Chapter 1: The Roots of Violence in Islamic History

Islam has a troubling history marked by violence. The act of beheading captured foes has long been a part of Islamic tradition, serving to instill fear among adversaries. The brutal actions of extremist groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS are merely the latest manifestations of a dark historical legacy of executions within the Muslim world.

“So when you meet those who do not believe, strike them across the neck with the sword. And when you have smashed them to pieces, then tighten the fetters on them,” states Sura 47 of the Qur’an. While some scholars argue that the Koran does not explicitly advocate for the beheading of non-believers, it is undeniable that terrorists have resorted to this method in their campaigns.

In the late 1990s, disturbing images and videos began circulating online, depicting the beheading of Serbian civilians in Bosnia and Russian soldiers in Chechnya. However, it wasn't until February 2002 that the world was horrified by the televised beheading of Wall Street Journal repor