Japanese manga girl "ISIS-chan" is appearing all over social media, and she has a mission — to stop Daesh (ISIS), and to gather as many melons as she can.
Japanese Twitter account ISIS-chan (@isisvipper) was created by a group that's part of a "hacktivist" network to disrupt Daesh propaganda online; using popular hashtags, people searching for information about the extremist group may instead find themselves assaulted by cute cartoons.
Reports said the account was created after a request by hacktivist group Anonymous, which listed Daesh-affiliated Twitter accounts as targets of a social media storm. ISIS-chan currently has nearly 5,000 followers.
Hey @BBCWorld @BBCNewsbeat That is our operation. We are the greatest / huge cynics. not Hacktivist. Therewith Google bombing team. Pls link
— ISISちゃん 普及bot（公式） (@isisvipper) July 22, 2015But the group isn't quite like any other anti-Daesh activist. While it encourages people to contribute to its cause, ISIS-chan has some rules regarding its content. It strictly separates Daesh with Islam, condoning any imagery that would offend Muslims.
ISIS-chan doesn't use any gore, but it makes some pretty blatant allusions to it. The account pokes fun at Daesh by using headshaped melons, as the anime girl chases after them with evil eyes.
But ISIS-chan makes her message pretty clear.
The group has a knack for taking a pretty serious situation and finding ways to direct its humor at Daesh.
@Mehless @BRAIX3N ISIS-chan a run for her melon. Demand melons！ #ISISchan #ISIS #ISIL #daesh #ISIS_chan #ISISちゃん #IS pic.twitter.com/ywIo8BSHqm
— ISISちゃん 普及bot（公式） (@isisvipper) May 16, 2015By Hayat Norimine
