Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

1. ISIS- The Rising Terrorist Group
What is ISIS?
-Islamic state of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), or Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)
- An extremist ultra-conservative militant Islamic group
- They control large portions of Syria and Iraq and are expanding rapidly.
- Known for:
- Extreme violence such as mass executions, public beheadings, drowning -
Fast expansion in territory
- Enthusiasm and strong social media presence - Strong beliefs and lack of
compromise
- Branded by the UN as a terrorist group
Historical Names
The group has various names since it was founded in 1999 by Jordanian
radical Abu Musab al-Zarqawi under the name Jamāʻat al-Tawḥīd wa-al-Jihād
(lit. "The Organisation of Monotheism and Jihad"). When in October 2004 al-Zarqawi
swore loyalty to Osama bin Laden, he renamed the group Tanẓīm Qāʻidat al-Jihād fī
Bilād al-Rāfidayn (lit. "The Organisation of Jihad's Base in Mesopotamia"),
commonly known as al-Qaeda in Iraq or AQI. Although the group never called itself
al-Qaeda in Iraq, this remained its informal name for many years.
In January 2006, AQI merged with several other Sunni insurgent groups to
form the Mujahideen Shura Council (MSC). After al-Zarqawi was killed in June 2006,
the MSC merged in October 2006 with several more insurgent factions to form a new
group, ad-Dawlah al-ʻIraq al-Islāmiyah, which translates as the Islamic State of Iraq
(ISI) The ISI was led by Abu Omar al-Baghdadi and Abu Ayyub al-Masri,who were
killed in a US–Iraqi operation in April 2010, after which Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
became the group's new leader.
The Name "Islamic State" and "caliphate" Declaration
The group's declaration of a new caliphate in June 2014 and its adoption of the
name "Islamic State" have been criticized and ridiculed by Muslim scholars and rival
Islamists both inside and outside the territory it controls. In a speech in September
2014, President Obama said that ISIL is not "Islamic" on the basis that no religion
condones the killing of innocents and that no government recognizes the group as a
state, while many object to using the name "Islamic State" owing to the far-reaching
religious and political claims to authority which that name implies. The United
Nations Security Council, together with the United States, Canada, Turkey, Australia
Russia, the United Kingdom and other countries generally call the group "ISIL",

2. while much of the Arab world uses the Arabic acronym "Dāʻish". France's Foreign
Minister Laurent Fabius said "This is a terrorist group and not a state. I do not
recommend using the term Islamic State because it blurs the lines between Islam,
Muslims, and Islamists. The Arabs call it 'Daesh' and I will be calling them the 'Daesh
cutthroats.'" Retired general John Allen, the US envoy appointed to co-ordinate the
coalition, US military Lieutenant General James Terry, head of operations against the
group, and Secretary of State John Kerry had all shifted towards use of the term
DAESH by December 2014.
Evolution
Under al-Zarqawi, the group participated in the Iraqi insurgency following the
March 2003 invasion of Iraq by Western forces.
In August 2011, following the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War, ISI, under the
leadership of al-Baghdadi, sent a mission into Syria. Under the name Jabhat an-
Nuṣrah li-Ahli ash-Shām (or al-Nusra Front), it established a large presence in Sunni-
majority Raqqa, Idlib, Deir ez-Zor, and Aleppo provinces. In April 2013, al-Baghdadi
decreed the reunification of the Syrian al-Nusra Front with ISI to form the "Islamic
State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL). However, Abu Mohammad al-Julani and Ayman
al-Zawahiri, the leaders of al-Nusra and al-Qaeda respectively, rejected the merger.
After an eight-month power struggle, al-Qaeda cut all ties with ISIL by February 2014,
citing its failure to consult and "notorious intransigence"
In early 2014, ISIL drove Iraqi government forces out of key cities in its
campaign, which was followed by the capture of Mosul and the Sinjar massacre. The
loss of control almost caused a collapse of the Iraqi government and prompted a
renewal of US military action in Iraq. In Syria, the group has conducted ground
attacks on both the Syrian Arab Army and rebel factions.
Background on Islam
- Monotheistic faith revealed through Muhammad, the Prophet of Allah (God)
- 1.57 billion followers (over 23% of the world population)
- 49 Muslim-majority countries
- No official central authority - mostly decentralized
- ISIS does not represent the majority of Muslims!
- ISIS, however, has the potential to affect many Muslims
Sharia Law- Basic Islamic legal system derived from scripture of Islam (Quran
and Hadith)
Roughly 5 areas of Sharia law:
1. Belief: Allah, His angels, His books, His prophets, the Day of Judgment and the
decrees of God.
2. Moralities: giving good counsel, humility, patience and so forth.

