Leader of ‘Islamic State:’ ‘You Will Conquer Rome’ Next and 'Own the World'

July 2, 2014 - 12:32 PM

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By Barbara Boland

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"This is my advice to you - if you hold to it you will conquer Rome and own the world," said Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIL, the militant group that has taken over much of Iraq.
"Those who can immigrate to the Islamic State should immigrate, as immigration to the house of Islam is a duty," he said in an audio recording released on a website used by ISIS, reports The Telegraph.

"Rush O Muslims to your state. It is your state. Syria is not for Syrians and Iraq is not for Iraqis. The land is for the Muslims, all Muslims." Baghdadi has a PhD in Islamic studies.
Baghdadi says he is speaking as the first Caliph, or commander of the Islamic faithful since the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, he called on Muslims to rally to his pan-Islamic state.
"The whispers of support to a caliph in Afghanistan are now replaced by clear words and acts, amplified by social media," said Hassan Hassan, an analyst at Abu Dhabi's Delma Institute, to the Telegraph. "Jihadism has evolved significantly. It is no longer limited to narrow 'elitists' who travel to distant countries to wage jihad. Today's jihad is more sophisticated and individualised and can be waged everywhere."
Baghdadi calls on jihadi fighters to escalate fighting in the upcoming month of Ramadan, which began Sunday. "So to arms, to arms, soldiers of the Islamics, fight, fight."
Meanwhile, eight rebel fighters were crucified in Syria by ISIL for being "too moderate" three days ago, Reuters reports.
Over 2,400 people were killed in Iraq in June, the deadliest month the country has seen in years, according to U.N. reports.