Thaher Salim Mohammad Al-Shahiri (Arabic: ظاهر سليم محمد الشاهري)[1] known by his nom de guerre Abul-Hasan al-Muhajir (Arabic: أبو الحسن المهاجر; died 27 October 2019)[2] was the kunya used by the second official spokesman of the Islamic State from 5 December 2016 until 27 October 2019, when he was killed in a U.S. airstrike in northwest Syria. He was a Saudi national.[3] He was replaced by Abu Hamza Al-Qurashi.
History
Abul-Hasan was the successor of Abu Mohammad al-Adnani, who was killed while visiting the Aleppo frontlines in Syria in August 2016.[4] He was believed to have been a foreigner due to his kunya identifying him as "al-Muhajir" meaning "the emigrant". After his death, he was confirmed to be a Saudi national on 31 October.[5]
Speeches
"And You Will Remember What I [Now] Say To You" – 5 December 2016[6]
"So Be Patient. Indeed, The Promise Of God Is Truth" – 4 April 2017[7]
"And When The Believers Saw The Companies" – 12 June 2017[8]
"So From Their Guidance Take An Example" – 22 April 2018[9]
"The Mujāhidīn’s Assault on the Tower of the Polytheists" – 26 September 2018[10]
"He Was True To God, So [God] Was True To Him" – 18 March 2019[11]
Speculation about identity
In an article published in The Atlantic, journalist Graeme Wood postulates that Abul-Hasan al-Muhajir is Texas-born John Georgelas, also known as Yahya Abu Hassan, though he later cast doubt on his theory, and al-Bahrumi was eventually killed in October 2017.[12]
On 29 October, U.S. President Donald Trump stated on social media that al-Baghdadi's "number one replacement" had been killed by American forces, adding: "Most likely would have taken the top spot - Now he is also Dead!"[16] While Trump did not specify a name, a U.S. official later confirmed that Trump was referring to al-Muhajir.[17] On 31 October, IS confirmed al-Muhajir and al-Baghdadi's deaths.[18]