Last year, I wrote this article for The Guardian about the Islamic State’s apparent “national anthem” – the worryingly catchy My Ummah, Dawn Has Appeared.
Some doubted the Islamic State would do something as Western as pick a song to represent itself, but it seems the song’s only grown in stature since that piece was written. Last week, for instance, Boko Haram – the Nigerian terrorist group allied to ISIS – used it to open one of their propaganda videos for the first time, according to the excellent Jihadology website.
Expect it to appear in other parts of the self-styled caliphate soon. Yes, a song that sounds like it was made for yoga classes really has become the soundtrack to modern terrorism. Christ.
Republic or Death 