Islamic State Caliphate Crumbling As Rebellion Gains Ground Within Its Ranks

The caliphate envisaged by Islamic State (IS) chief Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi appears to be crumbling with rebellion gaining ground within its ranks and the voice of dissent growing louder.

A graffiti that appeared on a wall near a mosque in Mosul, where Al Baghdadi declared his caliphate two years ago, may just be another sign of growing trouble within the group.

The spray-painted letter ‘m’ — which stands for mukawama meaning resistance — was part of a campaign by Kitaeb Al Mosul, an underground opposition group, that released a video showcasing their efforts.

The IS without wasting any time brutally executed three young men it claimed were involved in the act, and in return released their own video, which showed the men kneeling before being shot in the head, in a true IS-style execution.

The letter “m” was sprayed on the wall behind them, in a mock reference to their alleged crime.

Mosul residents are now more vocal in their criticism of the terror outfit.

“Daesh is weaker in Mosul, but it is using methods of oppression like random arrests to try and show it is still in control,” said a representative of Kitaeb Al Mosul.

He said the militants were in a state of “confusion”.

Atheel Al Nujaifi, the former governor of the province, said there are also signs of disarray among IS ranks, with increasing corruption inside the group.

Despite a ban on leaving the city, some residents have been able to escape by paying large bribes.

“They are paranoid, and the number of searches is way more than before,” said a woman, who was shunted out by the IS. She now lives in the Iraqi city of Dahuk.

As criticisms get louder, panic seems to be setting in within the group, which is now carrying out arrests and executions indiscriminately to show that they are in control.