Citation: “Digital Jihad: ISKP’s Weaponization of AI Literacy as Religious Obligation.” The Durand Dispatch, November 26, 2025.

In its 46th issue, published in June 2025, the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP)'s English-language magazine Voice of Khurasan introduced a notable theological innovation: declaring artificial intelligence literacy fard al-ayn—an individual religious obligation incumbent upon every Muslim. Published by ISKP's Al-Azaim Foundation, a media apparatus that has demonstrated multilingual capabilities and increasingly employed AI in its propaganda operations since early 2024, this directive represents an evolution in violent extremist adaptation to emerging technologies. This article analyzes ISKP's articulation of AI as religious duty, examining the theological arguments deployed, the operational security guidance provided, and the strategic implications for counterterrorism. The analysis reveals how ISKP leverages legitimate privacy concerns, documented technological vulnerabilities, and geopolitical grievances to position itself as both protector and educator of Muslim communities navigating an AI-saturated information environment. Understanding how organizations like ISKP conceptualize, communicate about, and operationalize AI literacy provides insights into the future of terrorism and the evolving requirements for effective counterterrorism. 

The intersection of terrorism and technology, from early adoption of encrypted communications by violent non-state actors to social media exploitation, has long been a policy concern. Yet the June 2025 publication of Voice of Khurasan Issue 46 marks a qualitatively new development: the explicit theological elevation of artificial intelligence literacy from tactical consideration to religious imperative.

Since its formation in January 2015, ISKP has demonstrated operational  resilience despite sustained counterterrorism pressure, evolving from a regional insurgency to an organization with demonstrated external operations capability. The group's media operations, particularly through its flagship English-language magazine Voice of Khurasan, have played a central role in this evolution, targeting audiences beyond the Afghanistan-Pakistan theater. The Voice of Khurasan, launched in late January 2022, is a part of ISKP's broader strategy to internationalize its messaging and appeal to global audiences. The magazine has expanded into multiple languages including Malayalam, Tajik, and Uzbek, demonstrating ISKP's understanding of diverse target demographics. While recent analysis has document ISKP’s AI-generated propaganda, including deepfake anchors delivering attack claims and manipulated footage, its latest arguments on the treatment of AI, however, transcend tactical deployment to articulate an ideological framework positioning technological literacy as sacred duty.

The centerpiece of Voice of Khurasan Issue 46 is the article "Light of Darkness," which constructs a theological argument positioning AI literacy as fard al-ayn—an individual obligation binding on every capable Muslim, analogous to the five daily prayers or Ramadan fasting. This categorization carries significant weight within Islamic jurisprudence, distinguishing individual from collective (fard al-kifaya) obligations. The article's theological scaffolding rests on Quranic verses emphasizing knowledge acquisition and intellectual responsibility. Most prominently, it cites Surah Al-Isra (17:36): "And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart—about all those [one] will be questioned." This verse, traditionally invoked in discussions of testimony and truth-seeking, is reinterpreted to encompass technological literacy in an AI-dominated information landscape.

ISKP's argument proceeds through several interlocking claims. The magazine positions artificial intelligence not as neutral technology but as "a force that shapes war, business, education, and identity." More critically, it frames AI as a weapon already deployed against Muslim populations: "Artificial intelligence isn't just a technology deployed in distant labs or boardrooms, it's a tool actively being used to surveil, manipulate, and harm Muslims worldwide." This framing draws on documented cases of surveillance technology targeting Muslim-majority populations, including revelations about Microsoft Azure services used by Israeli military intelligence for mass surveillance of Palestinians. By anchoring theological arguments in verifiable technological developments, ISKP lends credibility to its broader ideological claims. Building on classical Islamic emphasis on seeking knowledge (talab al-'ilm), the article argues that understanding AI constitutes a defensive necessity: "Understanding AI is no longer optional—it's an obligation." 

The designation of AI literacy as fard al-ayn rather than fard al-kifaya carries implications. While collective obligations can be fulfilled by community specialists, individual obligations require personal compliance. This framing creates urgency and positions ISKP as an essential educator, only by learning from organizations like ISKP, the logic suggests, can individual Muslims fulfill their religious duty. This theological innovation represents an adaptation of juridical categories to contemporary technological challenges.

The issue articulates six primary risk categories that blend legitimate security concerns with ideological grievances.

