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 -------------- ¶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