On April 8, 2013, the Dawlat al-ʻIraq al-Islāmīyah, “Islamic State of Iraq” (ISI) claimed territory in the Levant and thereby became “The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant”. Now known as just “The Islamic State”, this so-called “caliphate” is arguably one of the most evil entities in human history. This article lists some of the most horrendous crimes against humanity in chronological order.
Digging Deeper
1. Beheading
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (October 30, 1966 – June 7, 2006), a militant Islamist from Jordan who ran a paramilitary training camp in Afghanistan, became known after going to Iraq and being responsible for a series of bombings, beheadings, and attacks during the Iraq War. He formed al-Tawhid wal-Jihad in the 1990s, and led it until his death in June 2006. In late 2004 he joined al-Qaeda, and pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden. Afterwards, al-Tawhid wal-Jihad became known as Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), and al-Zarqawi was given the Al-Qaeda title, “Emir of Al Qaeda in the Country of Two Rivers”. This group is what eventually became the Islamic State of Iraq.