Deepfakes, Phishing, and Data Breaches The magazine warns of "AI-powered phishing attacks and deepfakes that can deceive even the most cautious users." This concern reflects the documented growth in deepfake fraud, with projected losses exceeding $40 billion by 2027. The magazine cites two specific data breach incidents to substantiate its claims about platform vulnerabilities:

These incidents provide foundation for ISKP's broader claims about AI platform vulnerabilities, allowing the organization to position itself as providing timely, accurate security intelligence rather than mere ideological messaging.

Islamic Content Manipulation and Data Exploitation ISKP warns that AI platforms have generated "fabricated hadiths, Quranic translations with distorted meanings, and outright lies attributed to Islamic scholars." This concern touches on anxieties within Muslim communities about AI models trained predominantly on Western datasets potentially misrepresenting Islamic teachings or cultural contexts. The magazine further highlights that "your prompts and conversations can be stored, analyzed, and recycled by companies to train their AI models—often without your explicit consent," reflecting broader concerns about AI companies' data handling practices that have driven regulatory scrutiny in Europe and elsewhere.

Economic Displacement and Surveillance Moving beyond immediate security threats, ISKP addresses economic anxieties: "AI-driven automation is rapidly replacing jobs, leaving millions vulnerable. Without understanding how AI works, Muslims risk being left behind in an economy that increasingly favors those with technical skills." This economic framing expands ISKP's appeal beyond security-conscious individuals to include those facing or fearing economic displacement, positioning the organization as a provider of practically valuable skills alongside ideological guidance. The magazine reserves its most detailed critique for surveillance applications: "Facial recognition, behavioral tracking, and gait analysis are being weaponized in Muslim-majority regions, from Xinjiang to Gaza. AI-powered surveillance systems are designed to monitor, suppress, and control Muslim populations under the pretext of 'security.'" ISKP explicitly references Microsoft's provision of Azure services to Israeli military intelligence, noting that Unit 8200 used Microsoft's infrastructure to store millions of intercepted Palestinian phone calls. Following investigations, Microsoft terminated Unit 8200's access to specific Azure services in September 2025, confirming that the services had been used for mass surveillance in violation of Microsoft's terms of service. ISKP leverages this incident to argue that major technology companies facilitate surveillance infrastructure targeting Muslim populations, positioning AI literacy not merely as personal protection but as resistance against systematic oppression.

Beyond threat assessment, ISKP provides detailed operational security guidance. The magazine includes a detailed comparison table evaluating major AI platforms across privacy dimensions:

The issue’s platform assessment reveals several operational security considerations, including variation in privacy protections across platforms, with the recommendation of privacy-focused alternatives to mainstream platforms. The explicit notation of DeepSeek as "China Based" reflects understanding that data sovereignty and government access vary by jurisdiction, suggesting ISKP considers not just technical features but the broader political economy of surveillance. By categorizing platforms as suitable for "sensitive queries" versus "non-sensitive info," the organization advocates for compartmentalization, a core principle of operational security that suggests guidance toward distributing activities across multiple platforms to minimize exposure from any single breach.

The magazine provides concrete guidance integrating technical recommendations with Quranic citations:

ISKP’s emphasis on compartmentalization, minimization of digital footprints, and critical evaluation of information sources are indicators of the group’s adaptation to new technological contexts. The integration of Quranic citations with technical guidance presents operational security not as paranoid isolation but as religiously mandated prudence, allowing ISKP to normalize security-conscious behavior within religious rather than solely tactical frameworks.

Beyond personal protection, the issue articulates how AI enables large-scale information warfare, providing specific conflict examples. The magazine's discussion of the Israel-Palestine conflict centers on claims of "AI bots mimicking Arabic and Hebrew speakers" deployed to "inflame tensions, spread false narratives, and manipulate public opinion" on social media. While this concern reflects documented instances of AI-generated content being used in information operations, attribution of specific campaigns remains technically challenging. ISKP's framing here serves to position AI as a tool of deception actively employed against Palestinian populations, reinforcing the magazine's broader argument about technological threats to Muslim communities.

The treatment of the Ukraine war follows a similar pattern, with ISKP citing "AI-generated fake testimonials from 'soldiers' confessing to war crimes" used "to discredit one side while amplifying propaganda for the other." This example reflects broader concerns about deepfakes' destabilizing potential in conflict zones, where distinguishing authentic from synthetic media grows increasingly difficult. By invoking a conflict that has generated substantial international attention and documented information warfare, ISKP attempts to establish AI manipulation as a universal phenomenon rather than one specifically targeting Muslim populations. The strategic value of this structure is evident. By beginning with the Israel-Palestine conflict, which resonates strongly with ISKP's target audience, and moving through a high-profile international conflict, ISKP constructs a narrative arc that positions AI not as a neutral tool but as actively weaponized against Muslim communities globally.

