The presence and evolution of ISIS-linked elements in Azerbaijan and among Turkish-speaking networks reflect a fragmented and complex landscape marked by disputed affiliations, competing claims of authority, and shifting operational linkages across regions.
Available information indicates that ISIS influence in Azerbaijan has been rooted in a minority group based in the country’s northern areas. Over time, individuals from this region have reportedly travelled to conflict zones in Iraq and Syria, where they joined militant organisations including Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) and later ISIS during its peak years.
Security analysts note that, at the height of ISIS’s territorial control, Azerbaijani-linked networks maintained transnational connections, with indications that elements within the Azerbaijani branch were guided or influenced by figures operating from Turkey. During this period, an Azerbaijani militant—previously involved in insurgent activity against United States forces in Iraq during the 2000s as part of AQI—was reportedly entrusted with responsibilities related to Turkish-speaking fighters within ISIS ranks.
The landscape, however, has been further complicated by the emergence of entities such as the “Journal of Morality and Sunnah” (JMS), whose association with ISIS has remained ambiguous and contested. While JMS publicly portrayed itself as representing ISIS in Turkey, its standing within broader pro-ISIS circles appeared limited, with many networks reportedly distancing themselves from the group.
Shortly before a reported operation in 2023, tensions within pro-ISIS ecosystems surfaced more visibly, as individuals linked to established networks allegedly challenged JMS members over issues related to allegiance declarations, commonly referred to as “bay’ah.” These developments underscored internal divisions and competing claims of legitimacy among ideologically aligned factions.
Further signalling fragmentation, in 2024 the Turkish branch of the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) formally announced that it had no organisational ties with JMS, reinforcing assessments that the group operates outside recognised ISIS command structures.
Experts suggest that these developments highlight the increasingly decentralised and contested nature of ISIS-linked networks, particularly among non-Arab and transnational communities, where ideological alignment does not necessarily translate into unified command or operational cohesion.
