You might have encountered the harrowing images on any of the social media sites. If you are brave enough, you may even have watched the videos of multiple beheadings that the ISIS has unleashed on an unsuspecting world. Stern and Berger, terrorism experts from USA, have not only seen these videos, but have also extensively studied the actions and machinations of terrorists across the world. Therefore this book carries a great deal importance as it talks about one of the most dreaded contemporary terrorist organisation from a scholarly point of view.
If you ever wondered, like I did, why professionals such as doctors, engineers and teachers would be interested in travelling to the region occupied by ISIS, then this book provides the answers. They are not going to fight, as I naively assumed; on the other hand, they are going there to populate and help run the Islamic State that ISIS claims it has already set up. Not only that, its leader, al Baghdadi has also declared himself the Caliph, and has issued a clarion call to all other terrorist organizations and lay people living in other countries to submit to his authority.
How did the ISIS take birth, evolve, and assume the status that it has today? Why did the al Qaeda leadership admonish ISIS, and ask it to tone down its shocking tactics? How did it come to own a vast area of land across three countries; apparently larger than the area covered by the UK? Why does it revel in displaying its grisly murders in the form of beheadings? How has it made use of technology and social media to spread its message and news? How has it managed to build up a 'fan base' across the world? How do we go about bringing ISIS to task, and reducing its influence on people across the world? You will find the answers to all these questions in this book.
There is also a short but very informative account of Islam in general, and Salafism in particular - its origins and development, and its role in ISIS' plans - that is included as an appendix at the end of the book. While the appendix has been admirably put together by the main authors' doctoral student, Megan McBride, it was somewhat surprising to note that Reza Aslan's engaging account of Islam, No god but God is not listed among the references (it is listed in an earlier chapter by the main authors). Nevertheless, one would have liked to see this revelatory information about Salafism at the beginning of the book, to help understand the historical-political-religious context to ISIS' philosophy and actions.
Finally, Stern and Berger quote King Abdullah of Jordan about the problem that ISIS poses: "This is a Muslim problem. We need to take ownership of this. We need to stand up and say what is right and what is wrong." Never were truer words spoken. Now it is up to the entire Muslim community to disown, discourage, discredit and disband ISIS so that the world could be a safer place again.
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