Qal3ah

Al-Qal3ah, Qal3ah, or Qal3ati ( _ar. القلعة, "al-qalʻah" — "the 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, [http://www.sofir.org/sarchives/004190.php SOFIR article on the web presence Sa'ad Al-Faqih] , May 2005] but all are down as of 23 February 2007. The Islamist-extremist watchdog group Society for Internet Research [http://www.sofir.org Society for Internet Research (SOFIR)] ] 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. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1524779,00.html UK-based dissident denies link to website that carried al-Qaida claim] , The Guardian] But on July 9, 2005, "The Guardian" reportedc] 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 "jihadi forum" by SOFIR.c] Such claims cite as evidence that Sa'ad Al-Faqih has been identified by the United States Treasury as having financially assisted Al Qaeda. [http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/js2164.htm US Treasury blacklists Sa'ad al-Faqih] ] The mirrors' Internet Service Providers included Everyones Internet and PIPEX.

References

External links

* [http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.qal3ah.org Wayback Machine archive of qal3ah.org]