Interview Conducted by Hasnain Kazim
How does Islamic State think? How do its followers see the world? SPIEGEL ONLINE met up with an Islamic State recruiter in Turkey to hear about the extremist group's vision for the future.
He calls himself Abu Sattar, appears to be around 30 years old and wears a thick, black beard that reaches down to his chest. His top lip is shaved as is his head and he wears a black robe that stretches all the way to the floor. He keeps a copy of the Koran, carefully wrapped in black cloth, in his black leather bag.
Abu Sattar recruits fighters for the terrorist militia Islamic State in Turkey. Radical Islamists travel to Turkey from all over the world to join the "holy war" in Iraq or Syria and Abu Sattar examines their motives and the depth of their religious beliefs. Several Islamic State members independently recommended Abu Sattar as a potential interview partner -- as someone who could explain what Islamic State stands for. Many see him as something like an ideological mentor.
In America fundamentalist Christians share a similar world view of us against them. Viewing those not adhering to their peculiar form of Christianity as sinners worthy only of gods wrath.
How does Islamic State think? How do its followers see the world? SPIEGEL ONLINE met up with an Islamic State recruiter in Turkey to hear about the extremist group's vision for the future.
He calls himself Abu Sattar, appears to be around 30 years old and wears a thick, black beard that reaches down to his chest. His top lip is shaved as is his head and he wears a black robe that stretches all the way to the floor. He keeps a copy of the Koran, carefully wrapped in black cloth, in his black leather bag.
Abu Sattar recruits fighters for the terrorist militia Islamic State in Turkey. Radical Islamists travel to Turkey from all over the world to join the "holy war" in Iraq or Syria and Abu Sattar examines their motives and the depth of their religious beliefs. Several Islamic State members independently recommended Abu Sattar as a potential interview partner -- as someone who could explain what Islamic State stands for. Many see him as something like an ideological mentor.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: As-salamu alaykum.
Abu Sattar: Are you Muslim?
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Why does that matter? Religion is a private matter for me.
Abu Sattar: Then why did you say "as-salamu alaykum"?
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Because it means "peace be with you" and I see it as a friendly greeting.
Abu Sattar: So you're not a Muslim. I knew it!
This first exchange involves a simple greeting yet like any religious fundamentalist Abu Sattar immediately questions the interviewers religious beliefs. Concluding that only those who adhere to Islamic State beliefs and religious doctrine are the one and true believers.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Why is Islamic State so eager to divide the world into believers and infidels? Why does Islamic State see everything as either black or white, "us against the world"?
Abu Sattar: Who started it? Who conquered the world and sought to subordinate all foreign cultures and religions? The history of colonialism is long and bloody. And it continues today, in the shape of Western arrogance vis-à-vis everyone else. "Us against the rest of the world" is the formula that drives the West. We Muslims are now finally offering successful resistance.
In America fundamentalist Christians share a similar world view of us against them. Viewing those not adhering to their peculiar form of Christianity as sinners worthy only of gods wrath.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Do you believe that those who behead others are good Muslims?His beliefs are absolutist any contradictions are dismissed believing that the interviewer is unworthy and incapable of excepting what Islamic State believes is the true word of Mohammad even though Abu Satter has no way of knowing this.
Abu Sattar: Let me ask you this: Do you believe that those who launch air strikes on Afghan weddings or who march into a country like Iraq on specious grounds are good Christians? Are those responsible for Guantanamo or Abu Ghraib good Christians?
SPIEGEL ONLINE: You are dodging the question. The events you speak of were not undertaken in the name of a religion and were heavily criticized in the West. Once again: What is a good Muslim for you? What kinds of people are you recruiting?
Abu Sattar: A Muslim is a person who follows Allah's laws without question. Sharia is our law. No interpretation is needed, nor are laws made by men. Allah is the only lawmaker. We have determined that there are plenty of people, in Germany too, who perceive the emptiness of the modern world and who yearn for values of the kind embodied by Islam. Those who are opposed to Sharia are not Muslims. We talk to the people who come to us and evaluate on the basis of dialogue how deep their faith is.
Turkey is seen as a key site for Islamic State recruiting. People from around the world -- from Europe, the United States and Central and South Asia -- travel to Istanbul and establish contacts with the extremists. According to Turkish officials, around 1,000 of the country's citizens are also fighting for Islamic State.The government in Ankara denies that it is supporting Islamic State, but has in the past allowed jihadists to travel to Iraq and Syria via Turkey. There are also indications that the extremists receive food, medical supplies, weapons and munitions via Turkey and that injured terrorists have been treated in Turkish hospitals.
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