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![[Iraq]](../images/i/iq}isis.gif)
image located by William Garrison, 29 October 2013
I believe the bottom reads: (ISIS): "Islamic State of Iraq and Ash-Sham"
Wikipedia: "The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Arabic: الدولة الاسلامية في
العراق والشام - ad-Dawla al-Islāmiyya fi al-'Irāq
wa ash-Shām) abbreviated as
ISIS and ISIL (acronym in Arabic: داعش, Da'āsh), was established as an umbrella
organization of Iraqi insurgent groups on October 15, 2006 under the name of
Islamic State of Iraq. "
William Garrison, 29 October 2013
"The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (alternatively translated as
Islamic State in Iraq and Syria or Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham) (Arabic:
الدولة الاسلامية في العراق والشام ʾad-dawla ʾal-islāmiyya
fīl-'irāq waš-šām or Arabic: داعشdāʿiš), abbreviated as ISIS or alternately
ISIL, is an unrecognized state and active Jihadist militant group in Iraq and
Syria influenced by the Wahhabi movement. In its unrecognized
self-proclaimed status as an independent state, it claims the territory of
Iraq (as
Islamic State of Iraq) and
Syria, with implied future claims intended over more of the
Levant - including Lebanon,
Israel, Jordan, Cyprus and
Southern Turkey. It was established in the early
years of the Iraq War and pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda in 2004. The
group was composed of and supported by a variety of insurgent groups,
including its predecessor organisation, the Mujahideen Shura Council,
Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), Jaysh al-Fatiheen, Jund al-Sahaba, Katbiyan
Ansar Al-Tawhid wal Sunnah, Jeish al-Taiifa al-Mansoura etc., and
other clans whose population profess Sunni Islam. Its aim was to
establish a caliphate in the Sunni majority regions of Iraq, later
expanding this to include Syria. In February 2014, after an eight-month power struggle, al-Qaeda cut
all ties with ISIS. In early June 2014, following its large-scale
offensives in Iraq, ISIS is reported to have seized control of most of
Mosul, the second most populous city in Iraq, its surrounding Nineveh
province, and the city of Fallujah. ISIS has also taken control of
Tikrit, the administrative center of the Salah ad Din Governorate,
with the ultimate goal of capturing Baghdad, the Iraqi capital. ISIS
was believed to have only 2,000-3,000 fighters up until the Mosul
campaign, but during that campaign it became evident that this number
was a gross underestimate", having claims by sources such as CNN as
claiming that this terrorist organization may well be the richest
terrorist organization worldwide after they overran and captured the
vault of the central bank branch in Mosul,
drawing several more followers and fighters to their cause. " During
the battle of Mosul in June 2014, ISIS allegedly became the richest
jihadist group in the world after looting $429 USD million from
Mosul's central bank, according to the regional governor; a large
quantity of gold bullion was also believed to have been stolen".
This group came into existence first as "JTJ (Jama'at al-Tawhid
wal-Jihad, "The Organization of Monotheism and Jihad"), then morphed in
October 2004 to TQJBR (Tanzim Qaidat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn
(The Organization of Jihad's Base in the Country of the Two Rivers)
joining al-Qaeda,
and after this it became known as AQI (Al-Qaeda in Iraq). In January
2006, the group merged with several smaller Iraqi insurgent groups
under an umbrella organization called the Mujahideen Shura Council. On
12 October 2006, the Mujahideen Shura Council joined with four other
insurgent factions and representatives of a number of Iraqi tribes
partipated in a traditional Arab oath of allegiance known as hilf
al-mutayyabin ("oath of the scented ones"). The following day
announced the establishment of the Dawlat al-'Iraq al-Islamiyya,
Islamic State of Iraq (ISI). On 9 April 2013, after the group expanded
into Syria, it adopted the name "Islamic State in Iraq and the
Levant", also known as "Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham". It
is abbreviated as ISIS or alternately ISIL. The final "S" in the
acronym ISIS stems from the Arabic word Sham, which in the context of
global jihad refers to the Levant or Greater Syria."
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_State_of_Iraq_and_the_Levant
Esteban Rivera, 17 June 2014
On 29 June 2014 ISIS has announced in an
official
communiqué declared "it has formed a Caliphate, becoming the Islamic State,
a Sunni-governed nation containing rebel held territory in Syria and Iraq. In
doing so the rebel group changed its name as well to Islamic State.". They have
also declared declared "its chief, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, "the caliph" and
"leader for Muslims everywhere". Additionally "the legality of all emirates,
groups, states and organisations becomes null by the expansion of the caliph's
authority and the arrival of its troops to their areas," said the group's
spokesman Abu Mohamed al-Adnani.
