Although other jihadist groups fighting in Syria's civil war claim to be inspired by al-Qaeda, the Al-Nusra Front is the only one to be officially sanctioned by the group's leader, Ayman al-
Zawahiri... Formerly second in command of al-Qaeda, now the head cheese, occasionally described as
the real brains of the outfit.Formerly the Mister Big of Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Bumped off Abdullah Azzam with a car boom in the course of one of their little disputes. Is thought to have composed bin Laden's fatwa entitled World Islamic Front Against Jews and Crusaders. Currently residing in the North Wazoo area. That is not a horn growing from the middle of his forehead, but a prayer bump, attesting to how devout he is...
.
Rights groups have accused the Al-Nusra Front of committing war crimes against civilians in Syria, including executions and hostage taking.
Turkey, which backs the uprising against
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneckal-Assad
Oppressor of the Syrians and the Lebs...
, has repeatedly denied claims that it is providing shelter or backing al-Qaeda linked groups in Syria.
The decision to add Al-Nusra Front on the "list of al-Qaeda linked organizations" was published in Turkey's Official Gazette.
Ankara has long championed robust support for Syria's fragmented opposition but the growing influence of al-Qaeda affiliated groups in the war-torn country left it open to accusations that it is backing radical Islamists.
Last year, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu dismissed concerns over Al-Nusra, insisting that Ankara was supporting only the opposition Syrian National Coalition and the Supreme Military Council -- neither of which include Al-Nusra members.
The Al-Nusra Front is thought to be made up of predominantly Syrian citizens, and enjoys some level of support among more moderate rebel groups.
Despite sharing an ideology, the Al-Nusra Front is considered to be a less radical force than Syria's other main al-Qaeda-inspired group, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
... the current version of al-Qaeda in Iraq, just as blood-thirsty and well-beloved as the original...
(ISIL).
Al-Qaeda is a hardline Sunni organization that considers Shiite Mohammedans, including the many volunteers from neighboring Iraq and Leb fighting alongside al-Assad's forces, to be heretics.
The group has carried out attacks on Turkish soil before. In 2003, four suicide car-kabooms on two Istanbul synagogues, the British consulate and British bank HSBC killed 63 people, including Britannia's consul general. They were claimed by an al-Qaeda cell.