ISIS doesn't want Syrian migrants to flock to Europe, either


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It turns out that Islamic State and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán have at least one thing in common: They don't want Syrians and other Muslims migrating en masse to Europe. On Monday, the Hungarian government placed a full-page ad in Lebanon's top newspaper, An-Nahar, warning that "Hungary will not allow illegal immigrants to cross its territory," and any who try will face prison. Over the past week, in a series of videos and social media posts, ISIS has also been warning Muslims in its "caliphate" to stay put.
In one nine-minute video, a French ISIS militant offers the choice between "honor" and the "humiliation of the West," arguing: "You are very close to the land of Islam, close to the land of the caliphate, but you chose to cross the sea and kill your children only to reach the land of disbelief." In another 21-minute video, a man in Raqqa says the European "gives you food in one hand and humiliates with another."
Why is ISIS making common cause with European anti-migration activists? Its "propagandists seem to view the exodus to Europe as a blow to their plans to expand their self-proclaimed caliphate," explains Nabih Bulos at the Los Angeles Times. And if shame and humiliation don't work, a masked ISIS militant warns in yet another video: "To everyone who left to the land of disbelief by his own will: You will fail, you will fail, and your endeavor will fail."
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A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Peter Weber is a senior editor at TheWeek.com, and has handled the editorial night shift since the website launched in 2008. A graduate of Northwestern University, Peter has worked at Facts on File and The New York Times Magazine. He speaks Spanish and Italian and plays bass and rhythm cello in an Austin rock band. Follow him on Twitter.
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