"It was the outbreak of the Syrian war that presented Baghdadi with the
opportunity to expand his cause. He sent a lieutenant, Abu Mohammed al-Joulani,
to create the Nusra Front and fight the Assad regime. From there, his rise
gathered pace and he declared in 2013 the takeover of Nusra to add the Levant to
the Islamic State of Iraq. Baghdadi moved to Syria and ignored pronouncements by
the leader of al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawarhiri, that the merger with Nusra was
invalid. That schism deepened in April of this year, when the ISIL declared that
"al-Qaeda is no longer the base of jihad... its leadership has become a hammer
to break the project of the Islamic state... al-Qaeda's leaders have deviated
from the correct paths".
"A common theme among European members of ISIL is that Baghdadi represents a
continuation of the ideals expounded by Bin Laden and that Zawahiri has failed
to continue that line."
This group has even claimed that they are redrawing the borders set up by the
Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916. "The agreement is seen by many as a turning point
in Western-Arab relations. It did negate the promises made to Arabs through
Colonel T. E. Lawrence for a national Arab homeland in the area of Greater
Syria, in exchange for their siding with British forces against the Ottoman
Empire. Almost 100 years later (2014), the jihadist organization ISIS uses
Sykes-Picot as their rallying cry and have conquered Mosul and parts of northern
Syria to form an Arab Caliphate along sectarian lines rather than definitions of
European diplomats."
Sources:
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/06/isil-declares-new-islamic-caliphate-201462917326669749.html
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/06/fierce-ambition-isil-baghdadi-2014612142242188464.html
http://www.aljazeera.com/video/middleeast/2014/06/sykes-picot-borders-isil-wants-gone-201462962758154146.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28077454
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28084862
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28092840
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sykes%E2%80%93Picot_Agreement
Esteban Rivera, 30 June 2014
The jihadist terror organization known as Islamic State (IS), formerly as
ISIS or ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or Islamic State of Iraq and the
Levant) was outlawed in Germany by the Federal Minister of the Interior on 12
September 2014.
The days before that, there were some debates if this ban would be legally
possible at all, as the ban is based on the "Vereinsgesetz" (Law on
Associations), and the IS was not viewed as having association-like structures
in Germany, but only a loose network of supporters.
The ban includes (of course) the ban of symbols used by the IS, including three
versions of the IS flag [1].
The IS flag was already used a couple of times, for instance it sparked protest
in Saarbrücken, when hoisted from a residential building [2, 3].
However, the ban of symbols connected to the IS is somewhat controversial among
muslims, as some see the IS flag just as a combination of symbols that are
sacred to any muslim [4].
In my not so humble opinion, I'd just suggest that the symbolism (in particular
black flag and so-called seal of Muhammad) are modern-era inventions of
jihadists that have neither historical basis nor islamic tradition supporting
them.
I would be interesting, though (and this is of course mainly for Arab
researchers), to thoroughly research the early flags of Islam as well as the
history of such symbols like the so-called seal of Muhammad.
[1]
https://www.bundesanzeiger.de/ebanzwww/wexsservlet?session.sessionid=0917d415907c4b41e29c19cf7614bdf4&page.navid=detailsearchlisttodetailsearchdetail&fts_search_list.selected=9da084fcd97e7d43&fts_search_list.destHistoryId=66638
[2]
http://www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de/saarland/saarbruecken/saarbruecken/saarbruecken/Saarbruecken-Irak-Terrororganisationen-und-Terrorgruppen-Weyer;art446398,5366746
[3]
http://www.sr-online.de/sronline/nachrichten/panorama/isis_fahne_saarbruecken100.html
[4]
http://blog.zeit.de/radikale-ansichten/2014/09/12/soll-man-die-flagge-des-islamischen-staates-verbieten/
Marcus Schmöger, 14 September 2014
In recent news
reports ISIS has been refered to as "Daesh". An explanation of this is seen
here (published in February 18):
"On the Origin of the ‘Name’ DAESH – The Islamic State in Iraq and as-Shām
by pietervanostaeyen
On the origin of the name DAESH
It seems more and more Western media are using the derogatory DAESH when they’re
talking about the Islamic State in Iraq and as-Shām (commonly known as ISIS).
As nobody seems to have the faintest idea what DAESH stands for, here’s an
attempt to explain.
