Life under Isis

[polly7]

By Patrick Cockburn
Source: The Independent
March 17, 2015

Hamza is a 33-year-old from Fallujah, a city ruled by Islamic State 40 miles west of Baghdad, who became an Isis fighter last year after being attracted by its appeal to his religious feelings. Two months ago, however, he defected, after being asked to help execute people he knew – and being appalled by invitations to join in what amounted to rape of captured Yazidi women.

Hamza told his family that he would follow them to Baghdad within a few days, but had decided at this moment, July 2014, to join Isis. His motive was primarily religious and idealistic. He says that he “decided to join them willingly because I was convinced that the Islamic State is the ideal state to serve, and to work for, Allah and the after life, which is the surest part of life”.

Hamza says he is now entirely disillusioned with Isis. “At the beginning I thought they were fighting for Allah, but later I discovered they are far from the principles of Islam. I know that some fighters were taking hallucinatory drugs; others were obsessed with sex. As for the raping, and the way different men marry by turn the same woman over a period of time, this is not humane.

“I left them because I was afraid and deeply troubled by this horrible situation. The justice they were calling for when they first arrived in Fallujah turned out to be only words.”

Full article: https://zcomm.org/znetarticle/life-under-isis/

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

1. So which killings did ISIS do BEFORE he joined them that made him think it was a good idea

to join them?

Sorry, and I get the ton of legitimate complaints many in the ME have with westerners, but joining ISIS at anytime for any reason is still a big problem for me.

[polly7]

2. I agree, ISIS is a horrible, brutal group and I too understand their anger against the west,

but I hope that this man spreads the word they're nothing but fanatics using their religion to entice people like him to do their sickening deeds. I've read a few different articles now of former ISIS members risking their lives to get out of it ... maybe if enough of them spread the truth they can help by preventing so much recruitment?

[underpants]

4. I've said for a while that ISIS is a waiting game

Are they actually try to take non-Sunni territory, with large populations?
Can they govern? Other than just killing everyone?
Infighting?
Retention of forces?

Etc.

[underpants]

3. As for the raping, .....

Wow. How horrible.