The Big Laughs of Mexico's ISIS Threat

Captura de pantalla del video donde Daesh amenaza a 60 paises, entre ellos México

Screenshot of the video where ISIS threatens 60 countries, including Mexico. YouTube.

According to a video released by the extremist group ISIS (also known as Daesh or ISIL), Mexico is among the 60 countries that are considered its enemies, and therefore could be targeted in new attacks.

Far from showing fear, Mexican social media users have flooded the Internet with sarcastic jokes and dark comedy about the apparent threat, mocking ISIS, its violent ways, and the supposed need to prepare for war with jihadists in Syria and Iraq. With references to Mexican pop culture icons and a lot of the usual local sassiness, Twitter was soon hosting trending hashtags like #ISISenMéxico (“ISIS in Mexico”) and #SiEnMéxicoHubieraTerroristas (“If there were terrorists in Mexico”).

Global Voices collected some of the snarkiest and most popular tweets.

On ISIS and its presence in Mexico:

If there were terrorists in Mexico, each of them would look like a gorgeous shepherd meat ball for tacos

ISIS in Mexico, OMG!!

There are already three persons arrested after ISIS landed in Mexico

In one video, “Mexican Jihadists” mock ISIS by singing a children's song.

Regarding the readiness of the police and military to combat terrorism, Twitter users expressed a playful belligerence:

Absolutely ready for war…

ISIS in Mexico. Come on motherfuckers, you won't even know where the banana hit you!

Mexico closes its borders to face ISIS

ISIS in Mexico and meanwhile our army

We are prepared LMAO

Others joked that the existing levels of violence in Mexico could present a significant obstacle to ISIS:

If there were terrorists in Mexico, their bombs would get stolen and they would be kidnapped

Tamaulipas, a stronghold State

*meme:

- ISIS in Mexico

- Welcome to Tamaulipas

- On second thought, let's take another road

There is now a meme around the concept of “We are ready”:

Elite forces ready for the imminent ISIS in Mexico

Every Mexican when they found out about ISIS in Mexico

Known for making uninformed remarks, President Enrique Peña Nieto was imagined by several Twitter users as capable of confusing “ISIS” for a cable television plan's acronym:

- Mr. President, what do you think about ISIS in Mexico?

- Well, they have good packages, but I prefer dish

Also, some Twitter users took a more serious approach, addressing politicians’ corruption and the country's drug war, which they say demonstrates terrorism's presence in Mexico already.

If there were terrorists in Mexico they would live in a white house, and would let El Chapo escape

If there were terrorists in Mexico, there would be people decapitated, kidnapped, executed, roads blocked, shootings and 100,000 death in 12 years

If there were terrorists in Mexico. No! Shut up! Can you imagine people decapitated, flayed and hanged in our roads? mmmm… oops! Wait a minute

ISIS in Mexico would have too much competition here. I think they are not going to stand out.

*meme:

- Islamic State threatens a coalition, including Mexico

- Thank you for the help, but we are good at screwing ourselves up

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