The Main Facts About ISIS
ISIS is one of the strongest and most radical islamic terrorist organisations. This set of answers to main questions about ISIS will help you to imagine how horrible and powerful they are.
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) or simply Islamic State (IS) is an Islamic extremist rebel group controlling territory in at least four countries, including Libya, Nigeria, Iraq, Syria with operations or affiliates in Lebanon, Egypt, and other areas of the Middle East,North and West Africa,South, and Southeast Asia.
1. Leader
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi: Very little is known about al-Baghdadi, but a biography posted on jihadist websites in 2013 said he earned a doctorate in Islamic studies from a university in Baghdad. Part of the Iraqi insurgency, Baghdadi was arrested in 2006 and held at Camp Bucca, an American prison in Iraq. Baghdadi joined al-Qaeda following his release. Now, he is the most wanted and feared terrorist in the world, with a $10 million bounty on his head.
2.Why do they exist?
ISIS exist to spread Islam and Islamic rule across the lands of the classical Abassid Caliphate and further even into the Iberian Peninsula. As such, ISIS shows little understanding of the very checkered history of the Caliphate. In this, ISIS tends to be a type of romantic movement but an incredibly brutal one. Many Sunnis in Iraq (and Syria) feel disenfranchised by either the Alawite rule of Bashar al-Assad in Damascus or the Shi’ite rule of Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad. I think many Sunnis look upon ISIS as the only effective opposition to, especially, the regime in Baghdad. I am not sure but I suspect that the loyalty does not go much deeper.
3. Origin
ISIS' beginnings can be traced to the Second Gulf War in 2003, when the U.S., along with a small coalition of other nations, invaded Iraq and toppled dictator Saddam Hussein. Amongst the diverse insurgency fighting coalition forces and new Iraqi government was the extremist Islamic group al-Qaida in Iraq.
ISIS was formed out of the al-Qaida affiliate in 2013 and led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
4. Aim
The aim of ISIS is to create an Islamic state, referred to as a caliphate, across Sunni areas of Iraq and in Syria.
5. Funds
The Islamic State is one of the best-funded terrorist organizations operating today. With private financiers allegedly coming from Qatar, Yemen and Saudi Arabia, the Islamic State also controls several oil fields, operates complex extortion schemes throughout its territory and heavily taxes the people living under its rule.
Source: Legit.ng
