The announcement of a formal Islamic state by insurgents in Syria and Iraq is a "declaration of war against the West and al Qaida", an expert has warned. The Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria (Isis) group has sought to solidify its leadership of worldwide jihad today by declaring that its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is the new caliph, or head of state."What Isis is doing is playing into their hands . . . You can close your eyes and see what's the plan. The plan is to create an Islamic state, a bogus Islamic state, a Zionist Islamic state. And that Islamic state will claim to recover the Caliphate. You can see in advance this is what they're planning. But it cannot be a real Caliphate. No. It's going to be a bogus Caliphate. And I'm saying that up front." - Sheikh Imran Hosein, June 21, 2014. [20:00 - 20:45 in the video below].
Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, a spokesman for the group, called for those living in the area under the group's control in both countries to swear allegiance to Baghdadi.
Around 500 British-linked citizens are already thought to have travelled to the Middle East to fight with the Sunni Muslim group against its Alawite and Shia sectarian foes amid fears that more will join them.
Video Title: Iraq Needs A Pluralist State As Does Ukraine - Sheikh Imran Hosein. Source: 108morris108. Date Published: June 21, 2014.
