After the shocking story of Antonio Pampliega narrated in his book In the dark, with his 300 days of captivity in Syria, I now come to this book by another journalist Mikel Ayestarán, specialized in Middle East and in charge of transferring us in many occasions the socio-political intricacies of countries such as Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Palestine or Lebanon.
On this occasion the author brings us closer to some events of transcendental relevance for the current evolution of the inexhaustible focus of political, ethnic and religious confrontations, without being able to discern in many cases the fundamental cause.
In the amalgam of problems, the awakening of the Islamic State group, radicalized and desirous of a unification of social, moral and political criteria among all the countries of Islam, has increased the problems since its irruption in 2014, with the establishment of a general caliphate centered in Mosul and from which the organization tried to establish itself as the insurgent force finally come to power.
Between 2014 and 2017, when the Iraqi forces were able to recapture the city, Mikel Ayestarán was in the country's capital, Baghdad. And from there he was able to observe first-hand the social and political movements, the feelings of the country's inhabitants.
What might seem like euphoria among a liberated people was really just a mirage between destruction, abandonment, death and exile. The self-proclaimed Caliphate of the Islamic State had fallen, but liberation was not seen as a solution for anyone.
In any conflict, civilians are the ones who end up reflecting defeat, whatever happens. Because in addition, beyond the conquest of the city of Mosul, many other localities were still under the control of ISIS, with which the conflict only aims to intensify between the officers and the insurgents who, on the other hand, knew how to attract new ones like no one else. ultra-convinced adepts for the cause.
You can now buy the book The Ashes of the Caliphate, a great journalistic report of the reality in the Middle East by Mikel Ayestaran, here: