Aided by America and Europe, ISIS Poses Mortal Threat to Iran (De
Morgan, Belgium)
"Fourteen hundred years ago, Caliph Omar, like ISIS today,
invaded the Persian empire with thousands of fanatical fighters. ... ISIS is
the most backward form of Sunni Islam, but reflects a new political impetus.
Behind the smokescreen I see America, the U.K. and Europe, providing this
violent group with the time it needs to expand the limits of its caliphate into
Iran. .... History will decide again, but today, no history is determined
without the consent of the Americans."
Omar, the second caliph, as portrayed on Qatar television. The 7th century invasion of Persia by Caliph Omar is the proximate cause of the great Sunni-Shiite schism. It is a turn of events that Iranians fear may be unfolding again under the 'caliphate' of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
"Caliphate sounds like a
joke, but it's no joke," asserts writer Kader Abdolah
(Iran, 1954). His new novel 'Papegaai over de IJssel' or 'Parrot Over the Ijzel', will
be presented on September 30th at the Vooruit Arts Centre in Gent.
The
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria [ISIS],
the highly-fanatical Islamic movement that has taken over Iraqi cities and set
its sights on Baghdad, has proclaimed an Islamic caliphate.
A
caliphate is an Islamic state, an empire headed by a single great leader. The
movement is calling for Muslim fighters the world over to swear allegiance to
their Islamic state. ISIS is a hate movement. They are hungry old wolves who have
emerged from the darkest caves of history.
They are
Sunnis who want revenge on Shiites. The men of ISIS have hoisted the flag of
Muhammad - the same flag that the second Caliph held above his head when he
invaded ancient Persia.
Scary bearded men
When the
Prophet Muhammad died [632
AD.], Abu Bakr
took power. He was the first caliph, the guardian and protector of the new
Islamic state [died 634 AD of natural causes]. Omar was the second caliph
[and was stabbed by a Persian slave in response to the Muslim conquest of
Persia.]
Uthman
was the third. He collected the oral suras of Muhammad and made them into a
book, the Quran [Uthman was assassinated
by rebels in 644AD]. Ali,
son-in-law of Muhammad, was fourth [assassinated in 661AD by a Kharijite
named Imām Ali ibnAbiTalib over the Kharijite defeat at the Battle of Nahrawan in 659AD].
The
ancient Persians, now the Iranians, hate Omar. I remember it from my
childhood. We had a festival in which we burned "Omar" dolls. Smoke
from the hatred of the Sunni is preserved in my memory.
Fourteen
hundred years ago, Caliph Omar, like ISIS today, invaded the Persian empire
with thousands of fanatical fighters. Omar conquered the
entire realm and expanded the Second Caliphate. The Persian king [Yazdegerd III] was killed. This
left Persia [Shiite] in the hands of Arabs [Sunni] for 700 years.
There
are no fathers in Iran who would want to give their daughters to an Arab. I
myself, Kader Abdolah, love Arabic literature, the
Arabic language, Arabic cuisine, Arab belly dancing, Arab women, and Arab
music, yet even I wouldn't give my daughter to an Arab (incidentally, it is
highly doubtful that she would listen to me). What I'm saying has nothing to do
with racism, but history. Sunnism and Shiism. It's about ancient caliphates who robbed us of
everything.
Iraq
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is a Shiite. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, self-proclaimed leader of ISIL, is a Sunni. In cold blood, his followers shoot
Shiites through their heads. Many thousands of Iraqi Shiites are fleeing.
The
ancient Persians who almost succumbed under pressure from the Arabs, decided to
break Muhammad's Islam from within. They used their power to shape a narrative
and concocted a story: Ali was the First Caliph, and the only proper successor
to Muhammad. Cursed is Abu Bakr, Omar and Uthman. Long live Ali and his descendants!
In this
way, Persians founded the Shiite faith with twelve saints: Ali and his eleven
descendants. The caliphate of Islam was torn asunder: Sunnis and Shiites. Since
that time, centuries have passed, but the hatred remains.
ISIS is
the most backward form of Sunni Islam, but reflects a new political impetus.
Behind the smokescreen I see America, the U.K. and Europe, providing this
violent group with the time it needs to expand the limits of its caliphate into
Iran. It will take a few years, after which there will be a new layout to the
Middle East. The borders will be changed. There will be new countries, and new
presidents of less stature.
I worry
for our motherland, our Kurdish province smells its chance, sees the
possibilities for separation, and the Arab and Sunni parts of Iraq draw
encouragement from the ISIS movement.
In the
era of Facebook and Facetime, "caliphate"
sounds like a joke, and no one in the Islamic countries is looking forward to
these creepy bearded men.
Rusty Dagger
I see a
caliphate as an ancient concept - a rusty dagger with which to kill for the
purpose of creating new borders on the ground. Yes - ISIS is a chime of
liberation for Iraqi Sunnis. It is also synonymous with good fortune for Iraq's
Kurds, who for decades have been fighting for independence.
The
followers of ISIS are outcasts, but they have lifted the lid of an ancient,
smelly, boiling cauldron. Particularly in the Islamic countries, where the
central authorities are weakened, thoughts of ISIS rise up and Islamic fanatics
pick up their ancient English guns. Iraq is now the right place. Actually, it
is the place they have dreamed of
for centuries. The die has been cast. Russian war planes are coming to the aid
of the Shiites. History will decide again, but today, no
history is determined without the consent of the Americans. The new Middle East
is going to be exciting - slightly more exciting than Red Devils matches at the
World Cup in Brazil.
