Sign up to our newsletter and become a Club Huck member.

Stay informed with the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture

The internet takes on ISIS: jokers photoshop rubber duck heads on militants

Allahu Quackbar! — 4chan users fight terror with humour and create trend of giving ISIS fighters duck heads, which has since spread across the internet.

While politicians in Europe and the US talk up the threat of ISIS and need to bomb them out of existence, 4chan users (surprise, surprise) have taken a rather different tack. Or should that be ‘quack’?

Seemingly inspired by the eternal comic potential of a good pun, in this case the battle cry of ‘Allahu Quackbar!’, anonymous jokesters have been taking ISIS imagery and replacing the faces of terrorists with the faces of rubber ducks.

“How about castrating the image of IS by replacing the faces on ALL their propaganda photos with bath ducks?” asked a user of 4chan’s ‘Shit4chanSays’ board.

Many have taken the meme further, digitally updating ISIS flags with duck paraphernalia and replacing Kalashnikovs with toilet brushes. The trend has spread beyond 4chan, appearing on Facebook, Twitter and across the internet.

While the British media and others attempt to stoke tension and hysteria, with headlines such as The Sun’s “1 in 5 Brit Muslims’ sympathy for jihadis” headline, it’s nice to see a healthy dose of mockery.

Here are some of our favourite ‘Duck State’ images.

ISIS-Rubber-Ducks-Huck-1

 

ISIS-Rubber-Ducks-Huck-2

 

ISIS-Rubber-Ducks-Huck-3

 

ISIS-Rubber-Ducks-Huck-4

 

ISIS-Rubber-Ducks-Huck-5

 

ISIS-Rubber-Ducks-Huck-6

Did we miss any great ones? Tweet us @HuckMagazine.


You might like

Culture

Migration stories from across the African diaspora

Praise House — Adama Delphine Fawundu’s new monograph explores evolutions of life, culture and family as African people have migrated and been moved forcefully across the world, from Brooklyn to Sierra Leone, to Saint Helena and South Carolina’s Sea Islands.

Written by: Miss Rosen

© Joan Piekny
Culture

Vintage photos of London street life at the turn of the millennium

London 1995-2005 — In her new photobook, Joan Piekny reflects on a decade shooting the styles and subcultures of the UK capital’s streets, just before technology .

Written by: Miss Rosen

Huck 83: Life Is A Journey Issue

Princess Julia: “I always state my age as I can’t believe I’m still around”

First lady — As the latest Artist-In-Residence of Huck 83, the London nightlife legend speaks to Josh Jones and provides a few recommendations and words of wisdom.

Written by: Josh Jones

Culture

A luminous portrait of Black life over six decades

Shared Memories — As staff photographer for The New York Times, Chester Higgins captured Black culture and spiritual connection like no other. A new exhibition celebrates his life and impact.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Culture

A tender portrait of life and ritual from Mexico City’s streets

Órale — For the last six years of his life, photographer, collector and designer Michel Hurst documented death rituals, street life and religious pageantry in contemporary Mexico. A new monograph showcases his work. 

Written by: Roxana Diba

© Beverly Price
Culture

In photos: Washington DC’s Black communities facing up to gentrification

A Language We Share — A new exhibition featuring the work of Beverly Price and Gordon Parks preserves historically Black neighbourhoods in the USA, before development and economic forces made them disappear.

Written by: Miss Rosen

You've read articles this month Thanks for reading

Join Club Huck — it's free!

Valued Huck reader, thank you for engaging with our journalism and taking an interest in our dispatches from the sharp edge of culture, sport, music and rebellion.

We want to offer you the chance to join Club Huck [it's free!] where you will receive exclusive newsletters, including personal takes on the state of pop culture and media from columnist Emma Garland, culture recommendations, interviews and dispatches straight to your inbox.

You'll also get priority access to Huck events, merch discounts, and more fun surprises.

Already part of the club? Enter your email above and we'll get you logged in.