The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) reports weekly on the methods used by
extremists to exploit the Internet and social media platforms to recruit fol
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Extremist Content Online: Extreme-Right Prisoner Aid Group Urges Support for
Poway Synagogue Shooter On Telegram
(New York, N.Y.) — The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) reports weekly on the
methods used by extremists to exploit the Internet and social media platforms
to recruit followers and incite violence. Last week, an extreme-right prisoner
support group designated the Poway synagogue shooter as its “prisoner of the
week,” five days after the third anniversary of his attack, and encouraged
followers on Telegram to write him letters and send money to his prison
commissary fund.
Also last week, two pro-ISIS web magazines were released including the 27th
issue of “Voice of Hind” and the 5th issue of the “Voice of Khurasan.” On
Instagram, CEP researchers located eight white supremacist or antisemitic
accounts, which the platform did not remove. In addition, two different Proud
Boy chapters posted a meme on Telegram encouraging violence against the LGBT
community. And finally, a 2D arcade style game on Valve’s Steam platform
glorifying Kyle Rittenhouse was released.
Extreme-Right Prisoner Support Group Names Poway Synagogue Shooter “Prisoner
of the Week” Right After Attack Anniversary
On Monday, May 2, an extreme-right prisoner support group
<[link removed]>
named the Poway synagogue shooter its "prisoner of the week," five days after
the thirdanniversary
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of his attack, where he killed one person and injured three. The group
encouraged its Telegram subscribers to write to the gunman and provide him with
commissary funds. The group's website, which calls the shooter "a nice guy,"
features antisemitic
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essays from the attacker written while in prison. In one piece, the gunman
states that he now realizes his violent actions were wrong but blamed Jews for
supposedly "forcing" him to commit them.
The prisoner support group was founded in 2019 by Matthew Heimbach
<[link removed]> and Matt
Parrott, although Heimbach claims he is no longer involved. The group seeks to
provide money, books, and letters to white supremacists in prison, including
mass shooters and various members of groups including theAtomwaffen Division
<[link removed]>
andThe Base <[link removed]>. The
organization maintains a Telegram channel, Gab account, and a website that uses
Cloudflare as its name server and registrar.
Pro-ISIS Web Magazine “Voice of Hind” Issue 27 Released
Issue 27 of the pro-ISIS <[link removed]> web
magazine “Voice of Hind” was released on May 1. The magazine featured text from
a recent speech from ISIS’s spokesperson Omar al-Muhajir stating that ISIS was
the only group that could “liberate” Jerusalem and called for attacks in
Europe, the U.S., and other countries using whatever means were available,
including knives and vehicles. An article stated that anti-Muslim riots in India
<[link removed]> were part of a genocidal
campaign aided by the Indian government and alleged that a form of civil war
was currently taking place in the country. The same article called for
mobilization and violence. Other articles stated that nationalism has destroyed
Muslim unity and called for all Muslims to unite under the ISIS self-proclaimed
caliphate, while a separate essay specifically called for attacks in Kashmir.
The magazine was spread on RocketChat, Telegram, and a pro-ISIS website on the
dark web. The magazine was also uploaded to at least five websites but was only
available on one, Zippyshare, approximately four days later.
Pro-ISIS Web Magazine “Voice of Khurasan” Issue Five Released
The fifth issue of the pro-ISIS web magazine “Voice of Khurasan” was released
online on May 2. The magazine opened with Eid greetings from ISIS’s
self-proclaimed Khurasan province. The first main article criticized Jews and
“polytheists” and condemned the relationship between Israel and Turkey and Gulf
states, as well as relations between India and Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the
Maldives. The author emphasized that “disbelievers” could never be allies.
The second article condemned religious modernization and idolatry. An article
dealing with Afghanistan championed ISIS’s recent launching of 10 short-range
rockets into Uzbekistan and attacks in Pakistan, stating that ISIS does not
recognize human-made borders like the Taliban. Another article proclaimed the
usefulness of media and propaganda for spreading rumors and fear. The magazine
also included an infographic for the month of Ramadan (April 2 to May 2)
claiming the killing of 237 people, including 130 civilians, 22 Taliban
soldiers, two “spies,” three religious clerics, and three Pakistani police and
soldiers. The infographic also claimed 19 IED attacks, eight targeted killings,
and three ambushes.
The magazine was spread on RocketChat, Hoop, and a pro-ISIS website on the
dark web.
White Supremacist and Antisemitic Accounts Located on Instagram
CEP researchers located eight white supremacist or antisemitic accounts on
Instagram. Three profiles posted Rise Above Movement
<[link removed]> (RAM) inspired
active club propaganda, with two also posting propaganda from the group Patriot
Front
<[link removed]>. An
additional account claimed to be directly linked to a clothing company operated
by RAM co-founder Rob Rundo and advertised the label and various fascist-themed
t-shirts. Other accounts located on Instagram promoted various white power
bands, posted specifically anti-Muslim white supremacist propaganda endorsing
the great replacement theory
<[link removed]>, and made
various antisemitic claims, including that Jews secretly run the government,
banks, and entertainment and are responsible for non-white immigration. The
eight accounts had a mean of approximately 300 followers, with a range between
0 and 1,912 and a median of 62 followers.
CEP reported the eight accounts to Instagram, which only removed posts from
one account that posted antisemitic content. Instagram did not delete the
account, which reposted the previously removed antisemitic content. Instagram
did not remove additional antisemitic content from another account, nor did
Instagram remove content from pro-active club accounts or the account linked to
the RAM/active club affiliated clothing label. Instagram did not remove
anti-Muslim propaganda or propaganda that endorsed the great replacement theory
and encouraged violence.
Still image from a pro-active club propaganda video on Instagram
Anti-Muslim Anti-Immigrant Austrian Group Fundraising on PayPal
CEP researchers located a PayPal link for an anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant
Austrian “action group.” The organization’s Telegram channel, which has 1,000
subscribers, shows group members participating in distributing flyers,
demonstrations, and combat sports. Telegram channels affiliated with the group
have shared posts from European white supremacist and ethnonationalist groups,
including Generation Identity
<[link removed]>. CEP reported
the PayPal link to the company which did not remove it.
Two Proud Boys Chapters Encourage Attacks on LGBT People
On Tuesday, May 3, the Telegram channels for two different Proud Boys chapters
posted a meme encouraging violence against LGBT people, especially patrons of
gay bars or clubs. The Telegram channels have over 1,350 and 1,200 subscribers,
respectively.
Videogame Glorifying Kyle Rittenhouse Released on Steam
On May 2, an independent studio released a top-down 2D-style game on Valve’s
Steam platform glorifying Kyle Rittenhouse. The player, as Rittenhouse, shoots
zombie antifascist activists and negative caricatures of transgender people. On
its website, the game studio criticizes narratives that oppose “the
foundational values of Western Civilization.” Comments on Steam encouraged acts
of violence against the left and antifascist activists and included anti-trans
comments. Steam’s Content Rules
<[link removed]> prohibit the
posting of “threats of violence or harassment, even as a joke.”
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