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In the last couple of years a new type of Islamic terrorist organizations has appeared – organizations which are no longer obsessed with Palestine but see their main goal in killing Christians and other minorities and expel them from their home areas. Such organizations are Boko Haram in Nigeria, Al-Shabab in Somalia, Abu Sayyaf in Malaisia and others. The most prominent among them is IS – abbreviation for Islamic State. Until a few months ago it called itself  ISIS – Islamic State of Syria and Iraq. IS is the only terror organization which was able to conquer and hold a large territory which comprises North Western Iraq and North Eastern Syria. In this territory IS has ruthlessly eliminated all Non-Muslim groups – in particular Christians and Yezidis. Thousands of them flew in panic to Turkey or Iraqi Kurdistan but thousands of others became trapped and were killed in the most atrocious manner. Men were mostly decapitated, crucified, buried alive or simply shot. The women and children were distributed among the fighters like bonuses. Their religion allows IS fighters to rape the women and even to use the children for their sexual pleasure.

When the atrocities committed by IS could no longer be kept secret from the Western public, leading politicians went out of their way to declare that IS were a bunch of criminals and what they did had absolutely nothing to do with real Islam, which is a religion of peace. That is simply not true. In reality IS and its sister organizations are the most authentic expression of Islamic doctrine. It was the prophet Muhammad himself who set the example of how to treat non-believers. When he defeated the Jewish tribe of Qurayza he gave order to kill all the men. 800 hundred men were executed by the sword on a single day. Then Muhammad distributed all their possessions as well as the women and children among his fighters. For himself he took the wife of the Jewish chief after torturing him to death.

Many voices in the west try to bagatellize the horrific crimes of IS by pointing out that in the Middle Ages also the Christians led bloody wars in the name of their religion. This argument is wrong for two reasons. First, we cannot compare the Middle Ages with the present. The point is that Europe has left the dark ages behind whereas the Islamic world is still stuck in the Middle Ages. The second, and more important argument, is that not Islam but Christianity is a religion of peace. Jesus Christ interdicted all kind of violence and called for love and peace. The wars which were fought in his name were against his teachings. Islam, however, is a religion based on violence and calling for violence. The atrocities committed in its name are not against but conform to its system.

What is most unsettling is the popularity of IS among young Muslims in Europe. Thousands of them have already travelled to Syria to join the fighting. They mostly carry European passports and cannot be prevented from re-entering Europe. Both the Islamic indoctrination and the military training they receive from IS could soon become a major problem.