Who are assassins and do they exist in the modern world?

With the introduction of the popular game Assassins Creed, many people had questions: "Who are assassins?", "Does the game have a connection with reality?". Indeed, such a society was in the Middle Ages.

In the 10-13 centuries in the mountainous regions of Persia, there was the state of Alamut. It arose because of the split in Islam and the development of the Ismaili sect of the Shiite direction, with which the dominant religious system waged an irreconcilable struggle.

Ideological clashes in Islamic countries often turned into questions about life and death. Hasan ibn-Sabbah, the founder of the new state, had to think about survival in a hostile environment. Apart from the fact that the country was located in the mountainous region, and all the cities were fortified and inaccessible, he widely used reconnaissance and punitive operations against all the enemies of Alamut. Soon the whole eastern world learned about who the assassins were.

In the palace of Hasan-ibn-Sabbah, also called the King of the Mountain, a closed society of the elect was formed, ready to die for the approval of the ruler and Allah. The organization consisted of several stages of initiation. The lower stage was occupied by the suicide bombers. Their task was to accomplish the task at whatever cost. For this it was possible to lie, pretend, wait for a long time, but the sentence was unavoidable to the condemned. Many rulers of Muslim and even European principalities knew firsthand about who such assassins are.

The accession to the secret society was welcome for many young people of Alamut, as it provided an opportunity to receive universal approval and to join the secret knowledge. Only the most insistent were allowed to enter the gates of the mountain fortress - the residence of Hasan-ibn-Sabbah. There, the convert was psychologically treated. It was reduced to the use of drugs and suggestion that the subject was in paradise. When the young people were in a state of drug intoxication, they were half-naked girls, assuring that the heavenly pleasures would become available immediately after the will of Allah was fulfilled. This explains the fearlessness of suicide bombers - punishers who, after completing the assignment, did not even try to hide from retribution, accepting it as a reward.

Initially, the Assassins fought against the Muslim principalities. And even after the arrival of the Crusaders in Palestine, their main enemies were other Islamic movements and unjust Muslim rulers. It is believed that for some time the Templars and Assassins were allies, the knightly orders even hired assassins of the King of the Mountain to solve their own problems. But this situation did not last long. Assassins did not forgive betrayals and use in the dark. Soon the sect already fought against Christians, and against the co-religionists.

In the 13th century, Alamut was destroyed by the Mongols. The question arises: was this the end of the sect? Some say that since then they begin to forget who the assassins are. Others see traces of the organization in Persia, India, in Western European countries.

Everything is allowed - this is how the King of the Hill instructed his suicide bombers, sending them to perform the task. The same motto continues to exist in a number of extremist organizations, which launch all methods to solve their problems. In the overwhelming majority of cases, they simply use the religious feelings, needs and hopes of the suicide bombers. At the highest stages of initiation, religious pragmatism prevails. So assassins in our time also exist - they are called, perhaps, differently, but the essence remains: intimidation and murder to achieve their political or economic goals. Especially this connection is traced in Islamic terrorist groups. At the same time, it should be noted that individual terror was replaced by a public one, which means that any ordinary citizen of the country can become a victim.