The image, which was posted to a web forum on 10 October 2008, portrays the training of young children, recruited members of the Islamic Jihad Union (IJU) of Uzbekistan. It demonstrates the extent of the process of indoctrinating children and the IJU’s reliance on them for clearly violent purposes. In the post, above the image (and referring to other images that were posted on the same forum) appeared the caption in Arabic: صور لتخرج دفعة من اشبال اتحاد الجهاد الاسلامي الازبكي بافغانستان المقاتلين يد بيد مع مجاهدي الامارة الاسلامية بافغانستان اعزها الله (“pictures of a graduating class of young fighters [lit. lion cubs] of the Uzbek Islamic Jihad Union in Afghanistan who fight alongside [lit. hand in hand] the mujahidin of the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan, may God strengthen it”). The black banner in the image bears the shahada (Islamic testimony of faith holding that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is his messenger).  According to prophetic tradition (hadith), the black flag was the battle flag of the Prophet Muhammad and it was carried into battle by many of his companions.

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Group Name Ittihad al-Jihad al-Islami [Islamic Jihad Union (IJU) aka Union of Islamic Jihad aka IJU of Uzbekistan]
Group Type Jihadist Group
Group Affiliation Local Jihad (Independent entities with limited or no ties to international / external movements)
Dominant Colors Black
Secondary Colors White, Green
Language Arabic
Isolated Phrases / Mottoes / Slogans 1) shahada 2) allah akbar
Image Number 0398
Groups Region of Operation Central Asia
Groups Country of Operation Uzbekistan (and Afghanistan)
Weapons Cold Weapons and Defensive Armor, Firearms, Pistol / Handgun, Automatic / Assault Rifle, AK47
Geopolitical Symbols Non-country Flag, Symbol of party, movement or company, Slogan
Geopolitical Analysis Black Flag. Islamic Jihad Union of Uzbekistan logo - black flag with shahada above sword and calligraphic representation of the group's name
People Operative / Warrior (=mujahid), Child
People Analysis Child recruits of Islamic Jihad Union (IJU) of Uzbekistan
Religious Textual References Shahada, Takbir, Use of Calligraphy
Religious Textual References Analysis La ila illa Allah, Muhammad rasul Allah
Religious Symbols Black / White / Green Banners
Religious Symbols Analysis Black banner with text of shahada
Topography Man-made Structure / Landmark
Topography Analysis Building

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