in Damascus.
Figure : Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq's Liwa'a Kafil Zaynab (AAH-LKZ) posted this and a number of photos featuring killed rebels and using them as examples of AAH-LKZ’s combat effectiveness.
Figure : A photo of dead rebel bodies from a pro-Shia militia Facebook page. The picture is credited to Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada. However, it has been posted by other Shia miitia groups.
Conclusion
Attempting to conclude which
organization the militants in the video came from, based simply on
their uniforms and ribbons, is a futile exercise. This is
particularly the case in Syria where weapons systems, uniforms, and a
wide variety of equipment can and has easily traded hands.
However, when placed in a wider context
with the fighters speaking in Lebanese accents and discussing
important Khomeinist ideological concepts (which are of key
importance to Hizballah) helps establish the possibility that
fighters from Hizballah were involved. Since Hizballah and its allied
organizations have taken to posting brutal imagery, featuring piles
of dead rebel fighters, the clip may have shown what could have been
a prelude to posts of that nature or another example (this time,
involving Shia fighters) of a heightened level of brutality present
in Syria.
Unfortunately, as with many YouTube
clips emanating from Syria, more evidence is needed to make a
definitive calls about the clip in question. Though, based on the
large amount of circumstantial data, it is highly likely these were
Hizballah fighters executing a number of men.
Today there's been a number of reports on the execution of Mohammad Katta, a young coffee seller in Aleppo, by men described in some reports as foreign Islamist rebels for blasphemy after telling another boy that "even if Muhammad comes down, I will not give it as debt" when asked to give coffee on credit. An extremely graphic photograph of the boy has been posted online, showing him shot through the mouth and neck, and videos have now been posted online of the boy's parents and a witness to the execution, which I've had translated into English, with notes from my translator in italics:
0:01 Mother: My son is second only to Hamza al-Khateeb (A boy from Daraa whose torture and execution by Assad’s troops shocked the world in May 2011). No, he is second to none, he is the grand martyr because he was innocent and didn't hurt anybody. They shot him dead in front of my eyes. This act is against religion and against Sharia. I want to ask Muhammad Hassan (A prominent Egyptian cleric) and the Saudi king whether my boy deserved death or not. If they say there is a rule, I will not object to it.
After he was accused of blasphemous language against the prophet [Muhammad], he replied that he is ready to sacrifice his soul for the sake of Muhammad, expressing his great love for him. He repeated it in front of them, and when they asked him to get in the car he agreed saying that he isn't guilty. He was only 14 years old and he didn't reach adulthood (As in civil law, Sharia rules aren’t applied to minors).
Those who killed my son must be brought to justice if it was proved that what they did was out of Sharia rules. My son didn't join neither part of the war. They just slaughtered him as if he was a lamb or an animal. He was just a boy and had his rights. He used to work in order to provide for us because his father is ill. He was blindfolded and he was bleeding in front of my eyes. I cried: shame on you, why did you do this? There were a crowd of around 300 to 400 men standing there watching and no-one tried saving the boy. He was shot three times; in his head, neck the third in his chest. 3:37 Interviewer: Did you see the men? Were they Islamists? 3:39 Mother: Yes, I saw them. They spoke standard Arabic (Spoken by very religious people only, or what can be called the strict clergymen) and were long-bearded and were wearing short garbs with trousers underneath. One of the three men was from Aleppo and he was seated next to the driver. 4:04 Interviewer Did you recognize him? 4:05 Mother: No, I couldn't see his face well, but I knew he was from Aleppo by his accent. He told the men to let the boy go but they refused. After they returned with the boy he was hardly able to sit down due to the torture they inflicted on him. His face was covered with his shirt. May God and punish them.
