Islamic State's Leader Wore 'Flashy Watch' During Sermon: Propaganda of Hypocrisy Used to Undermine Islamic State's Wealthy Jihadists

The Islamic State leader prompts confusion among his followers after appearing in his first public address wearing a wristwatch that resembles an expensive Omega or Rolex

Screen capture from YouTube video.

By Oliver Duggan
The emergence of the highly-secretive Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi from the shadow of Iraq’s sectarian crisis put a face to the threat of a global Islamic caliphate.

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The Islamic State leader spoke publicly for the first time at Mosul’s Great Mosque of Friday, an intervention in which he called on the world’s Muslims to “obey” him as “the leader who presides over you”.

But the self-anointed ‘Caliph Ibrahim’ also brought a touch of branding into the bloody conflict, with many who have seen the 20-minute sermon commenting on his bulky and expensive wristwatch.

Appearing in black robes and a turban in an attempt to evoke memories of the last Caliphs to rule from Baghdad, the jihadist broke with the tradition to sport an ill-fitting chrome watch with a dark face.

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