A story started spreading on social media about a probable “Day of Jihad” or “Day of Rage” slated for October 13, 2023, as tensions in Israel and Palestine grew. The statement issued by Khaled Meshaal, the former leader of Hamas and the current director of Hamas’ diaspora office, calling for global demonstrations in favor of Palestine served as the starting point for this misinformation. Worries about potential terrorist strikes increased, not just in the Middle East but also in the United States and other countries. In this blog, we will look at the context, consequences, replies, and impact of Meshaal’s call.
The Rumor’s Start
After Reuters reported on October 11 that Khaled Meshaal had called for a worldwide day of protest in favor of Palestine, the rumor of a “Day of Jihad” on October 13 started to spread on X (formerly Twitter). This request was made in reaction to the continuing hostilities in the area, which have seen Israel bomb Palestine fiercely after being attacked by Hamas on October 7.
Meshaal’s Declaration
Meshaal explicitly exhorted “all scholars who teach jihad” to take part in demonstrations on Friday across the Arab and Islamic world, referring to it as a “moment of truth”. He stressed participants’ accountability and the necessity of putting their beliefs into practice, which raised worries about violence and potential misunderstandings.
Online Violence And Misunderstanding
According to Wired.com reporter David Gilbert, some people, particularly on social media and extreme venues, distorted and misread Meshaal’s call for jihad. On October 13, users on pro-Trump message boards and Telegram channels declared they would be carrying guns, with others saying they were prepared to use those guns against Muslims. Muslims were also the target of many more people, which stoked fears of bloodshed.
The Message: Users of pro-Trump message boards and extremist channels on Telegram, as well as mainstream platforms like X, formerly Twitter, repeatedly claimed they [those users] would be carrying firearms on Friday; some claimed they would be prepared to use those weapons if or when they encountered Muslims. In many cases, people referred to Muslims using racial slurs.
Effects On The United States
On October 13, major American cities saw a surge in police enforcement presence and school closures as a response to Meshaal’s statements. In the face of worries about potential assaults or disturbances, these actions tried to protect public safety. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
International Consequences
The consequences of Meshaal’s call for protest were felt by nations other than the United States. In response, France outlawed pro-Palestinian protests, while other nations discouraged them and imposed restrictions in response to the growing anxiety caused by the rumor.
According to reports, the attacker in a stabbing incident at a school in France on October 13 said “Allahu Akbar.” Local officials were unable to corroborate if these statements were made in relation to the attack, though. An Israeli citizen from the Israeli Embassy in Beijing was stabbed in China, however, it was not immediately apparent if the event had anything to do with the continuing hostilities.
FBI Reaction
The FBI said that it was aware of the rumor of a worldwide operation on October 13, but it gave no further information. The organization reaffirmed its dedication to working with law enforcement partners to exchange information, detect, and disrupt any possible threats, and urged the public to be on the lookout for unusual activity and report it.
FBI Statement: The FBI is aware of open-source reports about calls for global action on Friday, October 13th that may lead to demonstrations in communities throughout the United States. We are working closely with our law enforcement partners across the country to share information and identify and disrupt any threats that may emerge. As always, we take seriously any tips or leads we receive regarding potential threats and investigate them rigorously to determine their credibility. The FBI encourages members of the public to remain vigilant and report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.
Understanding The Term “Jihad”
According to Afsaruddin, the author of “Jihad: What Everyone Needs to Know,” the phrase is frequently mistranslated in the West as “holy war.” She said that the fundamental definition of jihad is to “struggle” or “make an effort” for morally noble goals, which might include a variety of behaviors. A military component only matters while protecting one’s territory from foreign aggressors. Afsaruddin highlighted that the Quran requires military jihadists to abide by stringent norms of conduct, including the prohibition of attacking civilians and destroying property.
Conclusion
The notion that there will be a “Day of Jihad” on October 13, 2023, caused serious worries about possible acts of violence and terrorist strikes in the United States and elsewhere. Khaled Meshaal’s appeal for worldwide rallies in favor of Palestine sparked responses ranging from stepped-up security measures to the outlawing of pro-Palestinian gatherings in some nations.
There is a very serious need for careful consideration of the meaning of sensitive phrases like “jihad” and the potential for online extremism to provoke real-world violence, even if there were no known terrorist strikes on that day. However, you just keep following Scam Legit to get every information.
