June 20, 2017
Release # 20170620-03
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SOUTHWEST ASIA — Coalition forces killed Turki al-Bin’ali, the self-proclaimed “Grand Mufti,” or chief cleric, of ISIS, in an airstrike May 31 in Mayadin, Syria.
Al-Bin’ali had a central role in recruiting foreign terrorist fighters and provoking terrorist attacks around the world. As chief cleric to ISIS since 2014, he provided propaganda to incite murder and other atrocities, attempted to legitimize the creation of the “caliphate,” and was a close confidant of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Leveraging his self-proclaimed religious role, his propaganda writings included the call for terrorists to pledge allegiance to al-Baghdadi as “caliph.” His recruiting efforts for the terror group also included multiple recorded lectures attempting to justify and encouraging the slaughter of innocents.
More information about Al-Bin’ali can be found at:
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https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20160211.aspx
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https://www.un.org/sc/suborg/en/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list/summaries/individual/turki-mubarak-abdullah-ahmad-al-binali
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