3. 3. Devotions: the Five Pillars, alms, pilgrimage to Mecca, and jihad (war against
unbelievers).
4. Transactions: business law, marriage, divorce and disputes.
5. Punishments: stoning, amputation, lashings, and retaliation.
What are ISIS’ goals?
- To establish a Caliphate
- An Islamic political-religious leadership, which centers on the Caliph (the successor
to Muhammad)
- Re-create the early days of Muhammad (despite heavy use of technology)
- Enforce Sharia Law; no one has tried harder to implement strict Sharia law
- Wage war against apostates and non-believers
- Expand the Caliphate and gain territory
- It considers itself a headline player in the imminent end of the world
What are ISIS’ beliefs?
- All laws must be from God (scripture or Sharia law)
- They cannot recognize borders
- Not allowed to vote (no democracy)
- They require territory in which Islamic law can be enforced
- This allows them to be a legitimate Caliphate
- There is “an obligation to terrorize its enemies” - argument is that doing so hastens
victory and avoids prolonged conflict
- Crucifixion, beheadings, stoning and cutting hands are sacred punishment for
crimes, depending on severity
- The caliph must wage jihad at least once a year, otherwise he will fall into sin –
Followers cannot:
- Sell alcohol or drugs
- Wear Western clothes
- Shave one’s beard
- Vote in an election - even for a Muslim candidate
-Results:
- Roughly 200 million Muslims are marked for death, as well as the heads of
state of every Muslim country, which have elevated man-made law above Sharia by
running for office or enforcing laws not made by God
- Muslim “apostates” are the most common victims
Are they any different from other radical groups? ISIS != (Al-Qaeda OR
Taliban OR Hamas OR etc…)
- To the Islamic State, any act of political governance/following of manmade law is
apostasy - Under Taliban rule, Afghanistan exchanged ambassadors with Saudi
Arabia, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates

4. - Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas have participated in democracy, and even hold a
seat in the UN. Negotiation and accommodation have worked, at times, for the
Taliban as well
- Al-Qaeda acts like an underground political movement, operating as a
geographically diffuse network of autonomous cells
How did they become so powerful?
- Huge part is usage of social media
- Videos from ISIS show that it’s an Islamic Utopia
- About 2000-2500 foreign nationals joining each month
- Many are academics with strong religious beliefs who want to live a purer life
- Lack of compromises and sheer intensity of beliefs strengthen the members
- As a caliphate, it claims religious, political and military authority over all Muslims
worldwide
Why are people joining?
- Heroism associated with leaving family behind for the sake of God
- A sense of empowerment; freedom to follow a pure version of their religion
- An escape from Islamophobic cultures of the West - desire to not live as “less than a
citizen”
- Attracts those who feel isolated with a sense of belonging
- It is considered a sin for Muslims not to live in the Caliphate
- They want to live under true Sharia, and many want martyrdom
- Locals are in lands with bad governance, which is only valued for their oil
What are the impacts of ISIS?
- More radicalized actions from Muslims around the world
- Locals are hugely affected by the events - mass refugees, mass killings
- Christians are allowed to live in ISIS territory provided that they pay a tax, but most
have left the area
- Destruction of cultural heritage sites, and any religious buildings/symbols that are
not of Islam

5. - A few “lone wolf” supporters of the Islamic State have attacked Western targets,
and more attacks can come, but most are solo acts, and largely due to frustration over
failed immigration attempts
What is the world response?
- Americans/Canadians (until recently) are supporting Kurds/Iraq and Saudi
governments in the fight against ISIS
- Recently Russia joined this effort
- Bleeding ISIS seems to be the best of bad military options
- Military action is argued by some to be counter productive
- An invasion could rally even more supporters.
References:
http:www.Slideshare.net., Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
accessed: July 23,2017
http:www.google.com.,Islamic_State_of_Iraq_and_the_Levant.
file:///D:/ISIS/whats-the-deal-with-isis-1-151116064836-lva1-app6891.pdf
http://www.theatlantic.com.,magazine archive,2015 what-isis-reallywants
Prepared By: Melchor Ga-ayon Dullao