The Road to Genocide: The Propaganda Machine of the Self-declared Islamic State (IS)

In the same manner as the Third Reich, IS uses law, terror and propaganda as ‘techniques of governance’ that serve to advance their political aims: securing themselves in power, preparing and waging war, and fostering the idea of an Islamic State. IS have successfully used the print and radio media systematically for the dissemination of lethal ideas and for the mobilization of the population on a grand scale in order to materialise these ideas. When such propaganda is laced with the dolus specialis of the crime of genocide, the severity of the mass action it brings about can be disastrous. This paper analyses the hate propaganda used in the online publications of IS. Evidence will then bring to light the fact that their hate propaganda amounts to direct and public incitement of others to commit genocide and the propagandists could, thus, be prosecuted for this crime at national or international courts.