Towards the “olive trees of Rome”: exploitation of propaganda devices in the Islamic State’s flagship magazine “Rumiyah”

ABSTRACT

This paper aims to contribute to understanding how the last flagship magazine of the Islamic State - “Rumiyah” - attempted to influence and manipulate Internet users. Its primary objective is to analyze the propaganda methods exploited in all thirteen issues of this magazine. In order to do so this paper utilises content analysis to investigate “propaganda devices”, a concept developed by the American Institute for Propaganda Analysis. It argues that there were four predominant groups of propaganda devices exploited in this magazine. Two of them, i.e. name-calling and glittering generalities, were utilized to create and promote an artificial, black-and-white vision of the world, composed of the “camp of kufr” (camp of disbelief) and the “camp of iman” (camp of faith), embodied by the Islamic State. The third leading propaganda method, transfer, attempted to legitimize the actions and agenda of the “Caliphate” by using the authority of not only Allah, but also the Prophet Muhammad, his companions (Sahabah), as well as selectively chosen Islamic scholars. Finally, the bandwagon served as a means of creating a sense of community between the editors and readers. Other propaganda devices, such as testimonial or plain folks, played strictly secondary roles in the narration of the magazine.

KEYWORDS:

• Rumiyah
• jihad
• terrorism
• Islamic State
• Daesh
• propaganda

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Alexander and Alexander, The Islamic State, 72.

2. See e.g. Bari Atwan, Islamic State, 125.

3. Lister, Al-Qaeda, 241.

4. Ibid.

5. Ingram, “An Analysis of Islamic State’s Dabiq Magazine,” 474.

6. “Among the Believers Are Men: Shaykh Abu Sulayman Ash-Shami,” Rumiyah 8 (2017), 45.

7. Peter Wignell et al., “A Mixed Methods Empirical Examination,” 2.

8. Lakomy, “Cracks in the Online ‘Caliphate’,” 49.

9. Dabiq was easily recaptured from the hands of the IS’s militants in October 2016 by the pro-Turkish rebels. See Withnall, “Isis Losses ‘Prophesied’ Town of Dabiq.”

10. Later on, a new series of periodicals attempting to replace ‘Dabiq’ and ‘Rumiyah’ emerged. One of them was Ahlut-Tawhid Publication’s newsletter entitled ‘From Dabiq to Rome.’ See Lakomy, “Picturing the Islamic State’s Online Propaganda.

11. See more in: Auerbach and Castronovo, “Introduction,” 6.

12. Sproule, “Authorship and Origins of the Seven Propaganda Devices,” 135.

13. See Koa, “Techniques of Strategic Political Communication”; Khriyenko, “Propaganda Barometer”; Kadir and bin Abu Hasan, “A Content Analysis of Propaganda”; and Wright and Bachmann, “Inciting Criminal Violence.”

14. See Sproule, “Authorship and Origins.”

15. See “Ahmad Abousamra,” Counter Extremism Project, https://www.counterextremism.com/extremists/ahmad-abousamra.

16. ‘The spark has been lit here in Iraq, and its heat will continue to intensify – by Allah’s permission – until it burns the crusader armies in Dabiq.’ It was a clear reference to the decisive battle of Dabiq, between the forces of Christendom and Muslims, which will precede the ‘Hour.’ See “Contents,” Dabiq 4, (2014), 2.

17. Rumiyah 6, (2017), 1.

18. “Just Terror Tactics,” Rumiyah 3, (2016), 10–12.

19. “Just Terror Tactics: Arson Attacks,” Rumiyah 5, (2017), 8–10.

20. “Just Terror Tactics: Hostage Taking,” Rumiyah 9, (2017), 46–51.

21. On a side note, the second issue of ‘Rumiyah,’ which discussed knife attacks and techniques of decapitations, compared cutting throats to slaughtering a sheep, which may be understood as a reference to the popular custom of ritual slaughter (dhabihah) in Islam. See “Just Terror Tactics,” Rumiyah 2, (2016), 12–3.

22. Abul-Hasan al-Muhajir, “Be Patient For Indeed The Promise of Allah Is True,” Rumiyah 9, (2017).

23. See “Foreword,” Rumiyah 3, (2016), 2–3.

24. See e.g. “The Religion of Islam,” Rumiyah 2, (2016), 14–6.

25. See e.g. “Military and Covert Operations,” Rumiyah 6, (2017), 26–9.

26. See “Wala and Bara, O Women,” Rumiyah 6, (2017), 22–4.

27. The legitimization of suicide operations and the promotion of martyrdom was done, among others, through the ‘Among the Believers Are Men’ section. See e.g. “Among the Believers Are Men,” Rumiyah 8, (2017).

28. See “The Kafir’s Wealth Is Halal for You, so Take It,” Rumiyah 8, (2017), 13.

29. See “Only Those of His Slaves with Knowledge,” Rumiyah 7, (2017), 14–17.

30. “The Dunya,” Rumiyah 7, (2017), 10.

