Top Jordan jihadist denounces IS caliphate

(MENAFN- Arab News) Amman: a leading jordanian jihadist ideologist on wednesday denounced the declaration of a 'caliphate" by sunni militants in iraq and syria warning against more bloodshed

'can every muslim and weak person find refuge in this caliphate or would it be like a sharp sword against all opponents" issam barqawi known as abu mohammed al-maqdessi wrote on facebook and on jihadist websites

On sunday militants previously known as the islamic state of iraq and the levant (isil) declared a 'caliphate" an islamic form of government last seen under the ottoman empire straddling parts of iraq and syria

The militants who renamed themselves the islamic state (is) already control large swathes of territory in north and east syria and this month captured vast stretches of northern and western iraq

They ordered muslims worldwide to pledge allegiance to their chief abu bakr al-baghdadi

'what would the fate be of other islamist fighters in iraq syria and elsewhere" asked maqdessi who was freed on june 16 after serving a jail sentence for recruiting fighters for the taleban

Once mentor to iraq's now slain al-qaeda leader abu musab al-zarqawi before the two fell out over ideological differences maqdessi warned against 'muslims who kill other muslims.

'do not think you can silence the voice of justice by shouting making threats aggression and having no manners" he asked

'reform yourselves repent and stop killing muslims and distorting religion.

Experts say the declaration of the caliphate is a direct challenge to al-qaeda and could spark a contest for the leadership of the global extremist group

They said it was unlikely that major groups linked to al-qaeda would immediately declare their allegiance to is

Jordan's jihadist movement is generally dominated by anti-is groups that support al-qaeda and its syrian ally al-nusra front

The offensive in iraq has also sparked fears in amman that the sunni militants will try to take their fight to the kingdom

Jordan is already suffering from hosting more than 600000 syrian refugees and has long faced the challenge of dealing with its own islamist extremists many of whom have joined jihadists or al-qaeda-linked groups in neighboring iraq and syria

On monday king abdallah ii appealed for international support to help jordan deal with regional turmoil after the caliphate was declared.