Islamic State as a Modern Phenomenon

Footnotes

1. It is important to note that while on the outset the conflict seems to be about religion sectarianism (Sunni vs. Shi'a), it is in reality about social groups and power and not a schism with respect to religious content.

2. We follow current proposals not to call the group ISIS as this implies the existence of a state. Given our discussion it should be clear that we do not think of DAESH as a state.

3. Pipes, D. (2013), “Explaining the Denial: Denying Islam's Role in Terror,” Middle East Quarterly , 20, 3–12.

4. For example, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi the leader of DAESH spent almost five years imprisoned at Camp Bucca in southern Iraq, side by side with other extremists such as Abu Muslim al-Turkmani, Abu Louay, Abu Kassem, Abu Jurnas, Abu Shema and Abu Suja. These extremists were held side-by-side with those less radical, allowing U.S.-coalition prisons in Iraq to essentially become recruitment centers and even training grounds for ISIS recruits.