A new social media trend has swept the Arab world, adopting the virality of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Here’s what you need to know about the Burn ISIS Flag Challenge.
1. The Challenge Began in Beirut, Lebanon
According to Yahoo! News:
The trend started after three Lebanese youths posted pictures of them burning the flag associated with the militant group, also known as Islamic State, in the middle of Sassine Square in Beirut.
The youths decided to burn the ISIS flag, known as the Black Standard, in response to the ISIS beheading of two Lebanese soldiers.
2. The Trend Immediately Went Viral
The Jewish Press » » Burn Your ISIS Flag Today #BurnISISFlagChallenge #isis #Israel http://t.co/IeR0LbUK33 pic.twitter.com/DULQDOkz8O
— Bolo (@Bolo1970) August 31, 2014
Following the first #BurnISISFlagChallenge, it began to trend on Twitter.
Many individuals have taken part in the challenge, the majority of which reside in the Middle East.
The #BurnISISFlagChallenge goes viral http://t.co/U1PkQk1AOh pic.twitter.com/OkCYkMe43Z
— IBTimes UK (@IBTimesUK) September 4, 2014
3. You Nominate People
Just like in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, you nominate people to take part in the Burn ISIS Flag Challenge.
@Zahra__Rahimi @washingtonpost I nominate @BarackObama and @CIA Director John Brennan for the #BurnISISFlagChallenge…oh, & @MichelleObama.
— David Ramos (@DavidCloudRamos) September 6, 2014
I've taken the #BurnISISFlagChallenge and now nominate @greggutfeld @RobertGBeckel and "Fire Girl" #JenniferLawrence #HungerGames
— O Bow Mao Truth Team (@BowMaoTruthTeam) September 7, 2014
#EU #USA #Asia #Africa #Australia I nominate ALL Muslims and Imams in western countries and all around the world #BurnISISFlagChallenge
— Michi (@mj123451) September 8, 2014
4. ISIS Has Yet to Respond
(Getty)
ISIS is known to be adept with their social media skills, but have yet to respond to the new fad with comment or violence.
5. Some Muslims Don’t Like It
Burning ISIS flag means burning an Arabic sentence which says 'Allah is one and Muhammad is his messenger'. #BurnISISFlagChallenge
— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) September 8, 2014
Some Muslims are against the Burn ISIS Flag Challenge because of what the flag’s Arabic text translates to:
Allah is one and Muhammad is his messenger.
For some practitioners of Islam, burning such a statement, no matter the reason behind it, is considered blasphemous.
UPDATE: As many people are wondering where to buy an Islamic State flag to participate, the answer is that there are few if any IS flags available, especially in the West. A majority of the Burn ISIS Flag Challenge participants are printing out the flag on paper and burning it symbolically.
