SINGAPORE: DEMARCHE REGARDING AL-HESBAH

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 065814

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2018
TAGS: PTER SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE: DEMARCHE REGARDING AL-HESBAH

Classified By: EAP SCOT MARCIEL, E.O.12958, REASON 1.4 (e)


1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph two.

SUMMARY
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2. (C) The Department has learned that a Singapore-based
company has been providing Internet hosting to a Web site,
al-Hesbah, that supports al-Qa'ida by serving as one of
al-Qa'ida's four main authorized channels for distribution of
propaganda. The al-Hesbah site has moved from host to host
over time as companies refuse to continue hosting it after
learning of its violent and extremist message and connections
to al-Qa'ida. The Department asks post to share the
following information at the appropriate level with
representatives of the Government of Singapore on or soon
after June 23, 2008, and to report any response to INR/Robert
Eikel and to EAP/MTS. The Department will send (via
unclassified email to Embassy Singapore's economic/political
section) representative articles, translated from Arabic,
which were taken from the Web site, along with articles
appearing on other Web sites which cite al-Hesbah as the
source, for the purpose of sharing these examples with the
Singapore government. End summary and action request.


3. (CONFIDENTIAL/REL SINGAPORE) Begin text of talking points:

It has recently come to the Department of State's attention
that a Singapore-based company, New Media Express, provides
Internet hosting services to a Web site that directly
supports al-Qa'ida by serving as a key node for distribution
of al-Qa'ida propaganda. Our analysis of the Arabic language
al-Hesbah Web forum (http://www.alhesbah.net,
http://www.alhesbah.bz, http://www.alhesbah1.net,
http://www.alhesbah2.net) indicates that it is a hard-line
terrorist Web site that is one of the four largest authorized
channels for the distribution of al-Qa'ida propaganda. It
promotes violent extremism and terrorism. Al-Qa'ida limits
initial distribution of video clips and statements to these
four authorized channels for the specific purpose of
follow-on mass distribution by conventional media outlets and
other sympathetic Internet sites. In January 2008, al-Hesbah
was one of the primary sites designated by al-Sahab, the
media arm of al-Qa'ida, as a site that would collect public
questions addressed to al-Qa'ida deputy leader Ayman
al-Zawahiri; the al-Hesbah site and the three authorized
sites simultaneously posted Zawahiri's responses to those
questions. Specific examples of al-Hesbah jihadist content
include: instructions of following and kidnapping American
citizens; manuals on the manufacture of explosive devices;
and a video depicting the execution of three Chinese
citizens. Attached please find copies of representative
articles, translated from Arabic, taken from the Web site or
from others than reference the al-Hesbah site.

In January 2008, al-Hesbah reported 11,277 registered
members, including 62 officially registered mainstream media
organizations. The site dates back at least to 2003 and has
been hosted by several different providers, the most recent
of which is New Media Express. The published Singapore
address for New Media Express is: New Media Express Pte Ltd,
Reg. no. 200406609R, 20 Ayer Rajah Crescent #08-12, Singapore
139964, telephone 65 6873 0128, fax 65 6873 0129.

Given al-Hesbah's direct support to al-Qa'ida and its
extremist and violent content, we ask that the Government of
Singapore take steps to ensure that New Media Express
terminate its provision of Internet hosting services to
al-Hesbah.

We have no indication that New Media Express is aware of the
al-Hesbah site's support to al-Qa'ida. We note that the
company's terms of use prohibit al-Hesbah's extremist and
pro-terrorist content: "the hosting of, reference to or
linking to any of the following is not allowed: ...Malicious
acts; Threatening acts."

End text of talking points.


4. (U) The Department greatly appreciates post's assistance.

RICE