• $ 1.7
  • € 2.0185
  • ₽ 0.022222
  • ₺ 0.0392
  • £ 2.3247

Isis have a 'I can haz Islamic state' kitten twitter account

Isis have a 'I can haz Islamic state' kitten twitter account
22.08.2014 14:45
Twitter may be cracking down on graphic imagery shared by Islamic State fighters, but a more mundane and insidious type of propaganda is also being spread online: pictures of jihadists playing with kittens.

The Twitter account ‘Islamic State of Cats’ (@ISILCats) starting posting on June 25th and has since tweeted dozens of pictures supposedly showing fighters playing with kittens,  along with a smattering of memes and other ‘homely’ images of life from Raqqah, the centre of Isis operations.Most of these refer to the cats as ‘mewjahids’ (a pun on mujahideen, a term that’s often used to label extremist Muslim fighters) and show kittens playing alongside the paraphernalia of Isis members’ homes – bodybuilding weights, guns and ammunition.It’s unclear whether the account is being run by a member of Isis or by a supporter based abroad, but the pictures certainly follow terrorist organization’s strategy of normalising its activities to Western audiences.The Twitter account is one of many using shared cultural touchstones (memes and lolspeak_ alongside pictures of small acts of charity (one video shows a fighter feeding a dog with the hashtags #Justice and #AllEyesOnIsis) to try and ‘balance’ reports from the region of fear, poverty and widespread murder.Images like this stand in stark contrast to footage of the death of James Foley – an American photojournalist who travelled to the region to document the citizens’ suffering and was decapitated as warning to America following US airstrikes.Speaking to The Daily Telegraph about the danger of accounts like @ISILCats, Mohammed Shafiq of the Ramadhan Foundation think tank said:  “If you don’t confront it, the softer postings on Facebook and Twitter will seek to normalise the idea of going to fight in Iraq and Syria.”(independent.co.uk)Bakudaily.Az

Similar news
Similar news
Turkey backs diplomacy on Iran and Ukraine, urges stability in Black Seahe Black Sea.
World 12:30
Turkey backs diplomacy on Iran and Ukraine, urges stability in Black Seahe Black Sea.
Russia, Ukraine to hold one-on-one talks, U.S. may join
World 11:59
Russia, Ukraine to hold one-on-one talks, U.S. may join
Sweden holds talks with France and UK on possible NATO nuclear deployment
World 11:30
Sweden holds talks with France and UK on possible NATO nuclear deployment
EU plans to exempt key gas suppliers from additional checks
World 11:00
EU plans to exempt key gas suppliers from additional checks
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa visits Moscow
World 18:00
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa visits Moscow
Mary Trump suggests U.S. President may show signs of Alzheimer's
World 14:00
Mary Trump suggests U.S. President may show signs of Alzheimer's
Macron’s approval rating hits record low amid French political deadlock
World 13:30
Macron’s approval rating hits record low amid French political deadlock
Erdogan, Trump discuss support for peace in Syria and Gaza
World 12:30
Erdogan, Trump discuss support for peace in Syria and Gaza
Traders place record bets on dollar slump
World 12:00
Traders place record bets on dollar slump
Anews TV

Our official Youtube channel

Subscribe