The Ayyubid ruler of Syria, Al-Mu'azzam, who, until that time had been determined to rehabilitate fortifications and buildings in Jerusalem, decided to systematically destroy the Crusader fortifications in the Levant in general and Jerusalem in particular.
A publishing house based in London, United Kingdom, Azzam Publications has been accused by the authorities of being "part of a conspiracy to provide material support and communications links to people engaged in terrorism" by authorities.
In a BBC interview aired on 5 April 2012 Evan Kohlmann an American internet extremism expert, said of the websites to which the men are allegedly linked that '"Even today there are very few websites out there that have the credibility that Azzam publications still has now."'.