8/10/2019 A6 Final Project Third Draft

1/3

W2

BEHINDTHEPROPAGANDA

ANDPUBLICRELATIONS

OFISIS

The actions of the radical Islamist group ISIS havedrawn international condemnation and military inter-

vention. Why have thousands of Muslims, domestic andforeign, pledged their lives and deaths to the cause?

by Will TrueOctober 17th, 2014

8/10/2019 A6 Final Project Third Draft

2/3

8/10/2019 A6 Final Project Third Draft

3/3

W6

In another, two teenage girls fled their

home country of Austria to join ISIS,

and are now married to ISIS fighters

and expecting children.

Tese stories help spread ISISs content

through more traditional media, and

play a significant factor in their recruit-

ment of Muslim extremists worldwide.

On September 10, President Barack

Obama announced to the public that

the United States would begin conduct-

ing airstrikes on strategic ISIS locations

in Iraq and Syria. Joining the US in ac-

tion against the international threat is

a coalition of forces from countries as

diverse as the United Kinglia, Saudi Arabia and Egyp

Just prior to that announreleased the third issue offollowing month, no newthe magazine appeared on

some to conclude that ganda efforts had taken er, on October 14, the fo

Dabiqhit the web, this tim

a picture of the Vatican wthe Islamic State flying ov

With the fate of the Mthe balance, decisive actaken in the coming motime being, the war aga

be fought on two fronts: ofield, and in digital medi

Will True is a graduate stu

professional writing at CaMellon University.

Information for this article

Jihadology, Al Jazeera, TeClarion Project, the InstStudy of War, the Daily Ma

Cover photo: ISIS fighteduring a parade at the Syri

Abyad. (Reuters)

After gaining full control of the territo-ry, ISIS tightens its grip with stricter re-

ligious enforcement and further-reach-

ing human service efforts. Instead of

letting electricity and water systemsfall to ruin, they repair damaged power

lines and dams, keeping the local popu-

lation somewhat complacent.

However, in eliminating ideological op-

position, they often eliminate the tech-

nical expertise that would be neededto expand their efforts. o address this,

ISIS calls upon foreign Muslims not only

to fight but to help maintain their more

technical services. Incoming Muslimprofessionals could bolster the sustain-

ability of the Islamic State and further

increase the power of their caliphate.

Every week, it seems,a new twist in

the ISIS propaganda narrative rears

its head. Whether it be a new issue ofDabiq, a journalist reciting ISIS talking

points under threat of death, or the

brutal beheading of a Western aid

worker, ISIS finds new ways to spreadtheir message across the world.

Tis brutal message of religious extrem-ism appears to be working anecdotally,

giving the messengers that much more

power. In one story, a Chicago teen was

arrested on October 6 at the airport forattempting to join the extremist group.

A map of ISIS-controlled locations across Syria and Iraq, as of September 10th. (ISW)

Te featured article from the first issue ofDabiq. (ISW)

An infographic found inDabiq, illustratingISIS path to statehood. (ISW)

In their first major feature, Dabiq lays

out a clear five-step process by which

ISIS can become a legitimate Islamist

state. Te magazine draws upon the

beliefs of fallen al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI)

leader Abu al-Zarqawi, whom ISIS

asserts as the spiritual successor to

their movement. Before its eventu-

al dissolution, AQI gained notoriety

for its caliphate-centric rhetoric and

used tactics similar to ISIS in order to

establish a pseudostate.

Zarqawi served with al-Qaeda in Af-

ghanistan alongside Osama bin Lad-

en, but did not submit to his author-ity. Tis allows ISIS to differentiate

itself from al-Qaeda within the region

and lay legitimate claim to sole reli-

gious authority.

ISIS seeks to replicate the rhetorical and

practical success of Zarqawi in the re-

gion by following his words and actions:

1. Hijrah: ISIS urges Muslims world-wide of all capabilities and profes-

sions to abandon their lives and jointhem in the Islamic State.

2. Jamaah: After the call to hijrah , alarge body of dedicated jihadist Mus-

lims (ajamaah) is necessary to forma base of operations.

3. Destabilize aghut: Te jamaah

engages in warfare against the taghut

(false idol) enemy forces, creating cha-os with vehicle bombs and IEDs.

4. amkin: After provoking panic or

withdrawal of taghut forces, the ja-maahis to bring together conquered

territory and forces and capitalize on

the chaos created.

5. Khilafah: With enemy forces scat-tered and consolidated territories,

the foundation for a caliphate hasbeen created.

Five Steps to an Islamic State

President Barack Obama, announcing planned action toward ISIS. (W