Crucifixion: “The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. Such will be their degradation in the world, and in the Hereafter theirs will be an awful doom.” (Qur’an 5:33)
“Islamic State beheads, crucifies in push for Syria’s east,” by Oliver Holmes and Tom Perry, Reuters, August 11, 2014:
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Islamic State has crushed a pocket of resistance to its control in eastern Syria, crucifying two people and executing 23 others in the past five days, a monitoring group said on Monday.
The insurgents, who are also making rapid advances in Iraq, are tightening their grip in Syria, of which they now controls roughly a third, mostly rural areas in the north and east.
The group, an al Qaeda offshoot, has fought the Syrian army, Kurdish militias and Sunni Muslim tribal forces.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring organization, and residents in Syria’s east said that fighters from the al-Sheitaat tribe in eastern Deir al-Zor had tried to resist Islamic State’s advance this month.
In al-Shaafa, a town on the banks of the Euphrates river, Islamic State beheaded two men from the al-Sheitaat clan on Sunday, the Observatory said, and gave residents a 12-hour deadline on Monday to hand over members of the tribe.
In other parts of Deir al-Zor province, the militants crucified two men for the crime of “dealing with apostates” in the city of Mayadin, and two others for blasphemy in the nearby town of al-Bulel, the Observatory said.
Islamic State has made rapid gains in Syria since it seized northern Iraq’s largest city, Mosul, on June 10, and declared an Islamic caliphate on territory it controls in Syria and Iraq.
The Observatory said a further 19 men from the al-Sheitaat tribe were executed on Thursday, 18 shot dead and one beheaded, on the outskirts of Deir al-Zor city. It said the men worked at an oil installation.
“No one will now dare from the other tribes to move against Islamic State after the defeat of the al-Sheitaat,” said Ahmad Ziyada al-Qaissi, an Islamic State sympathizer contacted by Skype from Mayadin.
Tribal sources say the conflict between Islamic State and the al-Sheitaat tribe, who number about 70,000, flared after Islamic State took over of two oil fields in July.
One of those, al-Omar, is the biggest oil and gas field in Deir al-Zor and has been a lucrative source of funds for rebel groups.
The head of the al-Sheitaat tribe, Sheikh Rafaa Aakla al-Raju, called in a video message for other tribes to join the fight against Islamic State.
“We appeal to the other tribes to stand by us because it will be their turn next … If (Islamic State) are done with us the other tribes will targeted after al-Sheitaat. They are the next target,” he said in the video, posted on YouTube on Sunday.
WINNING RESPECT
A Syrian human rights activist from Deir al-Zor who fled for Turkey last year said rebels opposed to President Bashar al-Assad had retreated to al-Sheitaat tribal areas from which they had been trying to mount resistance to Islamic State’s expansion.
He said, on condition of anonymity, that the resistance had been crushed in the last few days. “The situation is very bad, but the people can’t repel them,” he said.
He said that in tandem with their violent campaign, Islamic State was distributing gas, electricity, fuel and food to garner local support.
“It is a poor area. They are winning support this way. They won a lot of support this way. They are halting theft and punishing thieves. This is also giving them credibility.”
More than 170,000 people have been killed in Syria’s civil war, which pits overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim rebels against Assad, a member of the Shi’ite-derived Alawite minority, backed by Shi’ite militias from Iraq and Lebanon.
The insurgency is split between competing factions, with Islamic State emerging as the most powerful.
In Raqqa, Islamic State’s power base in Syria, its hold appears to be growing only firmer even as Syrian government forces intensify air strikes on territory held by the group.
One Syrian living in an area of Islamic State control near Raqqa said the number of its fighters in the streets had grown dramatically in the last few weeks, particularly since it captured the army’s 17th Division at the end of July.
The group has carried out beheadings, levied a tax on non-Muslims, and settled foreign fighters in confiscated homes, said the resident, who asked for anonymity due to security concerns.
Beheadings: “When you meet the unbelievers, strike at their necks…” (Qur’an 47:4)
Tax on non-Muslims: “Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued” (Qur’an 9:29)
But despite that, as in Deir al-Zor, it has won a degree of respect among locals by curbing crime using their version law of and order. For youths without work, salaries offered by Islamic State are one of the few sources of income.
“The (Islamic) State has respect and standing and its voice is heard,” said the resident, speaking by Skype.
John C. Barile says
Remember that the Land of the Two Rivers is a cradle of civilization. Now just look at what is spawned there–the very epitome of an Evil Empire.
Jay Boo says
Psalm 83 commentary
Gail Griffin says
A few year back an Irish peatbog digger dug up an old book and called archeologists over to have a look. It was a thousand year old psalm book frozen open to psalm 83. Google it! I thought might be a magical sign so i looked it up in my childhood bibIe. I was doing a painting of an Arab horse and needed something to write on his head piece. Israel was attacking Hezbollah that month because of Shallits kidnapping. Arab Christians must have a bible in Arabic, and so they did. I put psalms 83 on the headpiece so that anyone who can read Arabic might get that they aren’t going to win
John C. Barile says
Terror coupled with shared spoils. Proven tools for subjugating an empire.
Wetwork56 says
He said that in tandem with their violent campaign, Islamic State was distributing gas, electricity, fuel and food to garner local support.
“It is a poor area. They are winning support this way. They won a lot of support this way. They are halting theft and punishing thieves. This is also giving them credibility.”
Correct me if I’m wrong, but, isn’t this how Hamas came to power?
dlbrand says
Indeed. It is, after all, basic sunnah of the prophet: when needed, purchased “faith.” Simply part of what booty, and zakat, is authorized to be spent on.
