BROTHERS IN ARMS: AL QAEDA & THE ISIS

Image source :- DailyMail.uk

"Islam is a tree with many branches. ISIS is one. It's a diseased branch that threatens the tree as a whole."

The death of Osama Bin Laden marked the declining popularity and activities of the militant Sunni Islamist organization, Al Qaeda. It was seen as the biggest threat to the world till Islamic State dislodged it in 2014 as the number one terror outfit. Many of us perhaps don't even know the key differences between the two terror outfits. ISIS has an obsession with  ideological purity, boasting that their strict adherence to Sharia law exalts  them above other extremist groups. Al Qaeda's chief target was usually the United States and its assets in different parts of the world. Whereas, till the Paris attack, ISIS was mainly involved in sectarian violence in West Asia, targeting Shia Muslims. Now suddenly its target has shifted to Europe for reasons debatable. Al Qaeda operated from Afghanistan and never really controlled any particular territory but Islamic State seems bent on seizing and holding territory in its quest to create a self-sustaining caliphate.

Image Source :- IRAQINET.COM

Another important difference is that Al Qaeda, though brutal in its attacks, showed restraint in public display of brutality in fear of upsetting its followers. But ISIS takes great pleasure in not only beheading, crucifying and burning victims but also posting these pictures and videos on social media. Al Qaeda had a huge following specially after 9/11 strike but its popularity waned after US located and killed Osama on May 2, 2011. ISIS has steadily been gaining popularity, especially among youngsters through its recruitment drive via social media. And lastly Al Qaeda was financed by rich businessmen, Islamic sympathizers and governments in oil-rich countries but the ISIS itself controls large tracts of land, sells oil, levies taxes and collects ransoms from kidnapped hostages. ISIS is a highly organized body which has a clear chain of command, a structured government to rule its territories and an Al Imara or executive wing to manage its assets.

Image Source :- Al Jajeera

The darkness that descended over the City of Lights on Friday 13 November, 2015 is a signal, once again, of the measured steps that the world must take to emerge victorious in the "War on Terror". We need to put an end to the ghastly drama playing out in the various theatres of the world. And now to end this, a reminder of the question that perhaps torments every Indian mind, how prepared are we to fight back if such a night descends upon us, say the City of Joy?

                                    There is really not much difference between the two.

The harrowing outcome of this widespread ruckus, such radical organisations are spreading is that they're turning a chunk of people into Islamaphobes. The most recent example of this mentality is a certain American Republican candidate, Donald Trump and his followers. If you go through the recent state of Muslims in the United States, you will realise how ghastly the roots of such evil have been embedded in people. Be it in India, or Europe, there has never ever been such an unjust judgemental attitude towards a particular religious race. What people fail to understand is that, by promoting such attitude, they are actually promoting the cause of terror organisations like the ISIS and Al Qaeda. Grow up, and think! No religion promotes the killing of innocents, no religion promotes hatred based on such grounds, and Islam isn't an exception. Stop promoting hatred, stop inflicting cruelty, it's the dire need of the hour. You're only trading in one racist organisation for the other.

About the Author :- 

A bibliophile, writer and a passionate music lover, Utsa Ghosh, is seeking her majors in English from St. Xavier's College. At the same time she takes a keen interest in politics  and is a vehement supporter of social and political reformism in India.