Jason Burke, the veteran Observer and Guardian correspondent and author of the bestselling book Al-Qaeda, has a new book out The New Threat from Islamic Militancy and a reviewer says:
is the most accessible and up-to-date analysis of the development of Islamic militancy. It gives a clear and convincing account of the evolution through the 20th century of the philosophy that seeks to justify this particular brand of terror.
More telling is the first paragraph:
One of the more shocking recent testimonies regarding Islamic State comes from Yazidi girls captured during the assault on Mount Sinjar in August 2014. The girls were immediately separated from their families and sold as sex slaves to Isis fighters. The justification for the sale and for their being bound, gagged and raped lies in the Qur’an, which, according to this interpretation, states that raping unbelievers is an act of devotion to God. One of the brave followers of the black flag said that rape was a form of prayer and brought him closer to Allah.
Link:http://www.theguardian.com/books/201...n-burke-review