0:01 Father: I am Abd-Alwahab Katta’. My son was 14 years old and he used to sell coffee in front of “Sarj al-Lawz”. He was arguing with a customer and saying that he wouldn't buy on credit anymore even if Muhammad descended down to earth. I sell in cash only. At that moment three unidentified men were passing by and heard the boy. They were wearing short garbs and were long-haired spoke standard Arabic. They asked the boy why he was blaspheming but he denied doing so. They ordered him to get in the car and took him away. My younger son came here and told me that they took his brother. He added that they were going to punish him and get back. I said let them punish him by beating or whipping if really said blasphemous words. After half an hour they came back and put the boy near the coffee stall. My wife heard that there were a crowd of around thirty men in the street and after that we heard the sound of gunshots. My wife cried that they killed the boy because she heard a man reading from a paper. I was giving prayers when I heard two gunshots. I then rushed downstairs to find my son’s body lying on the street. After that the men ran over the boy’s arm and dashed away. 1:34 Interviewer: They said before killing the boy that God accepts the repentance if one blasphemes him unlike when one blasphemes the Prophet and in this case he deserves death. 1:42 Father: Yes, they said this and my son denied blaspheming. 1:52 Interviewer: Whom do you accuse of killing your son? Are they FSA or Islamists? 1:55 Father: I don’t know whether they were FSA, Islamist or Afghans, but they spoke standard Arabic. There are now too many battalions and I can’t distinguish one from the other. 2:05 Interviewer: What was written on the car? 2:07 Father: The car was black and there were three men inside. Those who saw them said that they carried the boy out of the car as he wasn't able to stand on his feet as a result of severe torture. 2:29 Interviewer: Did he blaspheme? 2:30 Father: No, he didn't. They asked the crowd to listen to the rule by which my son was killed. “God accepts the repentance if one blasphemes him unlike when one blasphemes the Prophet and in this case he deserves death”. 3:04 Interviewer: Are you going to file a suit? 3:07 Father: I filed a suit to the Sharia [Court] and they came here and I am waiting for what will they do. They gave me its number, here it is. 3:16 Interviewer: What did they say? 3:18 Father: They said they will deal with it.
0:01 Boy: He (one of the three men) was asking the boy (the victim) why he refused to sell on credit. The boy replied that he won’t do even if The Prophet comes down to earth. The men then asked the boy why he was blaspheming. The boy denied doing this and repeated what he said earlier and added that he is willing to give his soul for the Prophet. Then the men asked the boy to get in the car and took him inside. After half an hour or so they came back with the boy. They got him out because he couldn't stand on his feet. They carried the boy and laid him here and shot him three times. 0:32 Interviewer: Did you see the car? 0:33 Boy: Yes, I did. It was black. 0:35 Interviewer: How many there were? 0:36 Boy: They were three. Two of them get out of the car and one remained inside. 1:01 Interviewer: Can you tell what happened? 1:02 Male witness: The boy didn't say anything blasphemous. He just said that if the Prophet comes down he won’t sell on credit. That’s it. They took the boy with them and whipped him and after around an hour they came back and laid in the street and shot him in his head three times. He was 14 years old only.
The following videos were posted online today from the city of Raqqa, which has been under the control of Jihadist Syrian opposition groups for the past several weeks (Graphic)
The videos show the execution of three men described as Assad army officers, knelt in the middle of a public square, in front of a the Islamic black standard used by the Islamic State of Iraq. A speech is given to the gathered crowd, stating the execution is in retaliation for the massacres of Sunnis in Banias, Homs, and other areas, and singles out Assadists and Alawites in particular. The full speech translated into English can be read here.
But what's even more alarming about this video is the statement isn't made in the name of Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahrar al-Sham, or any other well known Jihadists groups in Syria like you might expect, but The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham.
The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham is Jihadist group announced by the leader of the The Islamic State of Iraq, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, made up of the al-Qaeda tied Islamic State of Iraq, and Jabhat al-Nusra, reported here:
Al-Qaeda in Iraq – released a recorded audio message by its leader, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, in which he announced that the Syria jihadi group Jabhat Al-Nusra (JN) has been merely an extension of ISI in Syria. Al-Baghdadi confirms that Jabhat Al-Nusra has been receiving monthly funds from ISI. In this vein, Al-Baghdadi announces that the names ISI and JN are not to be used anymore; instead, he declares the official merging of the two groups under the name "Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham."
Although videos have been posted from groups claiming to be part of The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham as far as I'm aware this is the first time that a statement like this has been made by The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham inside Syria. It seems to be a very significant event, almost a coming out party for the organisation in Syria, and executing three men for alleged crimes they had no direct hand in seems to be making a statement of intent.
