The self-declared "Islamic State" leader spoke publicly for the first time at Mosul’s Great Mosque on Friday 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 ISIL element broke with the tradition, however, by sporting an ill-fitting chrome watch with a dark face, UK-based Telegraph daily reported.
His choice of accessory, which, according to the daily, is either a Rolex, Sekonda or £3,500 Omega seamaster, has been highlighted as jarring with the content of his controversial speech.
Video footage of the ISIL figure that was identified as Abu Bakr Baghdadi was posted on Youtube and prompted an outpouring of confused comments on social media.
However, the Iraqi intelligence authorities insist that the individual that appears on the footage is not Baghdadi, rather identifying him as Abu Bakr al-Khatuni.
NTJ/MB