Over the past year, the world has learned quite a bit about ISIS, the once obscure band of CIA-trained, Qatar-funded, marauding Muslim militants whose Cinderella story saw the group transform themselves from Syrian proxy war puppets to barbarous pseudo-state conquerors in the space of nine short months. We’ve learned, for instance, that the group are avid Twitter users, which is why they felt especially betrayed when the social network began suspending members’ accounts, prompting the group to warn co-founder Jack Dorsey that ISIS “lions” would be arriving in short order to “take his breath.” We’ve also learned that despite proving themselves extraordinarily capable when it comes to producing near Hollywood-quality videos, the group struggles [6] when it comes to creating a social network from scratch. Finally, we’ve come to understand that despite the group’s tough guy posturing, most members have a soft spot [7] for kittens and enjoy a spoonful of Nutella now and again.
And so, as the CIA prepares to train [8] the next group of “moderate” Syrian rebels who may or may not become the successor to ISIS much as ISIS did to al-Qaeda, and as Texans ponder [9] “lone wolves” and false flags, we present ISIS first-ever venture into the hospitality industry. Behold! Hotel ISIS...
This was once the 262-room, five-star Ninawa International Hotel in Mosul, Iraq:
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It is now being reopened under new ownership...
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...who are working diligently to give the hotel a fresh new look…
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...while tending to the grounds…
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...trimming the hedges…
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...and waxing the floors…
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As you can see, the group expended quite a bit of effort to get the building ready for opening night which was reportedly on May 1. All Muslims were told they could attend the event free of charge and as The Independent reports [18], ISIS even put on a fireworks show at the end of the night:
Pictures circulated by Isis-affiliated social media accounts show members tending to a well-maintained garden, polishing floors and cleaning windows, expansive swimming pools and two black Isis flags flying at the front of the multi-storey building.
The hotel is believed to be the Ninawa International Hotel, which received a number of positive reviews on TripAdvisor before being overtaken by militants and stripped of its branding. It has 262 rooms, two restaurants, two ballrooms and a gymnasium, among other facilities.
Images from the event show dozens gathered around pools during the day, followed by a firework display in the evening.
So while there's plenty of fun to be had at this former five-star establishment, you'd be wise not to go overboard or otherwise 'lose your head' because well... you might lose your head. Here's SputnikNews [19]:
Alas, the jihadists have prohibited their guests from dancing, smoking, gambling and other "sins"; women, visiting the hotel, should be dressed in accordance with strict Sharia laws – head-to-toe in black.
Those who violate the Islamic rules are at risk of being decapitated, while ISIL's infamous female police al-Khansaa will keep an eye on guests to ensure observance of Islamic values and practices.