As in many cultures, weather phenomena are seen in Islam as an act of God. Their appearance in jihadi visual propaganda is used to evoke notions of divine power, wrath and justice, and remind the audience of God’s total inscrutability prior to creation. By using such symbols, jihadi groups are able to represent themselves and their cause as instruments of divine will and power. In the current image, the symbols imply hope, calm and the salvation that will come after the storm (the violent jihad, represented by the lightning bolts), and warn the enemy of the consequences of God’s wrath. The caption utilizes white and yellow letters against the dark purple/blue background of the sky and reads: “jami‘ tar‘adu wa-tabriqu bi-wajh al-ihtilal, wa-ghadan saya’ti al-ghayth bi-idhni Allah” (“JAMI [Islamic Front for the Iraqi Resistance] thunders and flashes [lightning bolts] vis-a-vis the occupation, and tomorrow the rain will come, God permitting”).

More Information
Group Name JAMI (al-Jabha al-Islamiyya lil-Muqawama al-`Iraqiyya) aka Islamic for the Iraqi Resistancemilitary wing: Kata'ib Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi
Group Type nationalist, religious
Dominant Colors Purple, Blue
Secondary Colors White, Yellow
Language Arabic
Isolated Phrases / Mottoes / Slogans Jami` tar`adu wa-tabriqu bi-wajh al-ihtilal, wa-ghadan sa-ya'ti al-ghayth bi-idhni Allah.
Image Number 0063
Groups Region of Operation Middle East
Groups Country of Operation Iraq
Air Storm / Wind, Lightning, Sky
Geopolitical Symbols Symbol of party, movement or company, Slogan
Geopolitical Analysis JAMI logo - green country map (Iraq), white flag with the text of takbir raised with a reddish-brown fist.

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