Controversy remains in the forefront in regards to the increasing daily horrors resulting from the Islamic State, or ISIS. Whether theses horrors result from mass killings, bombings, beheadings, threats, or released propaganda my research paper will remain focused on how ISIS uses the religion of Islam to further their endeavors. Through becoming involved in politics especially foreign relations and seeing as though religions as a whole peak my interests immensely, I am greatly intrigued with not only the Islamic State, but also the Islamic religion. I have had personal contact and interviews with 2 ISIS supporters, who reside in the US merely to send money to their families in Yemen as well as having interactions with my neighbors, who are Muslim Americans. Not only do I plan on using personal interviews, very reliable sources and moving stories to give me credibility and authority, I also want my passion surrounding my topic to be an added enhancement to my research paper as a whole. 

"Life and Death Inside An ISIS Prison" is an article published by Buzzfeed News that explains first hand the horrific treatment and life inside an ISIS prison, this one located near Tel Abyad. A son and father, who were found smuggling cigarettes in Tel Abyad, were captured and thrown in prison by ISIS militants. During the interview the son describes a "deathroom" as the room with hundreds of Qurans, or a sacred text of the Islamic religion, and explains that after being beaten every morning the prisoners were forced to pray. This provides clear evidence that even in prisons Islamic religious practices are evident and are driving forces behind the militant's actions. Buzzfeed News is a less traditional news broadcasting station that draws in youthful audiences, which means that their bias could result in leaving out horrific details. The interviewer's bias is clearly directed towards his negative experience, especially through the loss of his father. He most likely didn't elaborate on every detail inside the prison because he said he is scared ISIS militants will find him and kill him since he is going against them. 

Vox News contributor, Max Fisher, published an article titled "9 questions about ISIS you were embarrassed to ask". The article encompasses the key fundamentals behind ISIS, such as their relationship with Islam (wanting to initiate Armageddon and kill infidels), what their purpose is (to bring the World back to the time of Muhammad), what a caliphate means (an Islamic State signifying their authority over the Muslim Community) and most importantly what ISIS is, "a terrorist group that follows an Islamic ultra-fundamentalist ideology"(Fisher). The article has credibility and little bias because it thoroughly explain ISIS as a whole and the author does a substantial job of leaving out key opinions that are nearly impossible to miss, when researching the topics Fisher addressed in his piece. The source of the article derives from a digital news contributor website that focuses on adding information and details to normally less covered stories; however, because Vox has been known to make mistakes on key stories, the articles credibility as a whole is slightly diminished.   

A Pew Poll reported by The American Thinker shows that upwards of 63 million Muslims out of 11 Muslim countries polled support ISIS militants. With over 14 percent supporting ISIS and over 62 percent not having a yes or no stance on the matter, Islam and the Islamic State do not seem as far off as some believe. The Pew Poll derives from a nonpartisan American based public opinion survey in which people volunteer to add their stance on an issue. Statistics and polls are very biased and in this case show a small portion of the views of Middle Eastern Muslim-centered nation-states. This article has the ability to add to my credibility as long as I recognize that this poll is an American made opinion based poll and that the countries polled are predominately Muslim based and are in times of turmoil.  

Although many people recognize that ISIS uses Islamic practices and ideas some such as President Obama argue that ISIS uses Islam as a front to hide behind and more so perverts the religion. Some argue that ISIS leaders and their followers are not truly Muslim because they are extremists and extremists either take things too far, or take things too literally. I plan on addressing each argument, but will provide significant rebuttals such as including surveys, polls, interviews and correlations between ISIS's actions and those written in the Quran. It is also important to add that I am not blaming the religion of Islam of igniting a movement such as ISIS. I am simply showing that ISIS has key fundamentals such as a caliphate and Armageddon, which is heavily rooted in Islam.

 I plan on modifying my research exigence by narrowing down the key evidence that makes ISIS apart of the Islamic religion (such as pulling key passages from the Quran, using stories from released ISIS prison inmates, looking at propaganda and researching how many followers are involved in the Muslim community before joining). Knowing that it will be impossible to provide rebuttals and information in regards to every aspect the topic of ISIS and religion insinuates in a 10 page paper will encourage me to focus on key evidence and support. I think my claim of how ISIS uses Islam to further their endeavors is controversial because religion alone is so fundamental and sacred to many individuals, but my claim is also reachable because it is, in my opinion, more than possible to prove.      

