Al-Qaida prospects had to submit application form
BID LADEN: U.S. intelligence officials release over 100 papers
Recruits hoping to be accepted into the ranks of al-Qaida had to fill in a remarkably detailed application form, according to documents seized from Osama bin Laden’s compound when he was killed in 2011.
The application form was among more than 100 papers released Wednesday by U.S. intelligence officials.
Hopeful jihadists were asked to describe their hobbies, language skills, contacts with Westerners and willingness to carry out suicide missions, according to the documents. They were also asked to provide next-of-kin contact details, so alQaida could inform relatives once the mission had been carried out.
The application form, created by “The Security Committee — al-Qaida Organization,” must be filled out “accurately and truthfully” and written “clearly and legibly,” the form said.
Answers should be in Arabic, but that was not essential.
“If you would like to discuss any further issue, please tell your direct brother supervisor,” the form states.
Candidates must state their name, age, alias, profession and marital status — plus “date of your arrival in the land of Jihad.” Education level must be stated, along with the date when “Allah blessed you with this gift.”
The al-Qaida chiefs evidently appreciated learned recruits: they were asked to list their favourite Muslim scholars and orators, their language skills, and how much of the Koran they had memorized. Knowledge of Sharia law was a bonus.
But the terrorist network was looking for well-rounded jihadists. “Any hobbies or pastimes?” the form asked, and requested a list of countries which the budding terrorist had visited.
“Have you invented or researched anything in any domain?”
Specialized skills would make a candidate highly sought-after. The form asks potential recruits to list any knowledge or friends with knowledge of chemistry, communications or literature.
The next question: “What objectives would you like to accomplish on your jihad path?”
Recruits are asked to explain the views on jihad held by their family, acquaintances and themselves.
The final question seeks a name and telephone number.
It asks: “Who should we contact in case you became a martyr?”
The documents included letters urging followers to concentrate on attacking Americans.
In one letter, bin Laden urges one of his deputies to inform “our brothers” they must keep their focus on fighting Americans. Their “job is to uproot the obnoxious tree by concentrating on its American trunk, and to avoid being occupied with the local security forces,” bin Laden writes.