Pablo Cañete Blanco Jihadism as an expression of violence... 351 The Islamic State has established itself as a place of terror. The rape of minors is systematic40, as is the persecution and defenestration of gay people41. Summary executions have been frequently televised and recorded in high definition (mass beheadings, immolations etc.).All of these acts, a priori classified as barbaric, respond to a careful and measured communications policy. In order to unravel it, we should separate what is done (and what the aim of this action is) from how it is done (and why it is done in this manner). The homophobic, sexist, backward etc. public policies aim to create a hetero-patriarchal identity (an issue that comes up in many states around the world) based on fear (hence the choice of the death penalty as punishment). The choice of the means for carrying out the sentence – beheadings, defenestration, a shot to the back of the head, or a howitzer – and it being recorded, has a clear propaganda component with a very specific target audience. “Islamic State men are everywhere, they are fighters and warriors”42. In their videos and magazines, violent content is the main focus, with the justification of the violence coming in a close second. Slow motion scenes of war, shootings, and executions take precedence over any religious reference. What is shown is not religion, it is religious justification, it is ultraviolence executed on the unbeliever, the apostate, the crusader, the infidel; it is a brutal demonstration of epic proportions. The Islamic State aims to seduce a young target audience who are looking to give meaning to their life, and through imitation of cinema and video games manages to attract them to a heroic reality of which they will be the protagonists43. 40 CALLIMACHI, Rukmini. «To Mantain Supply of Sex Slaves, ISIS Pushes Birth Control.» New York Times, 12 March 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/13/world/middleeast/to-maintain-supply- of-sex-slaves-isis-pushes-birth-control.html (last consulted 20.03.2017). GREENFIELD, Daniel. «Islamic State: If 10 Muslims Rape a Non-Muslim Woman, She Becomes Muslim.» Frontpage Mag, 9 October 2015, http://www.frontpagemag.com/point/260395/islamic-state- if-10-muslims-rape-non-muslim-woman-daniel-greenfield (last consulted 20.03.2017). 41 THAROOR, Ishaan. «The Islamic State’s shocking war on gays.» The Washington Post, 13 June 2016, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/06/13/the-islamic-states-shocking- war-on-homosexuals/ last consulted 20.03.2017). ZELIN, Aaron Y., and Jacob OLIDORT. «The Islamic State›s Views on Homosexuality.» The Washington Institute, 14 June 2016, http:// www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/the-islamic-states-views-on-homosexuality (last consulted 20.03.2017). 42 ALBATTAR. Orlando Attack. s/l, 14 June 2016. 43 WILLIAMS, Lauren. Islamic State propaganda and the mainstream media. Sydney (Australia): Lowy Institute for International Policy, 2016. WINTER, Charlie. The Virtual ‘Caliphate’: Understanding Islamic State’s Propaganda Strategy. London (United Kingdom): Quilliam Foundation, 2015. FERNANDEZ, Alberto M. Here to stay and growing: Combating ISIS propaganda network. Washington D.C. (United States): The Brookings Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World, 2015. http://revista.ieee.es/index.php/ieee
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