The death of Abu Mohammed al-Adnani-the notorious Daesh (ISIS) spokesperson rumored to be its second-in-command-was a blow for the militant group. But for some, it was an opportunity: one of Daesh’s most senior positions was suddenly up for grabs.
Today, it appears that Omar Mehdi Zeidan, a Jordanian sheikh who goes by the name Abu al-Munther al-Urdoni (father of Munther the Jordanian), is a frontrunner for the prestigious role, and may even be a shoo-in for the job.
Speaking with local news outlet Jordan Zad, jihad expert Mustafa Hamza of the Centre for Studies of Political Islam in Cairo suggested that Zeidan is the most likely to take the contract for the job of spokesperson. A meeting with the Shura council, he said, will decide whether Zeidan is the best man for the job.
If the rumors are true, Zeidan will become the highest ranking Jordanian currently in Daesh, but he’s certainly not the only person among his countrymen to join the organization.
According to Hassan Abu Haniyeh, an expert on extremist groups who spoke with Haaretz, some 2,000 Jordanians have joined Daesh and affiliated jihadi groups in Syria and Iraq.
But in order to land his dream role in his industry’s most vaunted organization, Zeidan must fight off some stiff competition. A Bahraini, Turki al-Bana’li, was reportedly considered for the post, as well as the Syrian Ali Musa al-Shawakh, who’s currently second in command for Daesh’s Raqqa branch.
The job of spokesperson for the world’s most notorious and religiously jihadist organization isn’t an easy one, and it calls for a unique and varied skillset that few possess. According Mustafa Hamza, prospective candidates were required to have a history of jihad, military experience and strong training in sharia (Islamic law) – as well as an eloquent speaking skills and, presumably, a solid network of contacts and outstanding social media skills.
Adnani certainly is an intimidating professional predecessor. One of Daesh’s original members, his major achievements included calling on Daesh supporters to kill disbelievers around the world, a tactic that became a cornerstone of their long term strategy. He’s also rumoured to have been a direct descendent of the prophet of Islam Mohammed.
While it’s not quite as impressive as al-Adnani’s, Omar Zeidan’s CV puts him in a solid position for a role in jihadi media. He was among the most prominent sheikhs in the salafi jihadist movement in Jordan, and has a degree in Islamic sharia, according to Jordan Zad. Zeidan also met with jihadi leadership in Jordanian prison before he was released and given a royal pardon in 1999.
Al-Adnani was reported killed on August 30, and the process of finding a replacement for him started quickly. The testing recruitment process for the role involved meeting with Daesh leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, according British newspaper the Sunday Times, which reported that the Daesh leader was holding rounds of interviews in Raqqa on Sunday.
