Quote from: Epileptic_Neurosurgeon on July 22, 2015, 10:03:06 AM

Quote from: waterpile on July 22, 2015, 02:54:06 AM

Quote from: jaysabi on July 20, 2015, 10:01:47 PM

ISIS bans execution videos because of image backlash?

Quote from: http[Suspicious link removed

cution-videos-isis/2015/07/20/id/657960/]

ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has banned any more execution videos by the Islamic State, but the orders reportedly have created a division with the organization's ranks.

ARA News reported that, according to sources, al-Baghdadi was responding to the feelings of Muslims who regarded the videos as "disgusting and scary to children."

...

"Some of IS militants supported Baghdadi's decision, taking into consideration criticism of the public that describes scenes of beheadings as barbaric," wrote ARA News' Jan Nasro. "While other militants rejected the decision saying that such scenes are meant to intimidate their enemies, represented by western powers, and not the common folk."

According to the website Middle East Eye.net, a number of Arabic-language news agencies said on Friday that Baghdadi explained his decision in a statement delivered to media offices in Syria and Iraq.

The website said Baghdadi ordered that his followers don't include scenes of the actual executions in their videos and limit them to moments before or after the act.

Full Article: http[Suspicious link removed]cution-videos-isis/2015/07/20/id/657960/

Sounds like banning the execution part of the videos is to prevent eroding popular support. Cuz what would they be if they lost that?

whats the point?.. they are still killing people
like removing the part that they are beheading people will change their image as non violent org.

They don't need to necessarily be regarded as a non violent organisation, they just need to be accepted in the region as the authority of the region. The point would be to keep the violence on a level that instills fear but is not barbaric enough to significantly lower public support and provoke rebellions.
And if they become accepted as the authority of the region, the rest of the world has little choice but to negotiate and enter diplomatic relations with them. Which is why measures should be taken now, before it's too late.

Good point. I think that's kinda their motivation in their decision to not show beheadings. They want to instill fear to prevent people from contemplating violent resistance, but don't want to inspire so much anger and revulsion that people actually violently oppose them.