Fallen Jihad

Fallen Jihad explores a timeline where Jihadist extremism never becomes such a prevalent threat in western culture or a major political force in the Islamic world. All the PODs are in 20th century.

1925: Saudi-Hashemite War
In 1925, the Emirate of Nejd invaded the Hashemite Kingdom of Hejaz. The Hashemite kingdoms of Iraq and Jordan enter the war on the Hejazi side and defeated the Saudis. This led to an an enlarged kingdom of Hejaz and a weakened Saudi Arabia.

1948: Palestinian Independence
In 1948, the British mandate of Palestine ends, and the Republic of Palestine is formed. It's constitution is similar to lebanon except it shares power between Muslims and Jews instead of between christians and Jews.

1953: Operation Ajax
In 1953, the US and Britain aid the Shah to try and overthrow Mohammed Mosaddegh's democratic government in order for the English to retain control over Iran's oil. Due to a series of plunders by the Anglo-American covert force, the majority of the Imperial army ends up supporting Mosaddegh, who uncovers the coup plot and publicizes it, causing an international crisis. On August 30th, a vote by the Iranian Majilis declares the Shah an enemy of the state and he is exiled from Iran to Qatar. Thus 2500 years of Iranian monarchy end and Iran becomes a republic under Mosaddegh's national front. Iran, being betrayed by the Americans, would become a bastion of the non-aligned movement and loosely ally with the soviets throughout the cold war. The Iranian Tudeh Party would later be elected, and Iran would become a socialist regime akin to Yugoslavia.

1973: The Afghan Coup
In 1953, Zahir Shah, King of Afghanistan, is deposed by a non-violent coup. Mohammed Daoud, Zahir's cousin, takes power and instates a socialist regime that is aided by Iran and the Soviet Union. Due to this peaceful transition into socialism, Afghanistan is not subject to the brutal civil war or destruction.