Is Islamic State an Independent Country, Now?

Currently, ISIS holds a state which is at least equivalent to the geographical area of the U.K. But it has already planned to move beyond Iraq and Syria in order to expand its regime.

By Rakesh Raman

If you are ready to believe the words of John Cantlie – a hostage-turned-spokesman of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) – the ISIS Caliphate is now an independent country.

Cantlie argues, “as uncomfortable as it may be for many in the West, there’s little reason why the State shouldn’t be considered a country. Countries can be born in days, in hours during a coup, or in minutes at the signing of a paper, they have been for centuries.”

Cantlie has expressed his views in the recent issue of Dabiq, a monthly magazine of the Islamic State.

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While supporting his argument that Islamic State is an independent country, Cantlie ridiculed the U.S. President Barack Obama who had called ISIS a mere terrorist organization.

“From the toothless roaring of Obama’s address to the nation on 10th September, in which he declared that the Islamic State ‘is a terrorist organization, pure and simple,’ it would seem that some of his closest advisors, many figures in the rest of the NATO world and the media in general are not convinced by such a simplistic description, although “terrorism” is undoubtedly one of the tactics, amongst many, adeptly employed and advanced by the Islamic State in its jihād,” said Cantlie in his article.

[ Islamic State Is Now a Global Player: John Cantlie ]

Counting the achievements of ISIS, Cantlie emphasizes that the terrorist outfit now controls cities and has its own police force. It also possesses tanks and artillery pieces, a strong army of soldiers, and its own spy drones.

Moreover, according to Cantlie, ISIS plans to produce its own currency, has set up primary schools for children, and runs a proper court system. All these are hallmarks of a country and media has already started mentioning that the Islamic State’s Caliphate is on course to becoming an independent country.

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“You can’t just conveniently write it (ISIS) off as merely ‘a terrorist organization’,” Cantlie warns.

He also says that ISIS footprint is not limited to only Iraq and Syria, but it’s fast spreading its tentacles in other parts of the world, too.

“The way things are going at the moment, France, Belgium, Denmark, Australia, and Canada, have all been the targets of mujāhidīn attacks over the last three months alone, and as more Islamic fighters from different groups in different countries pledge allegiance to the Islamic State, such attacks will surely only become more numerous and better-executed,” said Cantlie in his Dabiq article.

[ Undeterred by U.S. Offensive, ISIS Now Eying Europe ]

Currently, ISIS holds a state which is at least equivalent to the geographical area of the U.K. But it has already planned to move beyond Iraq and Syria in order to expand its regime. Its next target: Europe.

“With the black flag of the Caliphate now seen on the skylines of Africa, Arabia, and Asia, a complete departure in how the West addresses this State is needed,” Cantlie suggests.

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) or Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or Islamic State (IS) is a militant organization.

With a strong force of more than 30,000 fighters under its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, it is attacking different nations with the aim to set up a large Islamic State called the Caliphate or an independent country.

By Rakesh Raman, the managing editor of RMN Company

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