Myth of Andalusia controls ISIS: Spain dismantles organization’s terrorist cells

The Spanish police recently dismantled several ISIS cells in more than one region, and after investigations it became clear that these cells were planning to carry out terrorist operations in the country.

ISIS cares about Spain because it was part of Andalusia, which was the Islamic state that ruled a large part of the Iberian Peninsula from the eighth to the fifteenth centuries.

ISIS currently dreams of conquering Spain and restoring Andalusia as part of its caliphate again.

Recruitment and promotion

ISIS is trying to recruit followers and fighters from Spain, Morocco and other countries through social networks and the internet, using videos, photos and messages to promote its ideology and urge jihad.

Some of these materials target Moroccans living in Spain, exploiting their feelings of exclusion and discrimination.

Some materials also target young people born in Spain of Moroccan origin, in an attempt to influence their identity and belonging.

Attacks and frustrations

ISIS is facing a severe fight by the Spanish, European and international authorities.

Several people have been arrested on suspicion of belonging to ISIS or planning attacks in its name in Spain in recent years. Cells belonging to the organization have also been dismantled and weapons and ammunition seized.

ISIS carried out many attacks in Spain, most notably the Barcelona attack in 2017, where 12 people plowed into crowds of pedestrians with stolen trucks, killing 16 people and injuring 130 others.

The terrorist organization claimed responsibility for this attack, claiming that the perpetrators were “soldiers of the caliphate”.

Difficulties

Political analyst Raouf Abdel Qader said that ISIS faces great challenges in realizing its dream of Andalusia. In addition to the security and legal confrontation, the organization faces popular and social rejection by Muslims and non-Muslims in Spain.

Abdel Qader assured the Reference that the organization is facing military and political weakness in the Middle East, where it lost most of the lands it had controlled in Iraq and Syria.

“However, the threat of ISIS cannot be completely ruled out, as the organization is still capable of launching sporadic attacks and inciting its supporters to violence, so the Spanish state and society must promote integration, cooperation and dialogue between different religions and cultures in order to confront extremism and terrorism in all its forms,” h