An Islamist group has released a video showing the merciless executions of 18 Islamic State (ISIS) fighters, in a tit-for-tat propagandist reprisal for a similar video released by ISIS last week.
The Muslim world appears to be at war with itself as rival Islamist groups dream up creative new ways of killing each other before posting the graphic videos on the internet. Jaish al-Islam, one of the many Islamist groups scrabbling for supremacy in Syria has yesterday released another film which resembles a remarkable turning of the tables on the Islamic State.
Although the slick production, soft filters, and building of suspense are typical traits of Islamic State propaganda videos, this time it is ISIS jihadists at the receiving end, as Jaish al-Islam militants pull the trigger and execute their fellow Islamists.
Coming just a week after the Islamic State released a film of Jaish al-Islam and al-Nusra Front fighters being executed, the new film begins with a lengthy exposition onto the situation in the Near-East until twelve-minutes in a group of 18 ISIS fighters are shown being led down a tree-lined path.
In a curious twist, the executioners are the ones this time wearing orange jump-suits, presumably in solidarity with their comrades already executed by ISIS. The Islamic State fighters, shackled and dragging iron balls on chains are clad in black and wear balaclavas in the style of ISIS executioner and propagandist Jihadi John.
The lead executioner looks into the camera and gives a sermon before pulling the trigger, saying:
“All praise be to Allah who said in his book ‘and whoever opposes the messenger after guidance has become clear to him and followers other than the way of believers – we will give him what he has taken and drive him into hell, and evil it is as a destination’.
“Peace and blessings be on the messenger who said that Khawarij are ‘the dogs of hell’. We bear witness that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
“The most serious calamity of our Jihad today is a group of people who grow at a time of divisions among Muslims. This group claimed to be the mother state and made takfir on other Muslims, shed their blood, and looted their properties and dignities. They supported the enemy Shia and Nusayris, worsening the ordeal of Muslims by corrupting their religion and livelihood and killing the Jihadi leaders who did their best to help our stricken nation.
“… This is the penalty for what they have committed. We call on their fellows to repent”.
In an explosion of blood, the men are then simultaneously executed by being shot in the back of the head with shotguns and AK-47’s.
Warning: Graphic Content – Jaish al-Islam Execution Video