Exploring Takfir, Its Origins and Contemporary Use: The Case of Takfiri Approach in Daesh’s Media

Muslims have been the primary targets of Daesh’s attacks since 2014 in different countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. These attacks were based on its takfiri ideology. As Daesh official media and documents indicate, kufr (unbelief, infidelity) in Daesh’s approach is not limited to non-Muslims (original disbelievers), but Muslims are the most significant parts of kuffar (unbelievers) in its view and defined as incidental disbelievers. Through studying Daesh’s official documents and various Arabic, English, and Persian media productions, in an explanatory research, this article attempts to display Daesh’s takfiri approach toward Muslims and explains its historical and ideological roots, difference with Al-Qaeda’s takfiri approach, different approaches to takfir inside Daesh, main targets of Daesh’s takfir, and the reasons behinds its takfiri view. This article displays that for Daesh, the Muslims are limited only to Sunni Muslims who are accepting and following its approach. Other Sunni and non-Sunni Muslims are thus kuffar. This study also shows that the assertion of takfir has become a method for Daesh to discredit its opponents, such as Shi’a Muslims and other Muslim groups

Management practices for control of ragwort species

The ragwort species common or tansy ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris, formerly Senecio jacobaea), marsh ragwort (S. aquaticus), Oxford ragwort (S. squalidus) and hoary ragwort (S. erucifolius) are native in Europe, but invaded North America, Australia and New Zealand as weeds. The abundance of ragwort species is increasing in west-and central Europe. Ragwort species contain different groups of secondary plant compounds defending them against generalist herbivores, contributing to their success as weeds. They are mainly known for containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are toxic to grazing cattle and other livestock causing considerable losses to agricultural revenue. Consequently, control of ragwort is obligatory by law in the UK, Ireland and Australia. Commonly used management practices to control ragwort include mechanical removal, grazing, pasture management, biological control and chemical control. In this review the biology of ragwort species is shortly described and the different management practices are discussed

Comparative genomics in clovers (Trifolium spp.)using Medicago truncatula Gaertn. as a reference for candidate genes controlling agronomic traits

Background: Molecular markers and genetic linkage maps are pre-requisites for molecular breeding, but no genetic map is currently available for subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.), a diploid and inbreeding pasture legume. A total of 2,646 microsatellite or simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers either available in the public domain or unpublished obtained from Kazusa DNA Research Institute, were screened on four genotypes (Denmark, DGI007, Woogenellup and Daliak) that are parents of two F2 mapping populations. Results: A total of 343 SSR loci could be mapped into 8 linkage groups with 6–31 loci per linkage group and 27 SSRs shared between the two populations. Phenotyping data obtained for flowering time, isoflavonoid content (formononetin, genistein, biochanin A), hardseedness, leaf marks, calyx pigmentation and hairiness of stem were analyzed together with genotyping data. For each trait, 1–3 QTLs were identified; the phenotypic variation explained by these QTLs was in the range of 5.5–59.8%. In addition, alignment of linkage groups was possible with the genetic maps of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.)and Medicago truncatula Gaertn. using shared loci. Segmental duplications were identified within subterranean clover genome and between the legume species. Candidate genes for isoflavone content were identified. Conclusions: The present study reports on comparative genomics among three clover species as well as Medicago truncatula following the construction of the first genetic map for subterranean clover. It demonstrates the utility of a comparative genomics approach for molecular mapping of QTL controlling seed hardness, flowering time and specifically isoflavone content traits, as well as establishing relationships between subterranean clover and genomes of red clover, white clover and model legume M. truncatula. The comparative mapping carried out demonstrated the value of the map to identify candidate genes controlling important traits such as isoflavone content