It's hard to find the answer and I'm curious what's difference between the three groups. I know they are Islamic groups with Sharia laws and some cases the news has mentioned. But I have no idea whats the difference between them. I hope you can answer me. PS! English isn't my first language, so it would be nice if you can explain in a more simple way.

They are just three different but loosely affiliated groups that all share the same goal - establishing an Islamic state under strict sharia law.  The one difference with the IS is that they have announced they have established that state (Caliphate) with a named leader (Caliph).  This is significant because according to their beliefs a united Caliphate is required.  It is also believed to be necessary for the final battle of the ages to occur where Islam will conquer and rule the world.


Sapere Aude

The Islamic State is a jihadist group that is currently seizing territory in Syria and Iraq. They are one part of the cause of the Syrian refugee crisis. Like Deborah said, their goal is to establish a state with Sharia law.

The Taliban is currently an insurgent group in Afghanistan. They were previously a militia and then in control of the government in that country. Like IS, they follow a very strict, anti-modern interpretation of Sharia law and have been engaged in violent conflicts in Afghanistan since the 1990s.

Al-Qaeda is a global terrorist network/organization. They have been involved in multiple conflicts since 1988, and have played a role in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria which is why all three of these often get mixed together or brought up when discussing certain topics.

  Also there are 2 major sects within Islam, Sunni and Shia. Plus there are some other smaller sects and they do not get along with each other. That's why the mosques of the opposing sect gets blown-up as well as with the non-Muslim places of worship during these raids. The Middle East has a history of that. Josephus and other scribes in the first century mentioned that the Jewish rebels were killing more of their own kind than the Roman soldiers and civilians. Same as today.

Joelene

The Taliban, al Qaeda, and Islamic State are all Sunni Muslims. Saudi Arabia is a sect of Sunni called Wahhabism. Syria and Iraq have mixed populations, some Sunni and some Shia. Many of the current problems stem from arbitrary lines on the map after World War I that failed to take culture and religion into account. Sunnis seem to be more aggressive than Shiites.

Iran is Shia.

Quote from: diane 2606 on February 22, 2016, 09:18:55 PM
Many of the current problems stem from arbitrary lines on the map after World War I that failed to take culture and religion into account.

It's true that the arbitrary lines drawn after WW I didn't correspond to ethnic and religious lines in the region, but I don't think that was a "failure."  I think the British and French purposely drew the lines that way in dismembering the Ottoman Empire in order to ensure the failure of the resulting states, rendering them weaker, and therefore more susceptible to European domination.  We have all (both east and west) been paying the price for that diplomatic treachery for a century, and we're not nearly at the end of the process.

Back on Sebby's original point, IS, Al Qaeda, and the Taliban all have different ethnic origins and different methods of operation.  But what they all have in common is that all three of them would gladly kill you in a heartbeat for being transgender.

Quote from: itsApril on February 22, 2016, 09:52:08 PM
It's true that the arbitrary lines drawn after WW I didn't correspond to ethnic and religious lines in the region, but I don't think that was a "failure."  I think the British and French purposely drew the lines that way in dismembering the Ottoman Empire in order to ensure the failure of the resulting states, rendering them weaker, and therefore more susceptible to European domination.  We have all (both east and west) been paying the price for that diplomatic treachery for a century, and we're not nearly at the end of the process.

Back on Sebby's original point, IS, Al Qaeda, and the Taliban all have different ethnic origins and different methods of operation.  But what they all have in common is that all three of them would gladly kill you in a heartbeat for being transgender.

I'm not surprised. They are extreme fundamentalists. They are against all forms for LGBT*. Not surprising, since they takes their beliefs very literally and lives in a old fashioned way. They think like people in the past too and isn't so modern as us. Another thing they have in common is how they treats women. Women have to cover themselves in burkas, hijabs or niqab in many of the countries where the groups controls. Women hasn't the same right at education, go outside, car driving etc. too in some of these countries, because the authorities has decided that.