ISIL "jihadists, led by self-proclaimed descendant of Prophet Muhammad Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, have already bulldozed or blown up some of the most sacred places in Iraq."
Georgetown University professor Yvonne Haddad says ISIL sees "themselves as the last defenders of Islamic civilization and want to eradicate anything they see as an enemy of Islam, and any Muslim they perceive as compromising with the West."
They have targeted Shia sites in Iraq to no one's surprise. But it is an "unverified threat to Mecca itself'" that has everyone wondering when or where ISIL will draw the line.
The alleged threat against Mecca "was tweeted by a member of the extremist group on a since-suspended account." The tweet said: "By Allah's leave our sheikh al-Baghdadi led Mecca stone for those who worship (pilgrims) will kill you and God' I will tear down the Ka'ba, the place of worship."
ISIL's problem with Mecca seems to stem from their belief that Muslims "have lost touch with the true meaning of their faith."
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