31. Various religious matters were frequently discussed in the form of infographics. See e.g. “Ways to Atone Sins,” Rumiyah 6, (2017), 25.

32. “The Kafir’s Wealth Is Halal,” Rumiyah 8, (2017), 15.

33. “Important Memorandums,” Rumiyah 2, (2016), 4–6.

34. “Be a Supporter, Not a Demoralizer,” Rumiyah 10, (2017), 16–19.

35. “Inside the Khilafah,” Rumiyah 12, (2017), 3.

36. “Among the Believers Are Men,” Rumiyah 8, (2017), 40–41.

37. “How to Detect Propaganda,” 52.

38. On the authority of Allah and Prophet Muhammad see: Robin, “Crisis of Authority,” 339–54.

39. Abul-Hasan al-Muhajir, “Be Patient For Indeed The Promise of Allah,” Rumiyah 9, (2017), 28.

40. “The Woman Is a Shepherd,” Rumiyah 9, (2017), 18.

41. See Miron Lakomy, “One of the Two Good Outcomes.”

42. “The Kafir’s Blood Is Halal For You,” Rumiyah 1, (2016).

43. “Collateral Carnage,” Rumiyah 5, (2017), 6.

44. “The Position of Imamah In The Religion,” Rumiyah 13, (2017), 16.

45. Ibid.

46. See e.g. Zafar and Ayaz, “Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) in Light of the Golden Words.”

47. Abu Bakr al-Husayni al-Baghdadi, “This Is What Allah,” Rumiyah 3, (2016), 6.

48. “Collateral Carnage,” Rumiyah 5, (2017), 7.

49. “Establishing the Islamic State Part 2,” Rumiyah 8, (2017), 11.

50. “The Position of Imamah In The Religion,” Rumiyah 13, (2017), 15.

51. “Important Memorandums,” Rumiyah 10, (2017), 12.

52. Sproule, “Authorship and Origins of the Seven Propaganda Devices,” 136.

53. Ibid.

54. Using virtue words in reference to Allah and Prophet Mohammad is a tradition in Islam. Thus, it cannot be defined as glittering generalities. See as-Sa’di, Explanation of the Beautiful and Perfect Names of Allah.

55. “Among the Believers Are Men,” Rumiyah 1, (2016), 15.

56. “Stand and Die Upon That for Which Your Brothers Died,” Rumiyah 1, (2016), 2.

57. “Operations,” Rumiyah 1, (2016), 22.

58. “The Religion of Islam,” Rumiyah 1, (2016), 6.

59. Umm Salaym al-Muhajirah, “The Hijrah,” Rumiyah 13, (2017), 31.

60. See note 48 above.

61. See e.g. “The Twelver Rafidah. From Fabricated Claim,” Rumiyah 9, (2017).

62. Eliraz, “The Aceh-based Militant Network,” 3.

63. Sulayman Ibn Abdillah ibn Muhammad ibn Abdil-Wahhab, “Those Who Seek the Judgment of the Tawaghit,” Rumiyah 8, (2017), 35.

64. See e.g. “The Twelver Rafidah,” Rumiyah 10, (2017).

65. Lakomy, “One of the Two Good Outcomes,” 11.

66. See “Be a Supporter, Not a Demoralizer,” Rumiyah 10, (2017), 17.

67. See Welch, The Third Reich Politics and Propaganda, 82–91.

68. “The Twelver Rafidah. From Fabricated Claim,” Rumiyah 9, (2017), 36–8.

69. “Just Terror Tactics,” Rumiyah 9, (2017), 46.

70. Ibid., 48–9.

71. “Establishing the Islamic State Part 2,” Rumiyah 8, (2017), 9–11.

72. “The Position of Imamah In The Religion,” Rumiyah 13, (2017), 17.

73. Abul-Hasan al-Muhajir, “And When The Believers Saw The Confederates,” Rumiyah 11, (2017), 21.

74. See note 55 above.

75. “The Kafir’s Blood Is Halal For You,” Rumiyah 1, (2016), 35.

76. “The Religion of Islam,” Rumiyah 1, (2016), 7.

77. Abul-Hasan al-Muhajir, “You Will Remember,” Rumiyah 4, (2016), 7.

78. Umm Musa al-Finlandiyyah, “What They Never Told Me,” Rumiyah 7, (2017), 19.

79. “Among the Believers Are Men,” Rumiyah 8, (2017), 41.

