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You Give Islam a Bad Name


    The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is a Jihadist militant group established in the early years of the Iraq War and pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda in 2004. The group, which launched a war against the regime in Iraq, the western forces, liberal leaders, Shiites, Christians, Jews, non-believers, capitalists…. in short a war against everyone has been gaining ground in both Iraq and Syria. Ironically, the Group’s initials coincide with the Egyptian goddess Isis who symbolized nature and magic and befriended slaves, sinners and the downtrodden.
    In April 2013 ISIS expanded its operations to include Syria, where nearly 6000 of its fighters are in Iraq and 5000 are in Syria. Its strict moral code has led to the killing of thousands and the crucifixion of dozens; its atrocities are out of the scope of this article and in all cases their posted videos suffice. The Group captured Mosul, most of Nineveh, towns surrounding Baghdad, Ramadai, Faluja, Tikrit and more, and managed to infiltrate into Syria just perfectly where it not only confronts the regime, but Jabhed Al Nsura (al Qaeda affiliate group) itself as well. Its radicalism has even been been criticized by the leader of Al-Qaeda himself who said, according to the Economist, that the Group’s violent habits of committing public beheadings and positing videos of its activities was giving al-Qaeda a bad name.

   Delving into what went wrong in the Syrian and Iraqi systems, the catastrophic consequences of the western intervention in the region and why radicalization has become very much entrenched in the Middle Eastern society is a bit too late right now and would not really serve an immediate purpose. It is what it is and no one can change the past. What is much needed at the moment nonetheless is a concentrated effort by local actors and the international community to change the course of events in the region. Sending more arms is only helping the weapons industry and the militants themselves who are a) multiplying by the second and b) not frightened of the idea of dying as martyrs for their cause. Neither weapons nor armies are strong or abundant enough to uproot a belief. In this case, the radical and manipulated version of an Islamic way of life is the motor behind the activities of such actors and their ideological and philosophical base. The excuse that ISIS fighters are using is that the situation in Arab and Muslim states is one of exploitation of citizens, diversion from the rules of God and complete obedience to western secular thought. To correct that, Islamic sharia (their version) must be applied. It is no coincidence that the Group picked Iraq and then Syria as their starting points for their Islamic empire, as the internal chaos is a perfect recipe to carry out a modern and fully-fledged Islamic futuuhat (conquests). Their argument is sadly true: most Arab regimes are corrupt, autocratic, unethical and straight out exploitive. Societies live in extreme poverty where differences in class and income are monumentally huge. The acceptance of the apartheid state of Israel as a given, the indifference to Palestinian suffering, the enslavement of the working class and the conversion of regimes into mere proxies for western powers are realities that no one can deny. ISIS' expostulations are valid. Their magical radical/fanatical Islamic solution nonetheless is not. And this is where the solutions to the ISIS problem should start from.

   The dual track that is being suggested to address these fanatics must start with changing the societies’ perception of what an Islamic state is, the way of achieving it and what it is really based on. Banning cigarettes, lashing offenders, crucifying traitors and terrorizing people are not the religion’s foundations. Muslim clerics, teachers, preachers and scholars must all agree – in coordination with the state and civil actors – on a curriculum to follow in their teachings of the true basis of Islam. Whether in schools, mosques, TV programmes, radio shows, local activity or any public debate, a clarification of what Islam is and was (when applied correctly centuries ago) must be employed. It may take some time, but a change in public understanding of the tenants of a religion and the way it has been manipulated will serve as the best counterattack. The number of affiliates and supporters of such fanatic groups would eventualy fall, and instead of guns, books would have even used. The other track would be a political one, where a serious international approach to help eradicate all undemocratic and autocratic regimes must be followed. Wealth distribution, welfare, public well-being, equality and political participation would bring an end to an era of enslavement and injustice. Systems need to be reformed so as for societies to grow and flourish and realize – by themselves – that such radical liberation movements are highly unnecessary. It cannot be that we still live in an age where masses are being pushed into accepting the idea of ISIS to save them from their politicians. A solution is needed, and it is needed right now.


Perhaps what is been suggested and projected is very optimistic, but as Winston Churchill once said: I am an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else. 

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