ISIS slams rivals as 'Jews of Jihad'

The hashtag, written mostly in Arabic and English, has been used to disparage the leader of al-Qaida, Ayman Zawahiri, and his organization's affiliates.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

JUNE 7, 2016 16:13

Updated: JUNE 7, 2016 16:28

Al-Qaida militants. (photo credit: REUTERS) — Al-Qaida militants.

(photo credit: REUTERS)

Supporters of the Islamic State have continued to refer to arch rival terrorist organization Al-Qaida as the "Jews of Jihad" on Twitter, The Middle East Media Research Institute reported Monday, using the hashtag as a derogatory term based on the claim that the two share the same negative qualities.

The hashtag first made its appearance on the Internet in January 2016 in an article titled "The Jews of Jihad: Al-Zawahiri's Al-Qaida" by prominent pro-ISIS supporter Abu Maysara Al-Shami. The article was written as a condemnation for an alleged conspiracy concocted by al-Qaida to join the ranks of ISIS in order to destroy the Islamist group from within.

The Jews of Jihad #AQ & the scumbag Zawahiri! Zawahiri lives in Iran with his brothers Rafidha !!! https://t.co/n74ektdWVX
— Abu Musab Al-Amreeki (@alamreeki12) May 11, 2016

Al-Shami's description of Al-Qaida as Jews is based on his comparison between this suggested plan and a widely-held Sunni belief that Shia Islam was initially founded by the Jews to divert Muslims away from their religion, according to MEMRI.

Rafidah, Nusayris, Crusaders, VSO, Jews of Jihad: Tis but a push of a button & we light up the sky with your corpses pic.twitter.com/rthHpA3vYa
— Abu Suleiman (@Abu___Suleiman) June 4, 2016

The hashtag, written mostly in Arabic and English, has been used to disparage the leader of al-Qaida, Ayman Zawahiri, and his organization's affiliates it Syria, Somalia, Yemen, along with members of the Taliban.

The most recent tweet using the term "Jews of Jihad" was tweeted on May 27, 2016, by ISIS supporter Abu Suleiman, who wrote: " @al_maqal_pubz This coming from the Jews of Jihad who were given plenty of opportunity to repent? Lol, lose with dignity scumbag!," MEMRI noted.