Author: Farhad Furutan
During the inception of ISIS and its rise, there was a prevailing belief that this violent and terrorist group was primarily created to seek retribution against Shiites on behalf of Sunnis in Syria and Iraq.
Kamran Balnoor, the representative of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in Washington, D.C., identified one of the motives behind Daesh’s brutality and violence as a response to the actions of Iraq’s Shia-led government towards the Sunni population of the country.
Not only Kamran Balnoor, but numerous political and military analysts have also underscored this narrative, asserting that Daesh emerged as a reaction to the oppression of Shia Muslims, aiming to take revenge. However, the group’s subsequent indiscriminate killings demonstrated that its agenda extended beyond avenging Shiites, with the primary aim being the dismantling of Islamic governance and strength.
According to various experts, violence and murder are inherent characteristics of Daesh. This organization exhibits a strong propensity towards bloodshed, displaying no differentiation between Sunni and Shia individuals. It satisfies its unquenchable thirst through the shedding of innocent Muslim blood.
In truth, it must be acknowledged that the Sunni-Shia issue is not the core matter here. The main goal of this group is to eliminate Muslims and safeguard the interests of disbelievers. This characteristic was highlighted by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during his life when he described the Khawarij as those who kill Muslims while sparing disbelievers.
Islamic scholars believe that Daesh initially exploited Islamic ideology as a tool. Its ultimate objectives included seizing control of oil reserves, weakening Islamic countries, tarnishing the reputation of Islam, diverting youth from religious education, and strengthening the influence of non-Islamic powers.
The ideological bigotry of Daesh, coupled with its manipulation and distortion of religious texts, is considered a major factor behind its indiscriminate killings. The group interprets and justifies every religious text based on its distorted principles, labeling Muslims as apostates and decreeing their execution.