Today I was made aware of this video posted on the pro-opposition news24deiralzour Youtube channel, apparently showing a man being executed titled "execution of a Shabih who tampered with the Quran and likened Bashar to Allah almighty"
Having searched for earlier versions of this video it appears it was first posted on the KatibatAhfadAlrasool Harem Youtube channel, titled "one of Assad's dogs executed in Harem". Harem is a small town in the Idlib region, located here, and the Ahfad al-Rasul [Grandchildren of the Prophet] brigade are believed to be a Jihadist/Salafist brigade operating outside of the FSA, who have been previously been involved with attacks on the Syrian military and security apparatus, including bombings in Damascus in co-operation with the Jihadist/Salafist group Ansar al-Islam
According to the description on the video, and discussion on various pro-opposition forums (for example here) the executed man was a officer in the Syrian Army (variously described as a sergeant major, sergeant, and lieutenant) who was apparently executed for writing pro-Assad slogans that transposed the word "God" with "Assad", which distorted a Koranic verse, committing heresy.
One translator I spoke to said he believed at one point in the video one of the men says "this is the dog who wrote [what sounds like] 'it all belongs to Bashar al-Assad'", and believes it might relate to a popular Jihadist verse "fight them until there is no more strife in the land, and faith belongs entirely to God", with "God" being replaced with "Assad". As of yet it's unclear if any other circumstances surround the execution, but it may relate to this video posted on the same day showing a large number of men arrested by Ahfad al-Rasul in the same region
Update December 31st Something else pointed out to me is that at the end of the video someone says "whoever shot from here, you hit the boy, whoever shot from here, you shot the boy, look!", and a poster on this forum berates the execution, stating a man nearby was shot accidentally during the execution.
This video showing what appears to be around 20 bound, blindfolded, and mostly shoeless men apparently executed was posted on the Salman Al Farisi Battalion Facebook page
It's described as "The end of the security (forces) at the hands of Salman Al Farisi battalion, Free Al Bab Brigade", and the writing on the bonnet of the vehicle at the beginning of the video reads "Brigade of the Free of Al Bab and the East, Sulliman Al Farisi Battalion" and "FSA". The location of the video appears to be "Saba'a Bahrat" in Aleppo.
A post made a few minutes later claims that the Salman Al Farisi Battalion destroyed 3 tanks, and killed a bus load of army and shabiha members, in a joint operation with Al-Nusra Front. It's unclear if it's related to the above video.
The Facebook account appears to have been opened on June 10th, 2012, and has used other Youtube channels in the past, so it appears to be a genuine opposition battalion.
Update September 10thThe Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has picked up on this and posted an additional video from the scene apparently showing members of the group responsible with the bodies
In one of the videos showing the executed soldiers, a narrator claims that a rebel battalion called Salman al-Farisi was responsible for killing the men. A man who claimed to be a representative of the battalion, contacted through its Facebook page, condemned the killings but said he was not sure whether members of the militia were responsible for them. The video of the executions was subsequently removed from the battalion’s Facebook page.
Update October 4thNow Lebanon reports Al-Nusra Front has claimed responsibility for the executions, from their statement
God enabled the mujahedeen of the Al-Nusra Front in the city of Aleppo
to capture and kill 20 heretic soldiers from the Hanano military post
The image described in the Now Lebanon article appears in this article, apparently showing a member of Al-Nusra Front in the process of executing the prisoners.
Two videos have emerged from Aleppo showing a alleged shabiha in the custody of the FSA, then executed
A statement that was posted on the Aleppo Tawheed (Unification) Brigade Facebook page said that the man in the video, Mohammad Sa'ab, had been put on trial due to his involvement in the killing of dozens of protesters in Sukkari district of Aleppo. He confessed to murdering the Zreig family, kidnapping, rape and further murders, financing Shabiha, and informing on Air Force intelligence on the activists Nur and Mohammed Khairallah from Andan.
The court ruled that he should be executed and the sentence was carried out in front of a crowd of 2000 people in the Sukkari district on September 5th, followed by celebrations among the local citizens.
The above is based on the statement provided by the brigade, so it's not possible to independently confirm the details, nor confirm the individual executed was guilty of the crimes he was accused of and confessed to, nor is it possible to confirm the events surrounding his confession and execution.
As reported by Sky News footage has emerged showing a violent execution of alleged shabiha in Aleppo.
Allegedly Liwaa Attawhid, Aleppo's Unification Brigade, were responsible for the killing, and I've spoken to a number of activists to gather more information on the situation surrounding the executions.
According to activists, the men killed belonged to the Berri clan, a notorious Aleppo based shabiha, with some estimating the clan has around 5000 members. Activists allege the Berri clan were involved in various criminal activities, including drug dealing and arms dealing, as well as being used as militia by the Assad government, a role in which they are accused of rape, torture and murder. One of the men killed was the leader of the Berri clan, Zaino Berri, and his brother, Hussein Berri, is reportedly a member of the Syrian Parliament.
