CORRECTED: Former Hamas Leader Calls For Protests in 'Arab and Islamic Worlds'

A note from the editor, Monday, October 16:

Causes remains committed to our goal of sharing accurate, unbiased coverage of Congressional bills and news. We strive to be the antithesis of online misinformation. 

Our initial headline read: "Former Hamas Leader Calls For 'Global Day of Jihad'". We were aware, when first publishing this article on Friday, October 13, that there were nuances to the translation of Khaled Meshaal's statement. For this reason, we have always ended this article with an unedited, unabridged copy of Meshaal's statement.

Meshaal - the founder and former leader of Hamas - specifically called for protests in the "Arab and Islamic worlds." He concluded his statement to Reuters with a reference to "jihad":

"To all scholars who teach jihad for the sake of God and who preach the fighters and martyrs, to all who teach and learn, this is a moment of application [of theories], so that words are not just words."

We - I - made the editorial choice to end with a full transcript of Meshaal's words, hoping this would mitigate - at least on Causes - the debate over what was said, translated, and mistranslated. 

I appreciate everyone who reached out via email or comments. In retrospect, we should have included an explanation that "jihad" literally translates to "struggle" - not always an armed struggle - and that Islam differentiates between the "greater jihad" and "lesser jihad." 

Similarly, we always - and will continue - to differentiate between Islam, Radical Muslim terrorism, and Political Islam. 

When we fail to reach this standard, we should be called out. There are no nuances to this: Meshaal did not use the phrase "a global day of jihad." Causes - I - should not have used the phrase in our headline. Though the day has passed, I have changed the headline to accurately reflect Meshaal's statement last week. I have also added an explanation of "jihad" and its two forms.

We are aware of the power of words and how they can be weaponized; how online misinformation can ferment into real-world violence.

Thank you for taking the time to reach out, in comments and emails, on this matter. We will try to do better moving forward.

Josh Herman

-Editor, Causes.com

What’s the story?

• National security advisors are calling on Jewish institutions to be vigilant after a former Hamas leader called for protests in "the Arab and Islamic worlds" on Oct. 13, 2023.
• The claim originated with former leader Khalid Mashal, who posted online urging for a “Friday of the Al-Aqsa Flood,” calling on “Palestinian people, the masses of the Arab and Islamic world, and free people worldwide” to participate in its “declaration of mobilization.”
• Mashal, who led Hamas from 2014 to 2017, said: 

"[We must] head to the squares and streets of the Arab and Islamic world on Friday."

• He continued:

“Tribes of Jordan, sons of Jordan, brothers and sisters of Jordan…This is a moment of truth and the borders are close to you, you all know your responsibility. To all scholars who teach jihad…to all who teach and learn, this is a moment for the application [of Jihad], so that words are not just words.” 

The Meaning(s) of "Jihad"

"Jihad" literally translates to "struggle" - not always an armed struggle. Islam also differentiates between the "greater jihad" and "lesser jihad."

Greater Jihad (Jihad al-Akbar):

• The internal, spiritual struggle against sin. It is about striving for self-purification, personal growth, and closeness to God/Allah.

Lesser Jihad (Jihad al-Asghar):

• The physical struggle--which can take the form of armed conflict in defense of Islam, its principles, or its followers.
  
  • Islam has strict ethical guidelines on how this warfare can be conducted, including protecting non-combatants and avoiding treachery.
• The lesser jihad also includes non-military efforts, such as protests, rallies, speaking out or supporting Islamic causes.

The FBI is monitoring threats

• FBI director Christopher Wray told Jewish leaders that his agency is “working to confirm if there is any validity to the call.” Wray continued:

“I am not, in any way, trying to alarm you, but I want you to be confident that the FBI is most assuredly paying attention. We remain vigilant to the potential of this event to inspire violence.”

• Wray confirmed that the FBI received a tip last weekend about a potential threat to several Jewish institutions in Connecticut, including a senior services center.
• The New York Police Department called on all officers to wear their uniforms:

“All uniformed members of the service are to perform duty in the uniform of the day — effective immediately and until further notice, all uniformed members of the service, in every rank, will perform duty in the uniform of the day and be prepared for deployment."

The role of X

• X, formerly known as Twitter, has been at the epicenter of content praising Hamas and other Jihadist groups. Kerry Sleeper, from the Secure Community Network, called the content "recruiting material" for Hamas:

“As of last evening, there were 16 million content views of Hamas-related propaganda content. This is the message of if you can’t travel for jihad, commit jihad where you are."

Global attacks

• France, the European country with the largest Jewish population, has reported more than 100 acts of antisemitism since Hamas attacked Israel. A teacher in Arras, France, was stabbed to death by a 20-year-old man with ties to radical Islam, who reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar,” or “God is greatest,” during the attack. 
• A worker at the Israeli embassy was stabbed in Beijing in what appears to be a hate crime.

Are you worried about growing antisemitism?

Mashaal's full statement can be found below. 

THE STATMENT:

"I call on you, me being included as well, and we are all responsible for this to start with the things we are used to but with a higher ceiling, first of all for anger, to head to the squares and streets of the Arab and Islamic world on Friday, the Friday of Al Aqsa Flood.

"Deliver a message through the squares and the streets, a message of anger, that we are with Palestine, that we are with Gaza, with Al Aqsa, with Jerusalem, and that we are a part of this battle, this is first. Second, Gaza is calling you for help, with relief and money, with whatever you own, whoever can help, this is the moment of truth. What should we answer? We are facing truth, and here I say clearly, without hesitation, this is the moment for the nation to join in the fight, to fight with them.

"I call firstly the surrounding countries, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt, all of its sons and daughters, officially and popularly, your duty is bigger, because you are closer to Palestine.

"Tribes of Jordan, sons of Jordan, brothers and sisters of Jordan, from all of your sides and backgrounds, this is a moment of truth and the borders are close to you, you all know your responsibility, and this applies to all nations. To all scholars who teach jihad for the sake of God and who preach the fighters and martyrs, to all who teach and learn, this is a moment of application [of theories], so that words are not just words."

-Emma Kansiz & Jamie Epstein

(Photo Credit: Wikipedia)