This narrative serves dual purposes in ISKP's strategic communications. First, it legitimizes the organization's own counter-information operations by framing them as defensive measures against a broader campaign of AI-enabled manipulation targeting Muslims. If major technology platforms have already facilitated harm against Muslim populations through algorithmic amplification, ISKP's logic suggests, then Muslims have not only the right but the obligation to develop their own information warfare capabilities and literacy. Second, it positions ISKP as a defender against technological oppression, offering itself as an organization that understands these threats, can educate Muslims about them, and possesses the technical sophistication to counter them. This framing allows ISKP to present itself as more than a militant organization—it becomes a protector and educator in an information environment where Muslims face systematic technological disadvantage.

The information warfare discussion thus functions as a bridge between the magazine's technical guidance on AI platforms and its broader ideological messaging. By grounding claims about AI's threat in conflicts that range from the speculative to the well-documented, ISKP creates a persuasive narrative framework that can appeal to audiences with varying levels of skepticism about technology companies' role in global conflicts.

ISKP's elevation of AI literacy to religious obligation has multiple implications for militants’ recruitment pathways, operational adaptations and counter-messaging opportunities.

Recruitment Innovation Through Technical Education The AI literacy framework is somewhat of a a departure from traditional violent extremist recruitment strategies. Rather than exclusively targeting marginalized, alienated, or economically desperate populations, ISKP positions itself as a provider of technological education that could appeal to educated, technically competent individuals who value privacy, resist surveillance, or harbor grievances against technology companies. This approach exploits the substantial overlap between ISKP's guidance on AI platforms and mainstream privacy advocacy, creating content that can attract privacy-conscious Muslims through seemingly apolitical technical guidance before exposing them to the organization's broader ideological framework. The practical utility of this approach distinguishes it from purely ideological content. Users may engage with ISKP materials primarily to solve concrete problems rather than for ideological reasons, which can then create opportunities for sustained exposure to the organization's messaging. 

Operational Security Adaptations and Surveillance Evasion The detailed platform guidance signals several operational adaptations that counterterrorism practitioners should anticipate. Migration from mainstream AI platforms like ChatGPT and Bing AI toward privacy-preserving alternatives will likely complicate surveillance and monitoring efforts that rely on cooperation with major technology platforms. The guidance toward task segregation across multiple platforms suggests ISKP users may distribute activities to minimize exposure from any single breach, complicating pattern analysis and behavioral profiling that might otherwise identify concerning activity. The emphasis on disabling memory features, avoiding government-linked platforms, and practicing digital minimalism indicates growing sophistication in evading surveillance. 

Corporate Accountability and Regulatory Pressure By highlighting cases where AI infrastructure enabled mass surveillance, ISKP amplifies calls for transparency about how technology is used by government clients. This aligns with broader civil society advocacy but serves ISKP's strategic interest in constraining state surveillance capabilities. Similarly, ISKP's documentation of data breaches and privacy failures contributes to broader momentum for stronger AI regulation and data protection requirements. While regulation may ultimately benefit consumers, it also reflects ISKP's interest in constraining the capabilities of state and corporate actors it views as adversaries.

Counter-Messaging Opportunities and Strategic Responses The theological framework ISKP articulates creates several openings for effective counter-messaging. Credible Islamic scholars engaging with these theological arguments can undermine ISKP's religious authority while offering alternative frameworks for understanding Muslims' relationship with technology. Simultaneously, mainstream institutions—technology companies, academic researchers, civil society organizations—can provide similar technical guidance on AI privacy and security without the ideological framing or extremist context. 

Intelligence and Research Priorities Tracking adoption patterns of privacy-preserving AI platforms within extremist networks becomes essential for maintaining visibility into extremist activity even as users shift away from mainstream services. ISKP's technical recommendations will likely evolve as the AI landscape changes, as platforms update their privacy features, and as new surveillance capabilities emerge. Monitoring these updates can provide insights into ISKP's assessment of which threats matter most and which countermeasures prove most effective. ISKP's designation of AI literacy as fard al-ayn represents a broader pattern of adapting Islamic juridical categories to contemporary challenges. Understanding how violent extremist groups update religious frameworks in response to technological change can illuminate broader adaptive strategies and identify future areas of theological innovation, providing strategic foresight for counterterrorism planning.

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