Al-Fajr Media (
Arabic: الفجر وسائط,
romanized: al-Fajr wasāʼiṭ) or Dawn Media is an
Al-Qaeda affiliated media organization that was started in 2006 and was used by multiple Al-Qaeda affiliated organizations on
Jihadist forums.[2][3][4]
History
Early years
Al-Fajr Media started with memorials of dead members/leaders of
Al-Qaeda and other Al-Qaeda affiliated groups and distributed the videos on Jihadist forums based in the Middle east and North Africa.[5] The organization also posted videos with
Ansar al-Islam that call for
Jihad.[6]
Al-Fajr also released an online magazine in 2006 entitled "Technical
Mujahid" which focused on online security and technology.[7]
Al-Fajr released posters in 2006 inciting for people to spread them.[8]
Al-Fajr has also shown support for Palestinian Jihadist organizations and incited them to Jihad against Israel.[9]
Al-Fajr also in 2007 starts working with
Islamic State in Iraq to report on new control of towns and cities in
Iraq, and they also start reporting on "enemy attack".[10]
Al-Fajr also starts releasing books by
Ayman al-Zawahiri to show support for Al-Qaeda and Ayman al-Zawahiri in early 2007.[11]
In late 2008, Al-Fajr Media created a Jihadist forum which was taken down abruptly after release, Al-Fajr did make a statement about the forum's shutdown.[12][13]
In December 2008, Al-Fajr recommended for Jihadist to "invade" the YouTube website and to spread Jihadist videos on there.[14]
Mid-years
In 2010, Al-Fajr started a series called "Manufacturing Terrorism" for Jihadists online.[15]
In May 2011, Al-Fajr announced, with the permission of
Al-Qaeda, of
Osama Bin Ladin's death,[16][17] and incited for Jihadists to take "revenge" for Osama Bin Ladin's death.[18]
In February 2012, Al-Fajr released a women's magazine for Jihadist women.[19]
In September 2012, Al-Fajr releases a Technical Committee which revolves around app and website making for online Jihadists.[20]
Late years
In late 2013, Al-Fajr releases a encryption
application to encrypt messages when talking to Jihadists.[21]
In Mid-2014, Al-Fajr releases an encryption application for
Android phones for Jihadists on phone messaging services like
Telegram.[22][23]
In early 2016, Al-Fajr released a pasting website for Jihadists as an alternative for a pasting website like
Pastebin.[24]
Designation as a Terrorist organization
In 2016, when Al-Fajr Media became defunct, the United States officially called Al-Fajr Media a media center of Al-Qaeda and designated it as a terrorist organization.[4][25]