Michael says
I have not been following Jihad Watch in the last few months. Could anybody tell me the role of US weapons in the hand ISIS/IS? Are there many of them? Can one assume they were given to the “moderate” fighters against Assad for the civil war in Syria? Have any been traced to the Gadaffi’s weapons or to the US munitions depot which fell into the hands of radicals in Libya? Any links or info. would be appreciated. Thanks.
John C. Barile says
The short answer, I think, is “all of the above.”
jewdog says
Al Capone garnered a lot of support through charitable works, when he wasn’t bashing peoples’ brains out with a baseball bat or machine-gunning them. ISIS has the common touch, but they make Big Al look like a girl scout.
Numbercruncher says
I demand the United States and ISIS stop fighting and enter into negotiations.
Oh one second that only applies to Israel.
Truth be told there will never be peace in the Middle East until the west is willing to bomb them into submission. No war has ever been won without unconditional surrender, that only happens when the population is demoralized. By fighting wars with surgical strikes you can score only temporary calm. In this day and age the Islamists know a too well that we will evenutally leave. All these people do is melt in with the general population and rearm.
To win this conflict will require massive bombings of a city or two, killing thousands if civilians. Doing so will show the rest of the citizens of those countries that we mean business. Does this have moral consequences? For sure. I would hate to be the one to order such terror on non combatants, but to win this calculation is necessary. And sadly this difficult choice will be made easier one day, that us after he next 9-11 kills 50,000 and 300 million demand such response!
dlbrand says
Indeed.
SpiritOf1683 says
9/11 itself would have killed 50,000 had it happened one hour later, when the WTC would have been full, and if it was, getting out would have been far more difficult with the stairways more crowded. But if that number had been murdered instead of 3,000, it wouldn’t have made one jot of difference to our response, or the bleeding hearts. They would still have been more concerned for enemy civilians and those who celebrated that atrocity than the dead of 9/11.
Dajjal says
Kinetic bombing, no matter how extensive, will not suffice. Muslims can not be defeated militarily until their faith is destroyed.
Muslims believe in Allah, its imperatives, threat and promise. Believers are defined in 8.1-5, 9.111 & 49.15. 9.38-39 tell Muslims they will be damned if they do not join the Jihad when called. 61.10-12tell Muslims that they will be blessed if they perform Jihad. Where would you go: to the whore house or the fire?
I exhort doubters, deniers and dissenters to search for, download and read pages 59-60 (pg. 50 of the pdf) of “The Quranic Concept of War” by Brig. S.K. Malik.
wildjew says
After the Boston Marathon bombings a nationally syndicated (syndicated here in our region) and Fox News contributor told Robert Spencer and the audience the following:
“Well a friend of mine who uhm who I know from Nigeria I was talking to this morning and he said, he just shook his head and he said, ‘Laura I know what people are going to think about me and my faith but that — I mean I have known him for I don’t know, 18 years, he said — this is not who I am; this is not what my family believes; this is not what we are about’. And so, have to be very careful about demonizing an entire religion, an entire group of people, many of whom do not buy into this, many of whom do not want this, many of whom were in fear of this being another radicalized Muslim on American soil…”
wildjew says
Sorry, I meant to write nationally syndicated radio talk show host….
CogitoErgoSum says
I’m sure this Muslim fellow would be welcome to join the Christian faith …. or Jewish faith or just about any other faith for that matter which is more in keeping with his professed peaceful beliefs. Of course, after he converts he may not be able to live in peace due to a constant fear of being killed by other Muslims for being an apostate. Isn’t “salaam alaikum” really only for Muslims? I know “pax vobiscum” is for ALL men of goodwill.
wildjew says
That’s what I am thinking. I have a friend in Israel whose collaborated with pro-Israel (Italian) Sheikh Professor Abdul Hadi Palazzi who is somehow able to reconcile his faith with supporting Israel. I ask my friend, why doesn’t Palazzi convert since his conception of Allah and the prophet is wholly inconsistent with authoritative Islam.
But what bothers me about this interview with R. Spencer is the idea (post 9/11/2001) we “have to be very careful about demonizing an entire religion, an entire group of people, many of whom do not buy into this, many of whom do not want this….” Little doubt it occurred to Spencer to tell her he is not certain what she claims is the case (because we do not know how many do not buy into this) in which event he would never again appear on her show. Maybe he’s not been invited back on her radio show.
wildjew says
“who has” collaborated…. (I wish we could edit our posts)
dlbrand says
On, “As-salamu ‘alaykum,” the following.
“‘Peace be upon you,’ the greeting of the Muslims.” (A Glossary of Islamic Terms, Aisha Bewley, Ta-Ha Publishers, LTD, 2009, P. 30.)
On the topic, Hadith provides, as an example of “How One is to Write to the People of Shirk,” the following: “Ibn Annas narrated that Abu Sufyan bin Harb ….said: ‘ … The Messenger of Allah … said [in his penned letters] Peace be upon whoever follows the guidance.’”
These footnotes follow that, providing therewith perfect clarity on the meaning of the Muslim greeting:
And on another page, same source, same chapter, this hadith:
Therewith, the following footnotes and clarifications:
As such, regarding the aforementioned along with the following Qur’anic verse made clear with tafsir, “Peace be upon those who follow the guidance,” [They alone will be safe from punishment]” (Tafsir al-Jalalayn, 20:47), we clearly understand the meaning in the Muslim greeting to non-Muslims—it is laced with fair warning/promise.
GP says
We pray that many of these evil savages in Iraq and elsewhere might be caught unaware and may see the abrupt end of their violent, murderous jihad. Perhaps it will be this very day. Inshallah.