The capitals in the word DAESH point out it is an acronym of some sort. And
indeed if we single out the beginning letters of the Arabic name for ISIS :
الدولة الاسلامية في العراق والشام we get the Arabic: داعش
د = Dawlat (Nation)
ا = (al-) Islāmiyya
ع= (fī’l-) ‘Irāq
ش = (wa’s-) Shām (Greater Syria or the Levant)
So, roughly transcribed to the Latin alphabet that leaves us with DAESH. (The E
stands for the ‘ayn in ‘Iraq)
At first the name DAESH was merely an acronym indeed. Activists and more
moderate rebel coalitions used it as referral to Dawlat al-Islāmiyya fī al-Irāq
wa s-Shām. But it didn’t take long before all kinds of interpretations arose.
In se the Arabic word داعش doesn’t even exist. But if we look at the tone of
voice within circles (opposing ISIS) ever since they introduced the acronym, we
might conclude the acronym has a double meaning.
Most likely ISIS opponents are referring to the Arabic verb دعس, meaning : to
thread underfoot, trample down, crush (see The Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern
Written Arabic, p. 325 and 326) Another theory is that the name refers to the
Jāhiliyya (pre-Islamic) strife between two Arab tribes on the Arabian peninsula
: داحس والغبراء
Dāhis wa’l-Ghabrā’ can be literary translated as ‘felon and dust’ (seehttp://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/داحس_والغبراء
). This referral seems to have a more theological background yet it seems
unlikely all sources using this would have in depth knowledge of the Jāhiliyya.
Which ever theory suits best, it is quite clear that the acronym DAESH (داعش) is
mostly, if not only, used by opponents of ISIS in Syria."
Source:
http://pietervanostaeyen.wordpress.com/2014/02/18/on-the-origin-of-the-name-daesh-the-islamic-state-in-iraq-and-as-sham/
Esteban Rivera, 03 December 2014
This is a recurrent type of flag. It was reported in
2011 and again in
2012.
Esteban Rivera, 30 October 2013
Good article on Time Magazine about the relevance of the symbols on this flag http://time.com/3311665/isis-flag-iraq-syria/. Some of this could be abstracted for the pages on FOTW.
What the ISIS Flag Says About the Militant Group
The black and white standard of the Sunni militants gives some insight into how
the group sees itself.
The world is now becoming accustomed to seeing images of the stark
black-and-white flag whose bearers are threatening to remake the Middle East and
who have already taken responsibility for numerous acts of murder, massacres and
ethnic cleansing across Iraq and Syria.
But what does the standard of the self-declared Islamic State–also known by its
previous name, ISIS, or the Islamic State in Iraq and greater Syria–tell
observers about the goals of the organization and its supporters?
Volumes, say experts in Islamic militant movements. The color, the calligraphy,
and the choice of words on the flag all serve as a key to reading the group’s
history as well as unfolding a road map of where it sees itself going.
The flag is black with the words La 'ilaha 'illa-llah – "There is no God but
God" – emblazoned across the top in white in a somewhat coarse, handwritten
Arabic script. It’s a very different kind of typeface from the more elaborate
calligraphy on the Saudi flag, for example, that also includes this same
shahada, or Islamic statement of faith. Even more rough around the edges is the
white circle in the middle of the ISIS flag. Inside it are three words: "God
Messenger Mohammed." It’s an interesting choice of word order given that the
second part of the shahada is "and Mohammed is God’s messenger."
The reason for the circle and those words is that they’re a copy of what’s known
as the Seal of Mohammed, which the prophet himself is believed to have used in
his lifetime to seal letters he wrote to foreign leaders, asking them to join
him. A version of the seal purported to belong to Othman, one of Mohammed’s
companions, is now permanently on display at the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. The
use of the seal, critics of ISIS say, is intended to add a veneer of historical
authenticity to its mission.
"The power of the flag comes from the fact that the word 'Allah' is on it. The
word itself is seen as sacred by Muslims and hence it becomes sacrilegious to
desecrate the flag," explains Hayder al Khoei, an associate fellow of the Middle
East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House in London. A week ago, for
example, there were protests in Beirut at which ISIS flags were burned, with
activist starting a #BurnISIS campaign meant to rival the ALS ice bucket
challenge. Afterwards, the Lebanese Minister of Justice, Ashraf Rifi, asked that
the burning of the flag be banned and that violators be given the "sternest
punishment," because burning anything with the word Allah on it is viewed as an
insult to Islam. The issue has stirred up emotions across the Islamic world. An
Egyptian feminist, Aliaa Magda Elmahdy, recently held an extremely graphic
protest intended to desecrate the ISIS flag, stirring up further controversy.
"The words are what makes the flag so powerful," al Khoei says. "It is a very
weird and awkward situation for Muslims because ISIS is an evil terrorist
organization with an actual holy flag."
