A man purported to be the notorious leader of the so-called Islamic State appeared at a mosque in Mosul , calling on people to carry out a holy war , according to witnesses and a video posted to the extremist group 's website . A video promoted on social media sites tied to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria purports to show Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi leading Friday prayers at the Great Mosque of al-Nuri in Mosul , a move that comes weeks after ISIS seized control of Iraq 's second-largest city . If it is al-Baghdadi , it would be one of the first known appearances of the militant leader to be captured on video . Very few images have been made public of al-Baghdadi . The Iraqi government has seen the video and is analyzing it , a spokesman in Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki 's office told CNN . The U.S. government also is looking into it . In the video , the man purported to be al-Baghdadi urges people to follow his call to create a `` caliphate , '' an Islamic state , in Iraq and Syria , and wage `` jihad '' during Ramadan -- the holy month of fasting for Muslims that began last week . `` God created us to worship him and spread his religion , and ordered us to fight his enemies for him and for religion , '' the man said . During the sermon , the man said Muslims are sinners if they did not seek this goal of establishing an Islamic state . Will al Qaeda fight ISIS Islamic state ? `` I am being entrusted with this heavy burden and duty to be your imam , although I am not the best one among you , '' he said . `` Therefore , if you see me as righteous , you should help me and if you see me wrong , you should advise me and help me . Obey me as long as long as I obey God in ruling you . ... If I disobey God , then you are no longer obligated to obey me . '' Al-Baghdadi 's appearance comes days after ISIS declared him as the leader of its new `` caliphate , '' or Islamic state , extending from Aleppo in northeastern Syria to the Diyala province in Iraq . The extremist group also said it was changing its name from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria to `` the Islamic State . '' CNN can not independently verify the authenticity of the video , which shows dozens of people , including men who appear to be bodyguards , listening to the sermon and praying . Several automatic weapons are displayed near the man delivering the sermon . Al-Baghdadi was never identified by name , only as `` the emir of the believers , '' according to a woman who was at the mosque when he arrived . CNN is identifying the witness only as Bara ' a out of a concern for her safety . `` It was a terrifying Friday , '' she said . The video identifies the man as Al-Khalifah Ibrahim , the name al-Baghdadi now goes by with his followers since ISIS declared the creation of the so-called `` Islamic State '' -- a move that enraged many Muslims . Four to five minutes before the sermon was to begin , the imam at the mosque was told , in front of followers , to step down , Bara ' a told CNN . Then , black vehicles with blacked-out windows pulled up out front of the mosque , she said . The men who got out of the vehicles were chanting `` Allahu Akbar '' ( God is great ) as they walked in . `` The emir of the believers , he will give the sermon , '' said one of the men who arrived with al-Baghdadi . `` So listen to him . '' Those who accompanied al-Baghdadi took over the first row in the mosque , she said . In the video , the faces of the people in that row are blurred . Bara ' a was sitting on the second floor of the mosque , an area designated for women to gather during the sermon . `` We were crying quietly , fearing they will figure out we were crying out of fear and that they would harm us , '' she said . `` We were kept in the mosque for an hour . There were a number of gunmen who blocked the door . '' Very little is known about al-Baghdadi , but a biography posted on jihadist websites last year said he earned a doctorate in Islamic studies from a university in Baghdad . He formed the militant group in Salaheddin and Diyala provinces north of the Iraqi capital before joining al Qaeda in Iraq . Al-Baghdadi was detained for four years in Camp Bucca , which was a U.S.-run prison in southern Iraq . He was released in 2009 .
Video refers to speaker as al - Khalifah Ibrahim , a name he goes by with followers . Iraq and U.S. officials say they are looking into the video . Group says it 's changing its name from Islamic State of Iraq and Syria to ` ` Islamic State '' Very little is known about Abu Bakr al - Baghdadi , the leader of the so - called Islamic State .