Who Are Islamic State

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1

WHO ARE ISLAMIC STATE

The Origin of Islamic State

Terror attack in Paris 13th on November 2015

The attack in Saint Denis, Paris’

Who were the Paris attackers?

Attack in San Bernardino, California

Terrorist attack at Leytonstone tube station, London

Islamic State Bomb Likely Brought Down a Russian Jet.

International Attacks by Islamic State

Possible cause of the Syrian civil war

CHAPTER 2

THE BEGINNING OF ISLAM: HISTORY OF MUHAMMAD

CHAPTER 3

THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL

CHAPTER 4

ARAFAT: CHAIRMAN OF THE PALESTINIAN LIBERATION ORGANISATION

CHAPTER 5

THE END OF AN ERA: YASSER ARAFAT DIES

CHAPTER 6

HAMAS, ESTABLISHING AN ISLAMIC PALESTINIAN STATE

CHAPTER 7

HEZBOLLAH: THEIR MAKEUP AND GOALS

CHAPTER 8

PALESTINIAN ISLAMIC JIHAD

CHAPTER 9

THE HISTORY OF AFGHANISTAN

CHAPTER 10

MUSLIM FUNDAMENTALISTS DECLARE WAR ON THE WEST

CHAPTER 11

ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM

CHAPTER 12

WHO ARE AL-QAEDA

CHAPTER 13

OSAMA BIN LADEN: THE FOREMOST FIGUREHEAD OF MODERN MUSLIM FUNDAMENTALISM

CHAPTER 14

THE ARAB SPRING 2011

CHAPTER 1

WHO ARE ISLAMIC STATE

Almost three thousand years of history obliterated in probably less than a day. ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) which were recently named as Islamic State released videos showing the bombing and destruction of Nimrud which was a very important archaeological site in Iraq. What we can see in the videos released by Islamic State are the militants using power tools to deface and destroy the 13th century capital city of the Assyrian civilisation which had withstood many wars. All of the relics, statues within the museum and buildings were destroyed and the proof of this act is witnessed by the videos taken by Islamic State.

Islamic State are one of the most powerful groups in the Middle East and are a franchise of Al Qaeda in Iraq which was led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Today the leader of Islamic State is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He is now the most wanted man on earth and he controls a large, well armed and financially stable army of men with numbers ranging from 30,000 to 100,000. Islamic State are currently fighting against the Syrian government led by Bashar al-Assad. What makes this situation complex is that the United States and other western governments are supporting groups within Syria who are also fighting against the Syrian government troops of al-Assad. Islamic State are opposed to all western powers. Based on the evidence of recent attacks and as we can see from the recent attacks in Paris on Friday 13th November 2015 where over 130 people were killed, Islamic State will, when capable launch attacks against innocent people living in western cities. A major philosophy driving the members of Islamic State is to impose Sharia law throughout the world. Again, we know that this was part of the framework that made up Osama bin Laden’s group, Al Qaeda.

Figure1. Osama bin Laden

We can learn a lot about Islamic State from the videos they record. The members or radicals all preach the word of God which transcribes to the killing of non believers or infidels as they see non-believers and through the killing of infidels they will free themselves from hell. For western people this is very scary for they see us as infidels and by taking the lives of western people they are guaranteeing themselves a place in heaven. If people want a parliament or government to control them or believe in democracy they too are seen as infidels.

What we can see now with the Syrian war is that there is a second front. The individual groups are also fighting each other and the government forces of al-Assad. It is believed that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries have supported Islamic State both with weapons and financially. In showing Saudi Arabia’s involvement with Islamic State there is the leaked top secret memo from the Saudi Arabia ministry of the interior. The memo states that there are several hundred prisoners waiting to be executed under Sharia law but they would be exempted from their death sentences and their families and loved ones would receive a monthly salary in return of them undertaking rehabilitation and completing military training in order to send them to Jihad in Syria.

We can also see through videos released by Islamic State that its members have to swear an oath to their commanders and witnessed by Allah that they will obey and follow all orders directed to them which can be an order to kill anyone whom their commanders see fit to be killed. This oath stays in place for the member’s lifetime. If by chance you decide to break the oath you have taken you have to see the Sheikh and tell him that you want to break the oath. The member will then be asked for his reason and the member has to give his explanation. With luck on your side you choose the Sheikh who will accept the member’s explanation.

