Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) has reportedly revived the concept of the Jizya tax, a levy imposed on non-Muslims living in Muslim territory, imposing a fee of 17 grams of gold (about $725) on every Christian man in Raqqa.
The Jizya tax was designed to replace the collection of Zakat, charitable contributions given by Muslims, which in the past were collected by the state like a tax. It was extremely common throughout history, but is virtually unheard of today.
Raqqa is the largest city under AQI control, and they also control much of the surrounding province. The number of Christians living in Raqqa is unclear, but most of Syria’s Christian minority lives in the west.
Though the Jizya is considered an outdated concept in most of the Muslim world, the move by AQI to start collecting it may actually be an encouraging sign that the group does not intend to wipe out the Christian minority living in their territory.
Jason,
I would like to correct you on two points in this article :
"Though the Jizya is considered an outdated concept in most of the Muslim world" — Jizya is never considered an outdated concept, its part of the islamic religion, and denying it is an act of disbelief, most of the "islamic" governments do not base their laws on islaam out of fear of the west. But the point is its not outdated, just not possible in the current world climate.
Secondly I would like to correct another misconception : " an encouraging sign that the group does not intend to wipe out the Christian minority living in their territory." — its not allowed to kill christians living in muslim territories, they are protected, and have been throughout history as long as they abide by the islamic law and pose no danger to the islamic state.
This jizya is actually not the same as zakaah for muslims, non-muslims are in reality paying a protection tax, it means the AQI intend to guard and fight for the homes/lives of the non-muslims living in their territory and that is why they are collecting this tax, if they could for some reason not do so, and had to retreat, they should give back this tax to whom they took it from.
Just like in the UK we pay taxes, and some of those go to the UK defence, its the same concept, nothing alien about it, and no need to make it look negative.
Please do more research before you write articles.
Now AQI is starting to think like a real government! Why kill the people you conquer when you can extort them under a protection racket!
I would like to correct a third: there is no longer “al Qaeda in Iraq”. They were excommunicated by Zawahiri, am sure u are aware as antiwar reported. Please stick to the facts, that’s why we prefer ( for now) antiwar over cnn and company.Thanks.