Iraqi federal police advancing through the old city of Mosul to retake the last district held by ISIL. Ahmad Al Rubaye / AFP
Iraqi federal police advancing through the old city of Mosul to retake the last district held by ISIL. Ahmad Al Rubaye / AFP
Iraqi federal police advancing through the old city of Mosul to retake the last district held by ISIL. Ahmad Al Rubaye / AFP
Iraqi federal police advancing through the old city of Mosul to retake the last district held by ISIL. Ahmad Al Rubaye / AFP

Two years on, the ‘caliphate’ is at an end


  • English
  • Arabic

‘I am the wali who presides over you ... If you see that I am right, assist me.” With these words, the leader of ISIL, Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, declared that he had founded a new worldwide caliphate and would be known as the caliph Ibrahim.

Three years have passed to the day since Al Baghdadi ascended the steps of the Great Mosque of Al Nuri in Mosul to declare himself the global leader of Muslims. In that time, the brutality of ISIL’s rule has been shown for the world to see. But as the “caliphate” of ISIL comes to an end in Iraq, the threat from the ideas and politics that birthed ISIL remains.

Almost from the moment the “caliphate” was created, it was mocked, shunned and attacked by Muslims. Unfortunately, the thousands who flocked to fight for it from Europe, Africa and Asia were sufficient for it to expand, occupy land in both Syria and Iraq, rule over millions of people in two countries and inspire attacks across the world.

Now the group is on the run, besieged in Mosul and in its Syrian stronghold of Raqqa. Aware of the publicity value of the Al Nuri mosque, the militants blew it up rather than let the Iraqi army capture it and gloat. This latest act was only part of the brutality of the group. In the past three years, the world has watched with horror as ISIL has broadcast its mass killings, journalists have uncovered mass graves, and the suffering of those who lived under ISIL has been revealed. Even today, there are thousands still living under the yoke of the group. Those who have been brutalised, enslaved and injured will never forget what happened under this “caliphate”.

Yet this particular iteration of militancy will not be the last, not unless the conditions that gave rise to the group are tackled. Inside Iraq, the sectarianism of the Maliki government pushed some Sunnis to ISIL

in an ill-advised -- even disastrous -- attempt to seek protection".

In Syria, the brutality of the Assad regime accomplished a similar reaction.

More broadly, an extreme interpretation of Islamic teaching has given the straightforward political violence of ISIL a thin veneer of legitimacy – not enough for the majority of Muslims, but enough to convince angry and isolated young men from around the world to fight for a cause they barely understand.

The end of ISIL will draw to a close one of the worst chapters of the modern Middle East. But without careful guard, extremism could rise again in an unexpected way.

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Date started: 2012

Founder: Amir Barsoum

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: HealthTech / MedTech

Size: 300 employees

Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)

Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC

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  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
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2015 – lost to Chile on penalties in the final

2016 – lost to Chile on penalties in the final

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Company: Bidzi

● Started: 2024

● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid

● Based: Dubai, UAE

● Industry: M&A

● Funding size: Bootstrapped

● No of employees: Nine

10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
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Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

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Rating: 4/5

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Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

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Key facilities
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Porsche Taycan Turbo specs

Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors

Transmission: two-speed

Power: 671hp

Torque: 1050Nm

Range: 450km

Price: Dh601,800

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COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed 

Company%20profile
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