According to reports from activists the FSA captured the Berri clan's HQ in Al Neirab (the same location where a police station was captured today) after a fierce gun battle that left several FSA members dead, leading to the capture of Zaino Berri and other members of his clan, among other prisoners
This video in Arabic was recently posted showing the commander in charge of Berri explaining the circumstances of the execution
Update August 1st The Guardian Middle East Live Blog has some additional information about the events surrounding the execution, including this quote
Today, the Barris killed one of the rebels in Al Marjah district. The FSA then entered the Barri's stronghold. They captured the clan’s leaders. They killed some of those who resisted, families and children were allowed to leave the neighbourhood.
I am sure that everyone in Aleppo, be pro-regime, anti-regime or those in the middle, are happy today with their demise.
Update August 1st The Angry Arab blog also has a piece on the execution, with details of the religious affiliation of the Berri clan, details of their activity, and the reason for the execution.
Update August 1st Ivan Watson of CNN Tweeted the following
Spokesman for rebel Tawheed brigade claims responsibility for execution of 10 suspected members of Berri Shabiha yesterday in Aleppo
Regarding the video of the shabiha killed by the FSA, as far as I know these shabiha are from the "Berri" clan in Aleppo. They have a long history of being pro-regime shabiha and they have been involved in a lot of killing in Aleppo.
The regime used to provide them with light weapons and knives and gather them in schools to go and launch their attacks against civilians. Just before they left one of the schools they were caught by the FSA and killed.
In this war in which we left alone to fight such a vicious regime, everything is possible and legitimate and as long as the international community keeps looking at Syria in such carelessness, you will see more of that and even worse.
Update August 1st The Guardian has spoklen to Basheer al-Haji, "media speaker of the Tawheed ("Unity") Brigade in Aleppo"
We were in a truce with the Berri clan, which are shabiha clan. We asked them to stay at home and not to support any part of the fight but they did not comply to the truce.
We were attacking one of the police stations in the city and Berri clan began shooting against us from behind. They killed 15 members of the FSA. We were in big clashes with them and were able to kill 20 of them and arrest another 50.
Then we held a field trial for them. We have judges and lawyers who are in the opposition. They found that seven of the Berri clan were involved in killing and they decided to execute them. Others are kept for trial after the collapse of the regime.
We are keeping a lot of prisoners for trial after the collapse of the regime as long as their hands are clean of the Syrian people's blood, otherwise we kill them immediately.
Chiefs of Baggara, Berri & other pro Assad Tribes in Aleppo met this morning and announce arming themselves for vengeance.
I'm being told that among the tribes that net are Hasasne & Zeido. Together with Baggara & Berry, they have no less than 20k fighters.
I think Aleppo is going to witness a major war: FSA against Assad Forces & Arab tribes who want retribution for death of Zaido Berri.
Update August 1st This video was Tweeted by J. David Goodman appearing to show the FSA inside Zaino Berri's home
Update August 1st J. David Goodman has put together a post on the New York Times covering the reaction to the execution and the story behind it. The Syrian also has an article on the execution in Arabic.
Two very disturbing videos have been posted on Youtube today showing alleged extrajudicial punishments performed by members of the FSA. The first, posted by Anonymous Syria, shows a man described as being an informant to the Syrian intelligence services being thrown out a third story window
This is allegedly the Nour Battalion, who I believe are based around Nabak.
The next video, via the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights allegedly shows the execution of an alleged shabiha by the FSA AlQa'aqa battalion, and due to it's graphic nature you can view it by clicking here.
As with most videos from Syria it's difficult to be certain of the authenticity of these videos, but they did spark a debate on Twitter, here's some of the comments:
All Syrians should be sickened by this. WE CANT ALLOW Assad to steel OUR HUMANITY! Hes turning us into him! This is a gift to Assad and no-one else. In the eyes of the world, we will again be animals.
Updated June 16th Two earlier graphic videos were also posted last week showing more evidence of alleged extrajudicial punishments by the FSA. The first graphic video, shows the corpse of a captured colonel, who the men on the video accuse of murder, robbery, abducting woman and forcing other soldiers to shoot on civilians. The second graphic video is an alleged shabiha leader, who appears to have possibly been shot in the forehead.
