Qal3ah
Encyclopedia
Al-Qal3ah, Qal3ah, or Qal3ati ' onMouseout='HidePop("33243")' href="/topics/Castle">castle
"; the 3 is an ASCII representation
of the Arabic
ع ) was an Internet forum
infamous for being the site of announcements and discussions by Islamic extremists. Postings included several videos of the decapitation
of hostages by Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi
's group in Iraq
. The website had upwards of ten mirrors
, but all are down as of 23 February 2007. The Islamist-extremist watchdog group Society for Internet Research claim that the forums were owned by the Muslim reformist Sa'ad Al-Faqih
(or al-Fagih).
On the same day as the 7 July 2005 London bombings
, the Qal3ah forum carried a posting which took responsibility for those bombings.
But on July 9, 2005, The Guardian
reported that al-Faqih denied ownership of the site and claimed that the accusation was a "Zionist smear."
Al-Qal3ah was registered in Abu Dhabi
, capital of the United Arab Emirates
. The site officially distanced itself from terrorist and pro-terrorism activity, maintaining that it was a discussion forum for religious
and political
views and issues. However, it has been labelled as a cover for a "jihad
i forum" by SOFIR. Such claims cite as evidence that Sa'ad Al-Faqih has been identified by the United States Treasury as having financially assisted Al Qaeda. The mirrors' Internet Service Provider
s included Everyones Internet and PIPEX.
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
"; the 3 is an ASCII representation
Arabic Chat Alphabet
The Arabic chat alphabet, Arabizi, Arabish or Araby, , is an alphabet used to communicate in the Arabic language over the Internet or for sending messages via cellular phones when the actual Arabic alphabet is unavailable for technical reasons...
of the Arabic
Arabic alphabet
The Arabic alphabet or Arabic abjad is the Arabic script as it is codified for writing the Arabic language. It is written from right to left, in a cursive style, and includes 28 letters. Because letters usually stand for consonants, it is classified as an abjad.-Consonants:The Arabic alphabet has...
ع ) was an Internet forum
Internet forum
An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived...
infamous for being the site of announcements and discussions by Islamic extremists. Postings included several videos of the decapitation
Decapitation
Decapitation is the separation of the head from the body. Beheading typically refers to the act of intentional decapitation, e.g., as a means of murder or execution; it may be accomplished, for example, with an axe, sword, knife, wire, or by other more sophisticated means such as a guillotine...
of hostages by Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi ; October 30, 1966 – June 7, 2006), born Ahmad Fadeel al-Nazal al-Khalayleh was a Jordanian militant Islamist who ran a paramilitary training camp in Afghanistan...
's group in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. The website had upwards of ten mirrors
Mirror (computing)
In computing, a mirror is an exact copy of a data set. On the Internet, a mirror site is an exact copy of another Internet site.Mirror sites are most commonly used to provide multiple sources of the same information, and are of particular value as a way of providing reliable access to large downloads...
, but all are down as of 23 February 2007. The Islamist-extremist watchdog group Society for Internet Research claim that the forums were owned by the Muslim reformist Sa'ad Al-Faqih
Sa'ad Al-Faqih
Dr Sa'ad Rashed Mohammad al-Faqih , also known as Sa'ad Al-Fagih, Sa'ad Al-Fakih or Sa'ad Al-Faki is a Muslim Saudi national who heads the Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia . He lives in London and was a professor of surgery at King Saud University in Riyadh until 1994...
(or al-Fagih).
On the same day as the 7 July 2005 London bombings
7 July 2005 London bombings
The 7 July 2005 London bombings were a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks in the United Kingdom, targeting civilians using London's public transport system during the morning rush hour....
, the Qal3ah forum carried a posting which took responsibility for those bombings.
But on July 9, 2005, The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
reported that al-Faqih denied ownership of the site and claimed that the accusation was a "Zionist smear."
Al-Qal3ah was registered in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
, capital of the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. The site officially distanced itself from terrorist and pro-terrorism activity, maintaining that it was a discussion forum for religious
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
and political
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
views and issues. However, it has been labelled as a cover for a "jihad
Jihad
Jihad , an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. In Arabic, the word jihād translates as a noun meaning "struggle". Jihad appears 41 times in the Quran and frequently in the idiomatic expression "striving in the way of God ". A person engaged in jihad is called a mujahid; the plural is...
i forum" by SOFIR. Such claims cite as evidence that Sa'ad Al-Faqih has been identified by the United States Treasury as having financially assisted Al Qaeda. The mirrors' Internet Service Provider
Internet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
s included Everyones Internet and PIPEX.