ISIS hit list names Muslim politicians in the west

In what could be deemed as bid to unleash fresh terror and stir its followers, the Islamic State has released a hit list that includes moderate Muslims in the west.

Published in IS' propaganda magazine Dabiq, the list is centered on Muslim politicians in western countries who the terror group considers as apostates. Christian Today quotes part of the Dabiq article that says IS supporters should "wage jihad by himself with the resources available to him (knives, guns, explosives etc) to kill the crusaders and other disbelievers and apostates... to make an example of them."

The list includes representative Keith Ellison, the first Muslim to be part of U.S. Congress, as well as Huma Abedin, top aide to presidential candidate Hilary Clinton.

"The fact that I'm on Daesh's [ISIS'] bad side means I am fighting for things like justice, tolerance, and a more inclusive world," Ellison said in a statement. "As millions of faithful Muslims flee Daesh's imposed nightmare they call a 'caliphate', Daesh takes the time to threaten Muslim public servants in the West, like myself and my friend Huma Abedin. Daesh is a collection of liars, murderers, torturers, and rapists. No Muslim I know recognizes what they preach as Al-Islam."

Sajid Javid, British Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, and Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, the first Muslim woman in the British cabinet, are also included. CNS News reported other names: Mohamed Elibiary, former member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council; Arif Alikhan, who had taken different positions in law enforcement and homeland security; and Rashad Hussain, former envoy of the United States to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. 

Those listed are said to have been described as "overt crusaders" as well as "politically active apostates." They apparently "involve themselves in the politics and enforcing laws of the kufr [disbelievers]."

CNS News said that Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, is not named but his photo is posted in the magazine.

"Our life and death are in the hands of God," Awad said, as quoted by Christian Today. "I believe this threat is a reflection of the outstanding work CAIR does in opposing the anti-Islamic message and brutal actions of ISIS and other terror groups. The best response to such threats is to continue challenging extremism, whether it is espoused by organizations like ISIS or by Islamophobes who seek to demonize Islam based on that group's brutality."

According to The New York Post, the propaganda magazine also celebrated the bombings in Brussels, Belgium, and featured Khalid and his brother Ibrahim El Bakraoui, two of the jihadists responsible for the attacks. Dabiq claimed that the two were carjackers and bank robbers, and it was in prison in Belgium that they joined the Islamic State. Two other people were named: Najim Laachraoui, said to have been the one who made the bombs for both Paris and Brussels attacks and who blew himself up at the airport in Brussels; and Mohamed Belkaid, who assisted him but was killed in a police raid prior to the attacks.

"Paris was a warning. Brussels was a reminder. What is yet to come will be more devastating and more bitter by the permission of Allah, and Allah prevails," the magazine said.