...96 years ago - in 1914. It was declared by an Islamic leader on behalf of the Ottoman Empire - what we now call Turkey. They were desperate to keep their diminishing empire. They had aligned themselves with Germany and Austria in World War I and wanted Muslims all over the world to take up arms against England, France, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro - the Allies in the Great War. How did they explain that Muslims should be angry at the Allies but not Germany and Austria? I don't know. But it makes me realize that declaring a Jihad is not a purely religious act.
There is a bit more explanation at the This Day in History website here. It's important to study history. It shows that many things we think are modern problems or ideas are not so modern.
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