ISIS-K-Linked Voice of Khorasan Web Magazine Recommends Use of Telegram Communications App Despite Terms of Service Change, U.S. White Supremacist Groups Continue to Promote Mass Deportations

(New York, N.Y.) — The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) reports weekly on the methods used by extremists and terrorist groups on the Internet to spread propaganda and incite violence. Last week, the ISIS-K-linked propaganda group al-Azaim Media released issue 43 of the Voice of Khorasan web magazine. A feature article compared the Telegram communications app with similar services and recommended the continued use of Telegram despite a September 2024 change in the platform’s terms of service.

On Telegram, U.S. white supremacist groups continued to spread recruitment messages advocating for mass deportations. On several online platforms, ISIS supporters continued to celebrate the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans. On January 26, a new pro-ISIS group released a German-language pamphlet calling for attacks in the West. CEP researchers also located three uploads on JustPaste.It from the pro-ISIS al-Saqri Foundation—two containing instructions for making homemade explosives, and one post containing a guide for synthesizing botulism toxin. The Syrian al-Qaeda affiliate Hurras al-Din announced that they were disbanding. Finally, a web store selling neo-Nazi T-shirts was located on the Teepublic e-commerce platform.

Issue 43 of ISIS-K-Linked English Language Web Magazine Released

On January 26, ISIS-K-linked al-Azaim Media released issue 43 of their web magazine Voice of Khorasan. The first article called for obedience to ISIS’s leader and stated that fighting against the governments of Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan was mandatory because they enforce secular and not religious law and have instituted democratic systems. A large article analyzed Telegram’s privacy and security features, including end-to-end encryption and data storage, in light of the platform’s policy changes in September 2024. Despite Telegram turning over certain information to government officials, the article concluded that the communications app was still a good choice as long as added security features, such as a virtual private network (VPN), were used. The article also included a section on avoiding account deletion, as well as information on Signal, Threema, WhatsApp, RocketChat, and Facebook Messenger.

Other articles in issue 43 included one calling the Los Angeles-area wildfires divine punishment for Israel’s attack on Gaza and a story broadcast initially on ISIS’s al-Bayan radio about an individual from Tunisia who joined ISIS. The magazine included a wallet address for donating Monero, a privacy-focused cryptocurrency. Also, it included infographics calling for acts of terrorism using whatever means were available and condemned the Syrian government of Ahmed al-Sharaa (a.k.a. Abu Mohammad al-Jolani).

The web magazine was located on the Telegram, RocketChat, and Gem Space communications platforms. CEP reported downloadable links to GoFile.Io and the Internet Archive. GoFile.Io removed the links; the Internet Archive removed access to the file.

Table comparing different communications platforms from Voice of Khorasan issue 43. Screenshot taken February 3.

White Supremacists on Telegram Continue to Advocate for Mass Deportations

The week of January 26 to February 1, white supremacists on Telegram and other online platforms continued to advocate for mass deportations in the U.S. Two California chapters of the white supremacist Active Club movement posted photos or video of demonstrations held in Sacramento and Upland, calling for extensive deportations. A message posted with the video from the January 25 Sacramento flash mob-style demonstration noted that the movement would not stop until “every single illegal alien is physically removed from the United States.” It encouraged those who agreed with the message to join their group.

On January 24, the neo-Nazi group Blood Tribe announced on Telegram and X that they would hold a rally in the Great Lakes region in February to protest H-1B visas. A rival neo-Nazi group announced on January 28 that the Blood Tribe rally was planned for Lansing, Michigan. However, this has not been confirmed.

Multiple white supremacist channels and chat users on Telegram praised the prospect of mass deportations and, in some cases, encouraged their followers to report individuals to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) using an official phone number or online tip forum. A channel dedicated to 3D-printed firearms that has previously endorsed acts of violence shared a post expressing excitement over the possibility of bounty hunter programs to detain migrants. Members of a Telegram chat dedicated to a neo-Nazi musician declared approvingly that they had seen fewer Latinos in their area. Several other channels, including one that promotes the neo-Nazi accelerationist group Injekt Division, shared a video that showed a man being taken into custody and tasered by Border Patrol officers. The former leader of the neo-Nazi group Nationalist Social Club, Chris Hood, recommended on January 24 that his followers send fake reports of law enforcement activity to nonprofits that assist undocumented immigrants.

ISIS Online Supporters Continue to Celebrate New Orleans Attack

The week of January 26 to February 1, online ISIS supporters continued to celebrate the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans, committed by an individual in the name of the terrorist group. On January 30, the ISIS-K-linked al-Azaim Media group released two online posters quoting issue 477 of ISIS’s al-Naba newsletter, praising those who translate and spread the group’s propaganda as well as those who carry out terrorist attacks. Users in a pro-ISIS chat on the Element platform shared photos of the attacker and praised him.

ISIS-K-linked al-Azaim Media poster celebrating the New Orleans New Year’s Day attack. Screenshot taken on January 30.

New German Language Pro-ISIS Pamphlet Released

A new German-language pro-ISIS pamphlet was released on January 26. The text, titled “Are You Still Sitting?” condemned inaction and stated that fighting was obligatory. The pamphlet claimed that it was unfair to do nothing and criticize ISIS, calling instead for acts of violence. The front and back cover photos showed Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City on October 9, 2023. The media group that created the pamphlet, al-Saif Media, announced its creation on RocketChat on January 21 and stated that its mission is to translate ISIS content into German and to encourage terrorist attacks in the West. The channel includes translations of ISIS’s al-Naba newsletter and Nashir news posts into German.

Pro-ISIS Explosives Guides, Directions for Making Botulism Toxin Located on JustPaste.It

CEP researchers located two guides for making homemade explosives on JustPaste.It on January 27 and 29, and instructions for creating botulism toxin on January 31. The online pro-ISIS group al-Saqri Foundation made all three uploads. The first guide contained instructions for synthesizing a shapable explosive from match heads and motor oil. The second upload included instructions for making the explosive TATP and recommended a specific type of cleaning product to purchase to evade the attention of authorities. The last upload, on January 31, included instructions for creating and purifying botulism toxin and included advice for using it as a weapon. JustPaste.It removed all three guides after CEP reported them.

Image from Al-Saqri Foundation TATP guide. Screenshot taken on January 29.

Al-Qaeda Affiliate Hurras al-Din Announces Disbandment

On January 28, al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate Hurras al-Din announced that it was disbanding. The statement noted that the organization received orders to dissolve from al-Qaeda’s central command. The two-page declaration noted that Syria had entered a new phase and called on the current government to implement religious law and be prepared to fight internal or external opponents. On January 30, U.S. Central Command announced that they had killed a senior Hurras al-Din operative in an airstrike in Northwest Syria.

Hurras al-Din logo. Screenshot taken from January 28 statement.

Neo-Nazi T-Shirt Store Located on TeePublic

On January 31, CEP reported a web store on the print-on-demand platform TeePublic. The web shop sold a variety of shirts featuring neo-Nazi logos and slogans. A Telegram channel associated with the store had over 1,000 subscribers and posted a large quantity of racist and antisemitic content. TeePublic’s Content Standards prohibit using the service to sell products that promote hate speech or racism. The store was not removed by February 3.

Neo-Nazi t-shirt for sale on TeePublic. Screenshot taken on January 31.

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