Part 6
By Khalil
ISIS and Media Crimes
ISIS was not merely a takfiri terrorist group; it was a major catastrophe cloaked in the guise of religion, a calamity that sought, through violence, lies, and deception, to defame Islam and trample upon human dignity. This deviant organization committed crimes not only through the use of weapons and explosives but also by distorting the truth and poisoning minds.
For ISIS, the media was not simply a tool for reporting news; it was a deadly and dangerous weapon. It was used to brainwash people, manipulate public opinion, and train blind, obedient followers.
This group exploited media strategically, turning it into an instrument of mass deception, indoctrination, and psychological control, making its propaganda as lethal as its physical attacks.
The ISIS propaganda system was meticulously and strategically designed, encompassing videos, images, social media, and digital publications. This media apparatus portrayed crimes, bloodshed, and enslavement as acts of worship and heroism.
Through the widespread dissemination of executions, torture, bombings, and terrifying scenes, ISIS spread an atmosphere of fear and terror across the world. At the same time, it targeted the minds of ignorant and vulnerable youth, manipulating and deceiving them to recruit them into its ranks.
This criminal group sought to present its crimes under the guise of “sacred victories.” Anyone who watched these videos might have believed that ISIS was a powerful, legitimate, and justice-seeking movement. In reality, however, it was nothing but bloodshed, destruction, and the devastation of societies.
ISIS media deliberately distorted the facts, portraying oppression as justice and its atrocities as acts of piety.
ISIS, through its malicious use of media, turned religion into a tool for justifying evil. They selectively and distortively used verses from the Holy Qur’an and the Hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), stripping them of their true historical, ethical, and spiritual context, in order to present killing, torture, enslavement, and looting as “jihad.”
These actions clearly show that ISIS not only distorted Islam but also trampled on sound reason and human conscience.
Another malicious aim of ISIS’s media campaign was to present a false and imaginary picture of their so-called “caliphate.” Through fabricated images and videos, they tried to portray life under ISIS rule as peaceful, just, and prosperous, while the reality was completely the opposite. People living in ISIS-controlled areas were constantly terrified; women and children were enslaved, families were destroyed, and the collective identity of communities became a victim of the group’s lust for power and bloodshed.
The crimes of ISIS’s media activities clearly show that the group was composed of ruthless deceivers and professional liars who exploited people’s religious feelings and psychological vulnerabilities. ISIS media served both to create a climate of blind obedience internally and to mislead public opinion externally. Through these tactics, they turned Islam into a tool for killing, oppression, and deception, and enslaved the minds of people.
In reality, ISIS turned the religion of mercy and justice into a tool of fear, crime, and domination through its media. Every image, video, and publication of this group was produced not for awareness, but to promote terror, mislead people, and spread intellectual deviation. Those who think that ISIS was merely an armed group must understand that this calamity waged war not only with weapons, but also through media, targeting people’s minds and emotions.
A precise understanding of ISIS’s media methods and a thorough critique of their propaganda tactics is a religious, moral, and social necessity. Only through awareness, education, and clear analysis can the repetition of such tragedies be prevented and minds be protected from the group’s harmful and crime-centered ideologies. The struggle against ISIS and similar groups is not only military but also intellectual, media-based, and requires resistance through public awareness.