The Mujahideen Shura Council in Iraq (, MSC), was an

umbrella organization An umbrella organization is an association of (often related, industry-specific) institutions who work together formally to coordinate activities and/or pool resources. In business, political, and other environments, it provides resources and iden ...

of at least six Sunni Islamist insurgent groups taking part in the Iraqi insurgency against U.S.-led Coalition and Iraqi forces. The groups included in the MSC were:

Al-Qaeda in Iraq Al-Qaeda in Iraq (; AQI), was a Salafi jihadism, Salafi jihadist organization affiliated with al-Qaeda. It was founded on 17 October 2004, and was led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi until its disbandment on 15 October 2006 after he was killed in a targ ...

, Jaish al-Ta'ifa al-Mansurah (Army of the Victorious Sect), Katbiyan Ansar Al-Tawhid wal Sunnah, Saraya al-Jihad Group, al-Ghuraba Brigades, and al-Ahwal Brigades. In mid-October 2006, a statement was released, stating that the Mujahideen Shura Council had been disbanded, and was replaced by the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI).

Formation and names

On 15 January 2006, in a statement posted to the

jihad ''Jihad'' (; ) is an Arabic word that means "exerting", "striving", or "struggling", particularly with a praiseworthy aim. In an Islamic context, it encompasses almost any effort to make personal and social life conform with God in Islam, God ...

ist website Hanin Net,

al-Qaeda in Iraq Al-Qaeda in Iraq (; AQI), was a Salafi jihadism, Salafi jihadist organization affiliated with al-Qaeda. It was founded on 17 October 2004, and was led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi until its disbandment on 15 October 2006 after he was killed in a targ ...

spokesman Abu Maysarah al-Iraqi announced the formation of the "Mujahideen Consultative Council" ("Majlis Shura al-Mujahideen"). It was formed to resist efforts by the American and Iraqi authorities to win over Sunni supporters of the insurgency. The stated purpose of the council was "Managing the struggle in the battle of confrontation to ward off the invading ''

kafir ''Kāfir'' (; , , or ; ; or ) is an Arabic-language term used by Muslims to refer to a non-Muslim, more specifically referring to someone who disbelieves in the Islamic God, denies his authority, and rejects the message of Islam as ...

'' ( infidels) and their apostate stooges. ... Uniting the word of the '' mujahideen'' and closing their ranks... nddetermining a clear position toward developments and incidents so that people can see things clearly and the truth will not be confused with falsehood." Under the banner of Mujahideen Shura Council, AQI formed a coalition with seven other insurgent groups opposed to the forces of the U.S.-led coalition. The groups in the Mujahideen Shura Council (MSC) included: *

* Jamaat Jaysh Ahl al-Sunnah wa-l-Jamaah * Jaish al-Ta'ifa al-Mansurah * Katbiyan Ansar al-Tawhid wal Sunnah * Saray al-Jihad Group * Al-Ghuraba Brigades * Al-Ahwal Brigades AQI continued to claim responsibility for attacks through the new council. Other sources called the council Mujahideen Shura Council in Iraq or Mujaheddin Consultative Council. Around 25 April 2006, a videotape of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was released bearing the organization's logo.

Structure

Little is known about the organizational structure of the Council, in large part due to the shadowy nature of the organization itself. Al-Qaeda in Iraq was the most powerful and visible group in the MSC. Because of the multiple leaders the Shura Council had, there seems to have been no disruption in the Shura Council's ability to carry out attacks, with more than 1,600 Iraqi civilians killed in the month after Zarqawi's death, the largest number killed in a month to that date. Elements of the Shura Council's organization from the top to the bottom remain fluid due both to the nature of its aims and methods as well as its loose confederation. It was speculated that the group was dominated by al Qaeda in Iraq and that Zarqawi's death dealt a severe blow to the unity of the Council. Aside from the murky workings of the Shura Council's leadership it is known that the Council has rather smooth operations when it comes to propaganda, the Council's propaganda czar, Murasel, regularly posted updates, criticisms, and praises for the Council's own acts of violence on a semi-daily basis at blogspot.com.

Activities

MSC forms Mutayibeen Coalition

MSC, including AQI, on 12 October 2006 announced their "Mutayibeen Coalition" consisting of MSC, three smaller insurgent groups, and six 'loyal' Anbar

Sunni Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr () rightfully succeeded him as the caliph of the Mu ...

tribes counting 300,000 members. A video on Internet showed six white-clad, masked men, representing: the Mujahideen Shura Council in Iraq; Jaysh Al-Fatihin; Jund Al-Sahaba; Kataib Ansar Al-Tawhid wal-Sunna; and "many of the sheikhs of the faithful tribes n Iraq; taking an Arab "oath of the scented ones" (hilf al-mutayyabin). They announced:

MSC becomes part of Islamic State of Iraq

On the 13 and 15 October 2006, messages on Internet purportedly in the name of MSC and the Mutayibeen Coalition declared the establishment of the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) which should encompass the governorates of

Baghdad Baghdad ( or ; , ) is the capital and List of largest cities of Iraq, largest city of Iraq, located along the Tigris in the central part of the country. With a population exceeding 7 million, it ranks among the List of largest cities in the A ...

, Anbar, Diyala,

Kirkuk Kirkuk (; ; ; ) is a major city in northern Iraq, serving as the capital of the Kirkuk Governorate. The city is home to a diverse population of Kurds, Iraqi Turkmen, Iraqi Turkmens and Arabs. Kirkuk sits on the ruins of the original Kirkuk Cit ...

Saladin Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub ( – 4 March 1193), commonly known as Saladin, was the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty. Hailing from a Kurdish family, he was the first sultan of both Egypt and Syria. An important figure of the Third Crusade, h ...

, Nineveh and parts of Babil and Wasit – a swathe of central and western Iraq where most Sunni Arabs live.Stephen Negus: "Call for Sunni state in Iraq".
''

Financial Times The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and also published digitally that focuses on business and economic Current affairs (news format), current affairs. Based in London, the paper is owned by a Jap ...

'', 2006-10-15. Retrieved 15 January 2015. (Free) registration required.
Archive
Abu Omar al-Baghdadi was being announced as the state's

Emir Emir (; ' (), also Romanization of Arabic, transliterated as amir, is a word of Arabic language, Arabic origin that can refer to a male monarch, aristocratic, aristocrat, holder of high-ranking military or political office, or other person po ...

. A Mujahideen Shura Council leader said: "God willing we will set the law of Sharia here and we will fight the Americans". The Council urged on Sunni Muslim tribal leaders to join their separate Islamic state "to protect our religion and our people, to prevent strife and so that the blood and sacrifices of your martyrs are not lost". In reality, the group was not known to control any territory in Iraq yet. Following the announcement, scores of gunmen took part in military parades in Ramadi and other Anbar towns to celebrate.

References

{{Authority control 2006 establishments in Iraq 2006 disestablishments in Iraq Al-Qaeda allied groups Factions in the Iraq War History of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Jihadist groups in Iraq Organizations disestablished in 2006 Rebel alliances