So-called “mainstream” Western media is universally claiming that Abu Muhammad al-Julani (also commonly spelled al-Golani, al-Jolani, al-Jawlani), who’s real name is Ahmed al-Sharaa, publicly renounced al-Qaeda in July, 2016.
This is provably false.
In July of 2016, al-Qaeda leader Abu Muhammad al-Julani announced that the Syrian al-Qaeda franchise was changing its name from Jabhat al-Nusra (Nusra Front) to Jabhat Fatah al-Sham [JBS] and would no longer be a franchise of al-Qaeda.
Al-Qaeda’s international leaders Ayman al Zawahiri and Ahmad Hasan Abu al Khayr both made public statements authorizing the split. However, most notably, neither al-Julani nor al-Zawahiri ever declared that al-Julani was released from his oath of fealty to al-Zawahiri.
In his 2016 declaration, al-Julani praised the al-Qaeda leadership, including the late Osama bin Laden, and also praised the ideology of al-Qaeda. He says the official split with al-Qaeda was for diplomatic reasons. He said both Russia and the USA were jointly bombing Muslims in Syria under the pretense of targeting al-Qaeda. So, they wanted to remove al-Qaeda’s name from the picture to undermine the rhetoric of the US and Russian governments.
al-Julani went on to say that the goal of JBS was to carry out a holy war against the secular government of Syria and create a new government based on Islamic Sharia law. JBS continued to command large formations of foreign jihadists that were part of official non-Arab al-Qaeda support clubs.
Note that JBS rebranded again in 2017 as Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham [HTS]. The purpose of this rebrand was to officially merge JBS with other smaller Salafist and Islamist fighter groups. However, the al-Nusra/JBS leadership remained in command. Also, the 2017 rebrand did away with black al-Qaeda-style flags for a more mainstream-looking white and green flag with a Greek-looking border around the shahada.
Transcript:
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all and may the peace and blessing of Allah be upon His Messenger, Muhammad, his family and his companions. As for what is to follow, to my fellow Muslims everywhere, to the honorable people of Syria: Assalam alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.
We would like to thank our brothers, the commanders of Al Qaeda in general, Dr. Sheikh Ayman al Zawahiri and his vice [deputy], Sheikh Ahmad Hasan Abu al Khayr especially, may Allah protect them. We thank them for their stance, whereby they gave priority to the interests of the people of Al Sham, their Jihad, their revolution, as well as their proper assessment of the general benefits [of] the Jihad. This noble stance will be recorded in the annals of history. Their blessed leadership has, and shall continue to be, an exemplar of putting the needs of the community and their higher interests before the interest of any individual group. They have practically implemented the words of Sheikh Osama bin Laden (may Allah have mercy on him), when he said, “The interests of the Ummah take precedence over the interest of any state; the interests of the state take precedence over the interest of any Jama’ah (group); the interests of the Jama’ah (group) take precedence over any individual.”
We, or the central command of Jabhat Al-Nusrah, in accordance with the general guidelines and directives of the aforementioned leadership, our obligations in serving the people of Al-Sham and their Jihad, lightening the weight upon the shoulders of the people, without compromising or sacrificing our solid beliefs, or laxity in the necessity of the continuity of the Jihad of Al Sham, which we will continue protecting, using all Islamically legitimate means which assist in the attainment of these objectives or ends in the achievement of these lofty goals as we strive to bridge the gaps between the groups of Mujahideen and ourselves, we hope to form a unified body, whose basis is Al Shura [consultation], uniting the masses of the people of Al Sham, liberating their lands, giving victory to their faith and upholding their testimony of faith, fulfilling the requests of the people of Al Sham to expose the deceptions of the international community, the leaders being the US and Russia, in their relentless bombardment and displacement of the Muslim masses of Al Sham under the pretense of targeting Jabhat al Nusrah, an al Qaeda affiliate.
For the aforementioned reasons, we declare the complete cancellation of all operations under the name of Jabhat Al Nusrah, and the formation of a new group operating under the name “Jabhat Fath Al Sham,” noting that this new organization has no affiliation to any external entity.
This new organization aims to fulfill the following:
[1] – To work toward establishing the religion of Allah (swt), having His shari’ah (law) as legislation, establish justice amongst all people.
2 – Strive toward unity with all groups, in order to unify the ranks of the Mujahideen and liberate the land of Al Sham from the rule of the tyrant [Bashar al Assad] and his allies. Allah (swt) said [Koranic verse]: “And hold onto the rope of Allah all of you together and do not be disunited.”
3 – Protect the Jihad of Al Sham and assure its continuity, utilizing all Islamically legitimate means to do so.
4 – Strive to serve the Muslims, attending to their daily needs and ease their hardship in every possible way.
5 – Ensure security, stability and honorable life for the general masses.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all.
Your brother, Abu Muhammad al Julani.
