Surah al-Fath is the 48th chapter of the Qur’an. It promises Muslims who wage jihad much material reward: “Allah has promised you much booty that you will take and has hastened for you this and withheld the hands of people from you – that it may be a sign for the believers and He may guide you to a straight path” (48:20).

It also contains this command:”Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are ruthless against the unbelievers, merciful among themselves” (48:29).

This is the message that the Turkish government is giving to its soldiers as it sends them against the Kurds. It’s interesting in light of the fact that Islamic apologists in the West routinely insist that such verses apply only to seventh-century situations, and not to today in any way, shape or form. The Diyanet didn’t get the memo.

“‘Conquest’ prayers performed across Turkey’s mosques for Afrin operation,” Hürriyet Daily News, January 21, 2018: