Philippines: Terrorist Organization Pledges Allegiance To ISIS Caliphate, “We Pledge To Obey Him … And To Value Him More Than Anyone Else”

Its strength and influence seems to be growing rapidly. As more Islamist terror groups submit to the Islamic State’s authority, more will feel compelled to follow in their footsteps …

• Flashback: Jordan: Salafi Group Pledges Allegiance To Islamic State
• Flashback: Nigeria: Boko Haram Voices Support For ISIS Caliphate
• Flashback: Sudan: Salafi Group Endorses Islamic State’s New Caliphate
• Flashback: Lebanon: Sunni Jihadists Pledge Allegiance To ISIS Caliphate
• Flashback: Indonesia: Authorities Fear Support For ISIS Caliphate Spreading
• Flashback: Pakistan: Taliban-Linked Terror Organization Pledges Allegiance To ISIS Caliphate

By Maria A. Ressa, Rappler – “The Islamic State (IS), formerly known as ISIS or the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq or ISIS, is expanding its recruitment on social media in the Philippines.

On July 23, a video of senior Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon along with masked men was posted on YouTube. Hapilon carries a reward of up to $5 million from the US Rewards for Justice Program. He was indicted in the District of Columbia for ‘terrorist acts against United States nationals and other foreign nationals.’ The FBI says he was ‘the deputy or second in command for the foreign terrorist organization, the Abu Sayyaf.’

The propaganda video begins with still photos establishing the notoriety of Hapilon: his encircled photo on posters of most wanted terrorists from the United States, which include al-Qaeda’s leaders. Al-Qaeda’s symbolic black flag, which is being used by extremist groups in more than 20 countries around the world (including the foreign fighters of ISIS), peppers the opening montage.

In the video clip that lasts a little more than 6 minutes, Hapilon, wearing a black gown, links arms with men, most of whom hide their faces. Using a combination of his native dialect, Yakan, and Arabic, Hapilon and his men swear allegiance or ‘bay’ah,’ an oath, to IS and its head, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

‘We pledge bay’ah to Caliph Sheikh Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Ibrahim Awwad Al-Qurashi Al-Husseini for loyalty and obedience in adversity and comfort,’ says Hapilon, reading from a sheet of paper. The men, ostensibly members of the Abu Sayyaf, linking arms with him in the video recite the oath after him.

‘We pledge to obey him on anything which our hearts desire or not and to value him more than anyone else,’ Hapilon leads the men. ‘We will not take any emir other than him unless we see in him any obvious act of disbelief that could be questioned by Allah in the hereafter.'” Read more.

Flashback: ISIS Caliphate Leader To Muslim World: ‘Obey Me’ – “The leader of ISIS, al-Bagdhadi, has given a message to the entire Muslim world: ‘obey me…’ The entire message goes as follows: ‘The mujahedeen have been rewarded victory by God after years of jihad and they were able to achieve their aim and hurried to announce the caliphate and choose the Imam… It is a burden to accept this responsibility to be in charge of you…I am not better than you or more virtuous than you. If you see me on the right path, help me. If you see me on the wrong path, advise me and halt time. And obey me as far as I obey God.’ What happens to those who do not obey? Here is a photo of one of Baghdadi’s recent victims …” Read more.