For the past five years, the radical group called the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, has been gaining power in the Middle East. ISIS was formed by the former Al-Qaeda leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi who has been the leader since May of 2010.

Even though the group’s ideology is Islamic, ISIS members have massacred groups of Muslim people. This includes the suicide bombing of a mosque in Yemen on March 20th, which killed over 130 people and wounded about 350 others.

ISIS has also uploaded videos online that show beheadings of Americans to show their hatred toward the US. These videos have been taken down by websites such as Youtube almost immediately.

ISIS has been expanding their territory and is believed to be trying to redraw the map of the Middle East so that there is one big Islamic State instead of many different countries.

Social studies teacher Leslie Goelz said, “I would imagine that [what they are trying to establish is] fundamental Islamic beliefs, but also the creation of a homeland that would recreate boundaries based on culture and religion instead of the boundaries that exist right now.”

Mastorakis may be reached at [email protected]