ALBAWABA - Despite that the Islamic State (ISIS) is now a lesser source of concern especially in the Middle East, the terrorist group is reshaping itself according to new sources and it is using more advanced ways to reach and influence people.
ISIS has been widely spread in the Middle East's Iraq and Syria and was fought by the government along with the United States and its allies until they announced completely ending the group there.
In March 2023, the coalition of Kurdish and Arab soldiers backed by the US, the UK and French special forces announced defeating ISIS and fully liberated Baghouz in eastern Syria, which was the last stronghold of the terrorist group.
The US Department of State by July 2017, Mosul was once again under the control of the Iraqi government and by December 2017, ISIS had lost all control of territory in Iraq.
Did ISIS infiltrate TikTok to influence younger generation?
A Sky News investigation revealed that thousands of videos on the Chinese platform, TikTok, included an audio released by the ISIS group.
According to the British channel, Nasheeds affiliated with the Islamic State and created in support of it are being widely used on TikTok.
Sky News reported that "Dawlati Baqiyah" nasheed was one of the most used. The song addresses the losses inflicted on its forces during the years from 2014 to 2019.
(Dawlati Baqiyah, a nasheed linked to ISIS and pro-ISIS content used in over 8000 videos on Tiktok)
The report revealed that the TikTok administration removed the sound, however, another one called "Qamat Al Dawla" released by one of ISIS' official media outlets is still available and is attached to 364 videos.
Furthermore, the investigation also led to another nasheed released by Ajnad Media Foundation in 2013 and it has been available on Tiktok since 2021. It is attached to over 14,300 videos.
The lyrics of the most popular nasheed praise ISIS fighters, and read: "The Islamic State has arisen by the blood of the righteous".
Many social media users allegedly said that these sounds on TikTok are a prove that the ISIS group didn't end and they are forming their selves back. Meanwhile, others added that TikTok is the easiest way to affect or influence people, especially the younger generation and that's why the group are more active there.