Islamic States leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is said to be too radical for Al Qaeda. He is the target of one of the biggest manhunts ever seen in the Middle East. He orders public beheadings, bombing attacks and is America’s second Most Wanted Man with a bounty of 10 million dollars reward for his capture or death. The man with the largest reward of 25 million dollars is Ayman al-Zawahiri who is chief of the global Al Qaeda organisation.

Figure 2. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

The Jihad in Syria which is backed and financed by outside money allowed Al Qaeda to get involved in fighting and to regroup their members with a new Jihad and create new operations. It also allowed them to gain new fighters. Again the members believe that jihad will allow them to enter paradise.

ISIL were formed in 2006 under the name the Islamic State of Iraq. It was a set up combining different groups including Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia led by Ayman al-Zawahiri. On October 13, 2006 the establishment of the Islamic State of Iraq was formed, which was three months after the killing of al-Zawahiri by American forces. Abu Abdullah al-Rashid al-Baghdadi became the leader or emir. It is believed that the real leader of the group was Abu Ayyub al-Masri, an Egyptian. In 2010 al-Masri and al-Baghdadi were killed in an American attack in 2010. The current leader of Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi became the new leader and remains the leader.

Al-Baghdadi is said to have played an important role in establishing the al-Nusra front which is a Sunni Islamist militia fighting against al-Assad’s government forces. Al-Baghdadi believed that the leader of the al-Nusra front Abu Mohammad al-Julani was not his equal and a subordinate to him and that al-Julani would follow his orders and obey him. A key point to the formation of al-Nusra was that al-Baghdadi said that the al-Nusra front was disillusioned and the members of the al-Nusra front were becoming members of the Islamic State of Iraq.

The name of Islamic State of Iraq was changed after the members of the al-Nusra joined with al-Baghdadi to ISIL (The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant). It is believed and through evidence from Islamic State videos that if Syria does fall to the militants, local people will rule Syria but if at the time there are not suitable people to rule the country a foreigner or foreigners can take control. These locals will have to swear an oath of obedience to God. The goal of Islamic State is to establish a caliphate (a form of Islamic government led by a caliph who is a person considered a religious and political successor to Muhammad).

Figure3. al-Zarqawi

The people of Syria depend on Islamic State in the areas that Islamic State control to give them food, medicine and necessities for existence. They also control the schools in the areas they control. Through fear and intimidation Islamic State gain the support of the people in these areas. Through this situation Islamic State recruit local Syrians and people from abroad who are influenced by the propaganda delivered by Islamic State through social media networks.

The Free Syria Army (FSA) was supported by the United States, Britain, France and other western powers. There were a great number of foreign fighters with the FSA but the western powers gave weapons, money and munitions to other radical groups and the power that the FSA had in Syria diminished. What this led to was a second war front with the radical groups.

The al-Nusra front was formed in February 2012 and became the most effective armed group acting in Syria. A lot of their members gained experience in fighting in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The al-Nusra front has over 14 thousand fighters who remain fighting in Syria. The al-Nusra front is also made up of many foreign fighters. The group also identifies with Al- Qaeda ideology as it seeks to create an Islamic caliphate in greater Syria including Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian authority.

The al-Nusra Front and its path for Jihad incorporate the teachings of Osama Bin Laden which includes toppling the government of al-Assad in Syria but also it’s the personal duty of every Muslim to perform in the path of Jihad as orchestrated by Osama bin Laden. They also believe like most groups fighting in Syria that the loss of a Muslim life is detrimental to existence and that Allah wants all Muslims to live. In accordance Muslim fighters are ordered to protect themselves at all times and to go against this understanding is UN Muslim.

Also emphasised in this approach to fighting is that the Muslim must have the best weapons as it is called for by God (Allah). What we can see through videos recorded by Islamic State is that they have the most protective armour for war including helmets, life saving armour and weapons. It opens up the question as to where all of this fighting and protective equipment is coming from. Many believe that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries are supplying these radical groups. The al-Nusra Front for example claim that they have taken the armaments and body gear that has come from winning battles with the Syrian army. Governments and Experts remain sceptical about the assertion. The majority of foreign fighters within Syria are members of the al-Nusra Front.

