The seed is sown, blood is being reaped: ISIS

You believe in the same religion, read the same book, and invoke the name of the same prophet, yet someone declares you an infidel. They deny you the right to live. They deem your death legitimate.

Well, in this case, do you truly belong to the “same religion”?

A faith labeled “Islam” is being discussed. But in these lands, in the name of Islam, people are denied the right to live. You read the Quran; it is in vain. You invoke the name of the Prophet with reverence; it is for nothing. Because for some, the measure is neither the Quran nor the Prophet. The measure is the dark order they have established themselves.

This is not a new story. Muslims have been witnessing this darkness for centuries. Some called the path they walked “jihad.” They spoke in the name of Allah and issued fatwas. They placed themselves in the position of Allah. They killed Muslims on the grounds that they were “not actually Muslims.” And they left behind nothing but blood.

Who were those who killed Ali ibn Abi Talib?

Enemies of religion?

No.

They were Muslims who killed other Muslims by calling them “infidels.”

That is why let us ask the question again: Muslims have suffered so much at the hands of Muslims, haven't they?

In recent weeks, news hit the press. An operation had been carried out against ISIS. Six ISIS members were killed, and three police officers lost their lives. Criticisms were made regarding how the operation was conducted. These are certainly important. But that is not the main issue.

The main issue is this: Does ISIS exist in these lands as an “organization,” or as a “mentality”?

To seek the answer to this question, I spoke with the relatives of Zafer Mutlu, one of the individuals killed in the operation.

The picture described was devastating. The story begins like this: A child of a poor family in his early twenties. A young man who worked in construction, played the saz, sang folk songs, and kept to himself. Until he met a “religious circle.” The change begins there. The family notices, warns, and talks. They resort to legal channels. None of it yields results.

Then comes the prison process. In his prosecutor's statement, he declares the regime “taghut” (idolatrous). He considers soldiers and police officers to be infidels. He views voting and military service as acts of disbelief. Despite this, he is released. Presumably, what he said is accepted merely as an “opinion.”

Yet this is not an opinion. This is a direct threat.

The circle/community in question, which Zafer Mutlu was also a part of, is known in the public eye for its Salafi-jihadist views. They equate the state with disbelief and imams with the devil. In official statements, they say they do not accept ISIS. But their statements supporting ISIS during the Syrian occupation process are also known to everyone.

Zafer Mutlu remains within this structure. He goes to their mosques. He says to his family clearly: “I researched ISIS, they were right.”

After a while, he declares his own family infidels. He threatens them with death. The family's face-to-face meeting with the community also yields no results. On the contrary, the threat this time comes from them.

Now let us stop and think.

This structure is known to the public. The community leader has entered and exited prison at various times. But whether it is named ISIS or not; this mentality, which excommunicates people with takfiri language, tears families apart, and targets the state and society, has been operating for years.

Zafer Mutlu's relatives are very clear on this point: The responsible parties are this community and its leadership.

There is no need to wait to see the harvest. If the seed is known, the result is also known. ISIS is not just the name of an organization; it is the name of a mentality. Every structure that disregards those who do not think like it, takes away the right to live, monopolizes religion, and places itself in the position of Allah is a part of this mentality.

And the painful part is this:

These seeds are not few in these lands.

Recent events have shown this once again.