The Jordanian city of Zarqa has given the world three of its most notorious terrorists in recent years, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, double-agent Humam al-Bilawi and one of the bombers in th 1993 attack on the World Trade Center, Mohammed A. Salameh. This dense, dirty city of one million people has also produced countless jihadis and suicide bombers who have been active in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Originally a town built around a military base, it has attracted both Palestinian and Iraqi refugees living alongside the powerful local tribes whose blatant corruption has left Zarqa with little to be proud of. Marked by narrow, trash-filled alleys with few trees and no parks, Zarqa's conservative Islamist residents once burned down the town's only movie theater. Children fill those alleyways, play in the dirt, and on one occasion threw stones at a reporter for entertainment.
Islamists have long since taken over Zarqa's public offices, and its particular brand of isolation, lack of education and culture of jihad make it a dangerous place for its enemies. Jordan's formidable intelligence services understand this, and use their connections to force potentially violent jihadis out of the country. The philosophy seems to be, jail them then ship them out. This is the template for Zarqawi – his mother related how he couldn't hold down a job anywhere in town because intelligence agents would harass the boss to fire him. With nothing left to do, Zarqawi took off for Afghanistan. But in recent years, the situation has had a boomerang effect: The dangerous jihadis return, radicalized from their time in Jordanian prisons, fearless from indoctrination in Afghanistan and ready for a fight.
This article looks at Zarqa – why the problem Jordan can't seem to control is increasingly affecting the world. What is it about Zarqa? What is being done to stop it? Does the American government understand the spillover effect from Zarqa? The report will provide the context for why Zarqa continues to churn out suicide bombers and terror masterminds.
Also, a new generation from Zarqa is learning to venerate Bilawi and Zarqawi as heroes, and readers should understand that it is happening openly in one of America's most trusted strategic allies.
Our reporter has visited Zarqa and convinced the female members of Zarqawi's household to grant her an exclusive interview and a private look into their world – how it functions and the extreme religious conservatism (no televisions, radios or reading material except the Koran). This is not at all unusual for a family in Zarqa.
The print story we can offer is 1,000 words minimum. A "behind the scenes" blog entry is also an option. Regarding video, we can offer footage of Zarqa that highlights the hopelessness there, giving a more visceral feel to why the blighted city is dangerous for the rest of the world, especially the US. We can also provide audio and video-taped interviews with shopkeepers and people on the ground to discuss the problems of their city.
Slug: JO-Terror-factory
Date available for assignment: Now
Time period for assignment: 1-3 weeks
Expiration date: none
Reporter(s): Kristen Gillespie
Print: yes Video: yes Audio: yes Photos: yes
