MIDDLE EAST: “Islamic State” Rises

Source: Worthy News, June 30, 2014

On the first day of Ramadan, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant declared a new Islamic Caliphate in the areas it now occupies, and has renamed itself as simply “Islamic State,” as it ushers in a new era of international jihad. The “Islamic State” has called on al-Qaeda and other Sunni jihadist groups operating in the region to immediately pledge their allegiance.

The Caliphate would be established in all areas the “Islamic State” controls in Iraq and Syria. It announced that its leader, [who calls himself] Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, would be the caliph or head of state. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was released in 2009 from a US detention center in Iraq. The US has a $10 million bounty on his head.

“The time has come for the Ummah [nation] of Mohammed (peace be upon him) to wake up from its sleep, remove the garments of dishonor, and shake off the dust of humiliation and disgrace,” Islamic State spokesman Abu Mohammad al-Adnani said in an audio release.

» Read complete article.

» See also What Is a Caliphate? (Huffington Post) and 20 facts about what’s happening in Iraq (INContext). If you have time, watch or listen to a talk from Arif Jamal, author of Call for Transnational Jihad (Hudson Institute).

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