‘Who Should We Contact In Case You Became A Martyr?' Asks Al Qaeda ‘Application'

‘Who Should We Contact In Case You Became A Martyr?' Asks Al Qaeda ‘Application'
A translated copy of an application to join Osama bin Laden's terrorist network is photographed in Washington, Wednesday, May 20, 2015. The document is among 100 realized by U.S. intelligence officials. U.S. intelligence officials have released more than 100 documents seized in the raid on Osama bin Ladenâs compound, including a loving letter to his wife and a job application for his terrorist network. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence says the papers were taken in the Navy SEALs raid that killed bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011.(AP Photo)
A translated copy of an application to join Osama bin Laden's terrorist network is photographed in Washington, Wednesday, May 20, 2015. The document is among 100 realized by U.S. intelligence officials. U.S. intelligence officials have released more than 100 documents seized in the raid on Osama bin Ladenâs compound, including a loving letter to his wife and a job application for his terrorist network. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence says the papers were taken in the Navy SEALs raid that killed bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011.(AP Photo)

An apparent application to join al Qaeda is among the slew of newly released documents U.S. intelligence officials say were seized in the May 2011 raid that resulted in Osama bin Laden’s death.

A questionnaire titled “Instructions to Applicants” is one of 103 newly declassified documents released and published on the Director of National Intelligence website Wednesday in a collection called "Bin Laden's Bookshelf."

The three-page survey includes questions about personal history, military experience, religious beliefs and even hobbies -- one item asks applicants if their “favorite material” is “science or literature.” Questions more specific to al Qaeda appear further into the document:

application

Instead of simply asking for an emergency contact, the questionnaire concludes by asking, “Who should we contact in case you become a martyr?”

The English-language version is "fully translated" from the original Arabic-language version, according to the DNI. The site's link for the Arabic-language questionnaire originally directed readers to an unrelated letter, but this was corrected later Wednesday.

In addition to the newly declassified material, officials also released hundreds of documents that include books and articles in English and Arabic, U.S. government documents, letters and religious writings.


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