Chart: "Al-Qaida's Online Couriers: The Al-Fajr Media Center and the Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF)"
[May 2009]: The NEFA Foundation has released a new interactive chart by NEFA Senior Investigator Evan Kohlmann titled, "Al-Qaida's Online Couriers: The Al-Fajr Media Center and the Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF)." The chart maps out in detail the multi-step process by which multimedia recorded by mujahideen organizations in the field is distributed online--including the critical roles played by the pre-eminent Internet logistical service providers (namely Al-Fajr and the GIMF). As indicated by the chart, the Al-Fajr Media Center has official "contractual" partnerships with the As-Sahab Media Foundation, Al-Qaida's "Islamic State of Iraq" (ISI), Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (Yemen), Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Ansar al-Islam in Iraq, and the Islam Awazi Information Center (the media wing of the Turkestan Islamic Party). Conversely, at present, the GIMF boasts its own active service relationships with Jaish al-Islam and Tawheed wal-Jihad in the Gaza Strip, and the Shabaab al-Mujahideen Movement in Somalia.

Expert Witness Report from United States v. Oussama Kassir (Southern District of New York)
[May 2009]: The NEFA Foundation has released the expert witness report and PowerPoint slideshow presented by NEFA Senior Investigator Evan Kohlmann during the recent trial of Swedish national Oussama Kassir in federal court in New York. On May 12, 2009, Kassir was convicted on all eleven counts he faced, including conspiracy to provide material support to Al-Qaida and conspiracy to kill or maim persons overseas. Kassir allegedly served a key role in the notorious online jihad media organization known as the "Islamic Media Center" (IMC). In 2003, the IMC published detailed instructions for how to set up underground terrorist training camps in Western countries--instructions which were attributed to "Abu Khadija", a known alias of Kassir.

"Shabaab al-Mujahideen: Migration and Jihad in the Horn of Africa"
[May 2009]: The NEFA Foundation has released a new report by NEFA Senior Investigator Evan Kohlmann titled, "Shabaab al-Mujahideen: Migration and Jihad in the Horn of Africa." The report is a comprehensive analysis of the Shabaab al-Mujahideen ("Mujahideen Youth") Movement in Somalia, including sub-chapters on "The Early Years - Al-Ittihad al-Islami (AIAI) and 'Blackhawk Down'"; "Ethiopia and the Ogaden War (1993-1997)"; "The Islamic Courts Union (ICU)"; "Rise of the Shabaab al-Mujahideen Movement"; "The Current Status of Shabaab and its Islamist Rivals"; "The Role of Foreign Fighters"; "Shabaab's Propaganda Strategy and Media Infrastructure"; and, "Shabaab al-Mujahideen and the Issue of Ocean Piracy".

Chart: "Jihad Media Organizations in Central Asia"
[March 2009]: The NEFA Foundation has released a new roster created by NEFA Senior Investigator Evan Kohlmann charting the eight most prominent jihad media organizations active in Central Asia--namely, Al-Qaida's "As-Sahab Media Foundation", "Labayk Media Productions", "Ummat Studios", the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan's "Jundullah Media", the Islamic Jihad Union's "Badr at-Tawheed Media", the Turkestan Islamic Party's "Islam Awazi Information Center", "Manba al-Jihad Media", and the official media wing of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Taliban). Taken together, these various underground organizations are responsible for producing the vast majority of mujahideen propaganda videos that have originated from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and western China over the past five years.

'The Eleven': Saudi Gitmo Veterans Returning to the Fight
[February 2009]: The NEFA Foundation has released a new report by NEFA Senior Investigator Evan Kohlmann titled, “The Eleven: Saudi Guantanamo Veterans Returning to the Fight.” The report includes in-depth profiles of eleven former Saudi detainees in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who are now listed on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s roster of its 85 “most wanted” terrorist suspects.  The NEFA report notes, “for all the brimming confidence in their “Afghan” credentials, the detailed accounts of these men offer credible reasons to doubt their actual military capabilities… These men now face somewhat of a daunting challenge to prove their military capabilities in the face of their relatively young age and their lack of sustained frontline combat experience… In fact, the major distinction between men like al-Shehri and al-Harbi versus previous generations of Al-Qaida leadership in Saudi Arabia is that they have chosen to launch their operations from a lawless Bedouin-style sanctuary just beyond Saudi borders in Yemen—instead of the risky urban warfare model adopted by Abdelaziz al-Muqrin and his contemporaries… It remains to be seen whether the intriguing decision to move the central Al-Qaida leadership beyond the reach of the Saudi Interior Ministry—and away from urban areas tightly packed with Muslim civilians—will have a significant long-term strategic impact in terms of addressing the group’s litany of setbacks.”

Inside As-Sahaab: The Evolution of Al-Qaida Propaganda
[December 2008]: The NEFA Foundation has released a new report by NEFA Senior Investigator Evan Kohlmann titled “Inside As-Sahaab: The Story of Ali al-Bahlul and the Evolution of Al-Qaida’s Propaganda.” The report is based upon previously unseen evidence presented during the recent Guantanamo Bay military commissions trial of Yemeni national Ali Hamza Ahmad Suliman al-Bahlul. In November 2008, a military jury convicted al-Bahlul of conspiracy, solicitation, and providing material support to terrorism. During questioning conducted by FBI and NCIS agents, Al-Bahlul admitted that he had been “personally appointed” by Usama Bin Laden to take charge of As-Sahaab, allegedly writing the final “martyrdom” wills of 9/11 hijackers and producing one of Al-Qaida’s most enduring terrorist propaganda films, “The Destruction of the U.S.S. Cole” (otherwise known as “State of the Ummah”). The report also analyzes the significance of another exhibit submitted by prosecutors in their case against Mr. al-Bahlul – the rough-cut recorded “martyrdom” will of 9/11 hijacker Ziad Jarrah. According to the NEFA report, "clearly, this revealing video footage seems to suggest that the theatrical ‘martyrdom’ wills of Al-Qaida suicide operatives are much more carefully scripted and deliberately orchestrated than the As-Sahaab Media Foundation would otherwise wish to acknowledge."