80. Abul-Hasan al-Muhajir, “And When The Believers Saw The Confederates,” Rumiyah 11, (2017), 20–21.

81. See Abu Dujanah al-Bengali, “The Shuhada Of the Gulshan Attack,” Rumiyah 2, (2016), 8–11.

82. Abul-Hasan al-Muhajir, “You Will Remember,” Rumiyah 4, (2016), 5.

83. Abu Dujanah al-Bengali, “The Shuhada Of the Gulshan Attack,” Rumiyah 2, (2016), 9.

84. See e.g. Dunning and Morris, “Rearing Cubs of the Caliphate.”

85. “The Woman Is a Shepherd,” Rumiyah 9, (2017), 20.

86. “How to Detect Propaganda,” 53.

87. “Interview With the Amir of the Soldiers,” Rumiyah 9, (2017), 52.

88. “Interview With the Military Amir,” Rumiyah 6, (2017), 34–8.

89. “Interview With the Amir,” Rumiyah 5, (2017), 14.

90. “Interview With the Amir of the Soldiers,” Rumiyah 9, (2017), 52–5.

91. “Interview With the Amir of the Soldiers,” Rumiyah 10, (2017), 41.

92. “Interview With the Amir of the Soldiers,” Rumiyah 9, (2017), 5.

93. “Interview With the Amir of the Central Office,” Rumiyah 1, (2016), 10.

94. Umm Sulaym al-Muhajirah, “The Hijrah,” Rumiyah 13, (2017).

95. “A Mujahid’s Memories From the Battle of Mosul,” Rumiyah 12, (2017).

96. Umm Musa al-Finlandiyyah, “What They Never Told Me,” Rumiyah 7, (2017), 18.

97. “How to Detect Propaganda,” 54.

98. See Lakomy, “One of the Two Good Outcomes.”

99. “Military and Covert Operations,” Rumiyah 8, (2017), 26.

100. See Oosterveld and Bloem, The Rise and Fall of ISIS.

101. “Operations,” Rumiyah 1, (2016), 26.

102. See Tyll et al., “The Impact of Economic Sanctions on Russian Economy.”

103. See al-Tamimi, “From Jabhat al-Nusra to Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.”

104. “Important Memorandums,” Rumiyah 2, (2016), 6.

105. “The Weakest House Is That Of A Spider,” Rumiyah 3, (2016), 2.

106. Abul-Hasan al-Muhajir, “You Will Remember,” Rumiyah 4, (2016), 4.

107. See note 47 above.

108. See e.g. Kovacs, “Saudi Arabia Exporting SALAFI.”

109. “Interview With the Amir of Hisbah in Sinai,” Rumiyah 5, (2017), 13.

110. See e.g. Suvorova, Muslim Saints of South Asia.

111. “The Twelver Rafidah. From A Nonexistant Imam,” Rumiyah 10, (2017).

112. “Just Terror Tactics,” Rumiyah 5, (2017), 7–8.

113. “The Ruling On The Belligerent Christians,” Rumiyah 9, (2017), 6–7.

114. See note 97 above.

115. See Ibn Burjiss, The Correct Creed that Every Muslim Must Know.

116. “Interview With The Amir Of The Soldiers,” Rumiyah 10, (2017), 37.

117. “Rely on Allah. Not on Your Equipment,” Rumiyah 7, (2017), 12–3.

118. Abu Mus’ab az-Zarqawi, “Important Advice For The Mujahidin,” Rumiyah 12, (2017), 30.

119. “The Female Slaves Of Allah,” Rumiyah 12, (2017), 36.

120. “Our Journey to Allah,” Rumiyah 11, (2017), 13.

121. “Know Your Worth, O Enemy Of The Nations,” Rumiyah 11, (2017), 55.

122. See Morris and Dunning, “Rearing Cubs of the Caliphate.”

123. “The Pledge To Fight To The Death,” Rumiyah 4, (2016), 25.

124. Abu Hamzah al-Muhajir, “Paths to Victory,” Rumiyah 2, (2016), 18.

125. “Stand and Die Upon That for Which Your Brothers Died,” Rumiyah 1, (2016), 3.

126. “The Shuhada Of The Gulshan Attack,” Rumiyah 2, (2016), 9.

127. “How to Detect Propaganda,” 53.

128. See note 96 above.

129. “Among the Believers Are Men,” Rumiyah 11, (2017), 51.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Narodowe Centrum Nauki (National Science Center in Poland) under grant no. 2017/25/B/HS5/00002.

Notes on contributors

Miron Lakomy

Miron Lakomy is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Political Sciences and Journalism, University of Silesia, Poland. He holds Ph.D. and habilitation degrees in political science. He was a Visiting Fellow at the Jesus College, University of Oxford (2018), the Robert Schuman Centre, European University Institute (2018), and a Corbridge Trust scholar at the University of Cambridge (2011; 2018), and taught in Italy (Universita degli Studi di Napoli 2011) and France (Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis 2013) under Erasmus LLP program. He is also a grant recipient of the International Council for Canadian Studies. His research interests include digital jihad, cyber security issues (cyber warfare, cyber terrorism), and military conflicts. His current research project is funded by the Polish National Science Centre.