The black and white flag’s meaning is further complicated by the fact that ISIS
did not create the image it bears. Rather, it appropriated the flag from other
jihad-oriented groups, says Magnus Ranstorp, an expert on Islamic fundamentalist
movements and the Research Director of the Centre for Asymmetric Threat Studies
at the Swedish National Defense College. Al Qaeda in Iraq, al Qaeda in the
Arabian Peninsula (active in Yemen and Saudi Arabia), and the al-Shabab group in
Somalia have all used the same flag, he says.
"The most important thing is the color. This raya, the solid blank flag, was the
Prophet Mohammed’s war banner," he explains. "This flag compresses time and
space – it harks back to where they came from and where they are going. It is
not just the color of jihad and of the caliphate, but it represents the coming
of what some believers see as the final battle and the day of resurrection." In
other words, he explains, there’s a kind of Islamic end-of-days element in the
flag, pitting the forces of Islam against the Christian West.
To some Muslims, the choice of flag is worrying because of the symbolic weight
of its absence of color. A look at other Islamists militant movements in the
region makes them seem almost tame by comparison; Hamas’ flag is green,
Hizbollah’s yellow. But like the flags of other jihadist groups the al-Nusra
Front and Hizb ut-Tahrir - which also seeks a worldwide caliphate to replace
nation-states laid out by Western powers nearly a century 100 years ago - the ISIS
flag is set in stark, featureless black.
"The flag represents a lot things outside observers don’t realize, but people in
the Middle East understand the importance of colors," says Ranstorp. "The point
of the war banner is showing the will to destroy the world order. If one
understood that properly, you could use that to detect who is really involved."
For example, he says, the law enforcement and intelligence communities could be
savvier about detecting who among youth in Westerns countries is being drawn to
the ideology and might end up getting lured to fight for ISIS abroad.
"There is a meaning to these symbols, that could be utilized, but we haven’t
really. In many places they are selling rings with the same Seal of Mohammed.
You’ll find it on many Islamic State social media sites. This symbol tells us
where they have come from, the sacredness of their mission and what they want –
a caliphate."
Ian MacDonald, 15 September 2014
![[Iraq]](../images/r/rel-isjk.jpg)
image located by William Garrison, 09 October 2014
A new ISJK flag (Syria-Iraq), c. Sept. 2014
William Garrison, 09 October 2014
The now well-known ISIS flag, with IS and JK written on it.
Rob Raeside, 10 October 2014
Perhaps you might enjoy Ted Kaye's recent short interview on the ISIS flag?
http://www.npr.org/2014/11/22/365993105/what-does-its-chosen-banner-says-about-isis?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=storiesfromnpr
Pete Loeser, 24 November 2014
Very interesting insight regarding their flag. However, I have to point out
some remarks regarding the interview.
In it, one reads:
"VIGELAND: How do ISIS' uses of its flag compare to previous propagandists, say,
Hitler's Germany, for example?
KAYE: Well, I think it's very similar of any political movement or military
movement to use flags in scenes of its military. It's interesting to me to see
the images of the flag where they appear to be mass produced. They always look
pristine. They haven't been carried in battle. And sometimes the flag is used to
mark territory. But I think most importantly, it's a message from the Islamic
State saying we are here."
My take on this is that yes, indeed this flag has not been carried in battle per
se, since most of the battles are guerrilla war or low intensity condlict types
of battles, where ambushes and quick raids are commonplace and not traditional
18th century battles with column formations. So no, this flag has not been
present in battle but it has been used to mark territory and as the Mr. Kaye
replies, it's a message to say we are here, since their motto is precisely "باقية
وتتمدد "Bāqiyah wa-Tatamaddad" "Remaining and Expanding".
Variants of this flag (that is, the same flag, but with inverted color scheme,
so the emblem or Muhammad's seal in the middle is not white, but flag) can be
seen in Ansar al-Sharia (Tunisia), and I will post some information regarding
this.
Esteban Rivera, 25 November 2014
![[Iraq]](../images/i/iq_is-camp.jpg)
image located by William Garrison, 09 July 2015
Flag, ISIS (Iraq), c. June 2015, yellow ... Arabic language (unknown meaning)
William Garrison, 09 July 2015
The yellow flag with black inscription reads: معسكر الشيخ أبي إبراھيم which
means: "Camp of Sheikh Abu Ibrahim". This is one of the indentified 64 training
facilities of ISIS installed for training the fighters in Iraq and Syria since
2012. This one belongs to the Anbar provincial division of the ISIS in Iraq,
established around the first days in December 2014.
Zoltan Horvath, 09 July 2015