An audio message purporting to come from the spokesman of Islamic State called on followers to launch attacks in Australia, as well as the United States, Europe, Russia, Iraq, Syria, Iran, and the Philippines during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which began in late May.
The audio clip was distributed on Monday on Islamic State's channel on Telegram, an encrypted messaging application. It was attributed to the militant group's official spokesman, Abi al-Hassan al-Muhajer.
The authenticity of the recording could not be independently verified, but the voice was the same as a previous audio message purported to be from the spokesman.
"O lions of Mosul, Raqqa, and Tal Afar, God bless those pure arms and bright faces, charge against the rejectionists and the apostates and fight them with the strength of one man," said al-Muhajer. Rejectionist is a derogatory term used to refer to Shi'ite Muslims.
"To the brethren of faith and belief in Europe, America, Russia, Australia, and others. Your brothers in your land have done well so take them as role models and do as they have done."
But Islamic State's actions, and all acts of terrorism, have been widely condemned by Muslim leaders around the world.
People who commit such acts of terror are "not Muslims", Hazim Arafeh, President of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand, told The AM Show in early June.
"The whole Muslim world has declared a long time ago that those people are not Muslims and they don't have a state," Mr Arafeh said.
"They are a bunch of lunatics who have completely taken verses out of the Quran out of context, built up their own destructive ideology and found a place where there is no rule of law to launch all of their ideologies."
Reuters / Newshub.
