Where did ISIS come from?

In mid 2014 the world watched on in horror as a brand new threat to the free world emerged. Black clad militiamen with their faces covered stormed their way across much of Iraq and Syria along with other territories. But was this a new threat, or was this a long time coming?

In June 2014 an apparent new threat to the safety of the world emerged under the name of ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq & Levant). Made up of Sunni radicals, they tore their way across much of Iraq and Syria leaving a trail of blood and rubble in their wake.

We all witnessed the gruesome decapitations of American and British Journalists and aid workers, and the barbaric murders of others all because of beliefs and nationality.

But where did the so called Islamic State come from? Were they a group of associates who decided one day to take up arms and violently enforce sharia law, or are there roots that dig far deeper?

The answer in fact goes as far back as 2000, 14 years before IS made their name on the world stage.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is a name you may have heard extensively in the news since the rise of ISIL for being their leader, their caliph.

Baghdadi is an Iraqi born Sunni who was raised in the suburbs of Baghdad. Growing up he was very aware of the religious values of Islam, and was referred to by his family as “the Believer” due to his strict practice of the religion, which perhaps makes it no surprise that he managed to achieve a Bachelors degree, a PHD and a Masters in Koranic studies.

In the late 90’s Baghdadi’s uncle had convinced him to join the Muslim Brotherhood which by late 2000 led him on a path towards militant Islam and Jihadism.

This is where the initial roots start to grow for ISIS. When the US backed coalition invaded Iraq in 2003 Baghdadi himself was already part of an Insurgent group who tasked themselves with slaughtering allied soldiers. In 2004 his insurgency was cut short when a joint British and American special operations task force snatched him and further sentenced him to 10 months in a high security detention facility.

On his release in December 2004, one of the first people he contacted was none other than the infamous Al-Qaeda of Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The Jordanian born militant who was famous for his bloodthirsty actions grabbed the world’s attention when he beheaded the American radio technician Nicholas Berg and posted the video for everyone to see in May 2004.

Zarqawi took a shining to Baghdadi’s religious beliefs and academical achievements, so much so that he personally requested that he go to Damascus and make sure Al- Qaeda wings over there were also obeying the strict teachings of Islam.

In 2006 Zarqawi was killed by an allied air strike at an Al-Qaeda safe-house. With Zarqawi now gone, an Egyptian, Abu Ayyub al-Masri took his place at the top table. Very early on into his reign Al-Masri disbanded the Iraqi wing of Al-Qaeda and started ISI (Islamic State in Iraq) though the newly founded group still pledged full allegiance to Al-Qaeda.

Because of Baghdadi’s religious clout, he was able to convince local Iraqi’s to join ranks with the foreign ran Insurgency, and because of this, he found himself very quickly climbing up through the ranks. He was soon made the leader of the Sharia committee and was also given a seat at the 11 man Shura Council table that advised the ISI Emir, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi (no relation).

In mid 2010 the founder and Emir of ISI were both killed, the Shura Council quickly and unanimously appointed Baghdadi the new Emir of ISI. The new Emir’s first port of call was to rebuild what was left of the once very powerful organization, as much of it had been destroyed by British and American Special operations units.

In 2011 Baghdadi branched his operations out and ordered Syrian followers to form a secret ISI wing in Syria, a wing that would later be know as Al-Nusra.

Before long, Baghdadi and the leader of Al-Nusra Abu Mohammed al-Julani began to grow tired of the others differing views. Julani wanted to focus all of his attention and man power on going after and toppling Syrian president Assad, whereas Baghdadi was more interested in creating his own Islamic State before turning his attention to Assad.

In 2013, Baghdadi revealed that Al-Nusra was, in fact, a cell of ISI which he then renamed Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham/Levant (ISIS/ISIL).

In February 2014, ISIS were excluded from Al-Qaeda for refusing to grant Al-Nusra independence. In retaliation, Baghdadi launched huge assaults on Al-Nusra and taking their territory in Eastern Syria, a faction once under his command. This became ISIS’ stronghold, and from there, they pushed into Western Iraq.

In June 2014, ISIS captured Mosul and claimed the caliphate had returned, renaming ISIS ‘Islamic State’. Once the dust settled, Baghdadi delivered a sermon where he declared himself the Caliph.

Its from here that the media really picked up on ISIS and their real gruesome nature was uncovered. Since then, there has been dozens of videos weekly of murder, torture, child soldiers and recruitment. ISIS have used social media to their advantage, using it as a platform to upload propaganda and to recruit weak individuals who feel they have no place in modern society.

Questions do then start to arise of whether we would be faced with the threat of ISIS in today’s world if we had never invaded Iraq back in 2003.

In any case, I feel Baghdadi’s skill sets are wasted leading a rapidly retreating and shrinking army and believe he could have become a world renowned public figure for moderate Islam had he not taken the route of violence and destruction.