Muslims are split into two main branches, the Sunni and Shia. After the death of Muhammad a dispute arose as to who would lead the Muslim people. Within the Muslim religion the Sunnis have the greater majority with an 85 to 90 percent majority. The group known as Sunnis chose Abu Bakr (Muhammad, the prophet’s adviser) to become the first successor or caliph to lead the Muslim state. The members of Islamic State are Sunnis. Shiites favoured Ali, Muhammad’s cousin and son in law. Ali and his successors are called Imams who not only lead the Shiites but are considered to be the descendants of Muhammad.

The members of Islamic State believe in Jihadist-Salafism. It is a religious-political ideology based on the belief of violent jihadism and the Salafi movement of returning to true Sunni Islam. The members believe that they are called to join the jihad and they simply answered this call. They also believe that if they are unfairly treated they will react with jihad. The members are trained in hand fighting, suicide attacks, fighting with different kinds of weapons and a complete understanding of guns, rocket launchers, and combat tactics, thought on how to give first aid and carry the injured. They also don’t negotiate with anyone. The members are given complete military training and have high combat experience. The major desire for these fighters is to meet Allah and I feel that this is the reason why so many are willing to give their lives for what the fighter sees as protecting the word of Allah.

Foreign fighters who go to join Islamic State are respected by their fellow members. Islamic state and the al-Nusra Front see the members who have joined them from abroad as men and women who have left their countries to defend the honour of the men fighting in Syria and for the honour of all Muslims. It can be said that Islamic State and al-Nusra feel that there should be more respect for the foreign fighters than the locals. The foreign fighter is met with love and respect and accepted as part of these groups.

The hostilities in Syria can be seen through social networking sites such as Twitter, YouTube, et al. Syria can be seen as the first social media war. Anyone with a camera, smart phone, amateur videographers and internet access can post on the sites and get their messages out and comment on the war. Each faction fighting in Syria has their own agenda and ideals. Rebel groups have people handling their social media accounts which helps get their message out and also helps recruit new fighters. Perhaps these groups see no difference between what is happening in reality and what happens online.

Islamic State prides themselves on being a terrorist group as they are seen by the West. They believe that terrorism and causing fear are the tools given to them by Allah in order to spread the word of Allah and that eventually they will have the world obeying and living under Sharia law. They feel that the East and the West should fear them and with this attitude they will frighten the enemies of God. In their ideology to follow the path of terrorism will help beat their enemies. They also believe that terrorism is a precept of their religion. Through following the path of terrorism it helps keep injustice and murder away from their women and children. As seen on one of their videos recorded during Friday prayers in a mosque in Idlib, (a city in north western Syria) the Imam (speaker) says that the difference between us and our enemies is that we love death as they love life. We love to die in the name of God as they love to live because dying in the name of God is a way to get the eternal life where there is no pain or suffering. In Syria the law of the land has gone and the people of Syria are now ruled by the law of terror.

As seen in one of the many videos released by Islamic State, for the foreign fighter they might miss their families, friends and country but they do believe that their family or country can give them a place in Paradise. They express that they miss God more than their families. The real victims in Syria are the ordinary people. These victims are the young, the elderly who are experiencing a very vicious and seemingly endless war which nobody can control.

The Origin of Islamic State

In Mosul Iraq, Islamic state destroyed priceless historical artefacts from the Mesopotamian period some dating back to the 7th century. They claimed that Muhammad himself ordered all of the idols to be destroyed. The extreme Islamic group known as Islamic State is terrorising the world. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has created a formidable organisation and the forming of Islamic State is a complicated story. Through a series of miscalculations when Iraq was controlled by the United States that may have helped Islamic State come into being. There are groups all over the world who support Islamic State and they are gaining new recruits by exposing the young people to radical ideology. There are videos recorded of radical Islamist preachers in London and elsewhere indoctrinating people through word of mouth.

Figure4. Islamic State wiping out history

In July 2014 Islamic State released the first images of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi the current leader of Islamic State. In the released video al-Baghdadi is recorded in the grand mosque in Mosul which is Iraq’s second largest city. When al-Baghdadi spoke the words he used were heard by his followers around the world and there were repercussions. He stated Allah has enabled us to establish the Caliphate and name our Imam. We will fight until the world follows Allah. In this address al-Baghdadi called himself the successor to Muhammad which means he is chosen as the spiritual and political leader of Muslims, the Caliph. He wanted and expected Muslims from all over the