• Syria’s fighters: An interview with Jabhat al-Nusra | The Economist
    http://www.economist.com/blogs/pomegranate/2013/05/syrias-fighters-0

    Syria has long been known for its sectarian diversity. How do you view the other sects?

    The other sects are protected by the Islamic state. Muhammad, peace be upon him, had a Jewish neighbour, for example, and he was always good to him. But the power and authority must be with the believers [Sunnis], not the unbelievers.

    What about other Sunnis who are more moderate than you?

    We will apply sharia law to them.

    What about Alawites?

    Allah knows what will happen to them. There is a difference between the basic kuffar [infidels] and those who converted from Islam. If the latter, we must punish them. Alawites are included. Even Sunnis who want democracy are kuffar as are all Shia.

  • Iraq and Syria
    A Syrian awakening ?- http://www.economist.com/blogs/pomegranate/2013/05/iraq-and-syria

    Un article trés malhonnête qui non seulement présente le mouvement « Sahwa » en Irak comme spontané et couronné de succès (l’Irak est aujourd’hui à feu et à sang) mais présente implicitement la réalité comme une propagande de AQ.

    In Iraq the term, Arabic for “awakening”, referred to Sunni tribal militias who paired up with the Americans to squash al-Qaeda in Iraq. Farouq got the sahwa label (the plural is sahwat) after clashing with Jabhat al-Nusra in areas where both vie for power.

    ...

    On the other side of the spectrum, the jihadi blogosphere is awash with warnings against the threat of a sahwa developing under American, Jordanian or Saudi tutelage.