This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-47653190
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Shamima Begum: Why women are terrorism's secret weapon | Shamima Begum: Why women are terrorism's secret weapon |
(about 8 hours later) | |
When women make the news because of terrorism, the focus has often been on their role as victims or as potential allies in countering the threat. | When women make the news because of terrorism, the focus has often been on their role as victims or as potential allies in countering the threat. |
By contrast, women who take part in and support extremism have sometimes been overlooked. | By contrast, women who take part in and support extremism have sometimes been overlooked. |
This changed when runaway teen Shamima Begum was described as the "poster girl" for Islamic State after being tracked down at a Syrian refugee camp. | This changed when runaway teen Shamima Begum was described as the "poster girl" for Islamic State after being tracked down at a Syrian refugee camp. |
Four years ago, she left the UK with two friends to join IS, but claims she was "just a housewife". | Four years ago, she left the UK with two friends to join IS, but claims she was "just a housewife". |
Nevertheless, the UK home secretary stripped her of UK citizenship, saying: "If you back terror, there must be consequences". She is set to be granted legal aid to appeal the decision. | Nevertheless, the UK home secretary stripped her of UK citizenship, saying: "If you back terror, there must be consequences". She is set to be granted legal aid to appeal the decision. |
Women in extremism | Women in extremism |
Ms Begum's case has raised a number of questions on women's active and willing participation in violent extremism both in IS and other groups. | Ms Begum's case has raised a number of questions on women's active and willing participation in violent extremism both in IS and other groups. |
Rusi analysis suggests that 17% of extremist recruits in Africa are women, while separate research has indicated 13% of IS foreign recruits in Iraq and Syria are female. The exact figures remain vague and could be far higher. | Rusi analysis suggests that 17% of extremist recruits in Africa are women, while separate research has indicated 13% of IS foreign recruits in Iraq and Syria are female. The exact figures remain vague and could be far higher. |
A number of Rusi-backed studies and others have investigated the roles women play in organisations such as IS and al-Shabab, one of the deadliest militant groups in Africa. | A number of Rusi-backed studies and others have investigated the roles women play in organisations such as IS and al-Shabab, one of the deadliest militant groups in Africa. |
Researchers interviewed women who had been directly or indirectly involved with al-Shabab's activities, to find out how they were recruited, and the impact that taking part in violent extremist activity has on women. | Researchers interviewed women who had been directly or indirectly involved with al-Shabab's activities, to find out how they were recruited, and the impact that taking part in violent extremist activity has on women. |
The work was conducted by academics in Kenya, who were able to use their long-standing experience and networks within communities identified to be at risk of radicalisation. | The work was conducted by academics in Kenya, who were able to use their long-standing experience and networks within communities identified to be at risk of radicalisation. |
IS v al-Shabab | IS v al-Shabab |
The roles played by women vary between groups. | The roles played by women vary between groups. |
Women in al-Shabab have often held what could be seen as more traditional roles, as wives of fighters and domestic help. They are also sometimes made to work as sex slaves. | Women in al-Shabab have often held what could be seen as more traditional roles, as wives of fighters and domestic help. They are also sometimes made to work as sex slaves. |
They can also help attract new members. One study in Kenya discovered women were lured by others who promised them jobs, financial support and counselling. | They can also help attract new members. One study in Kenya discovered women were lured by others who promised them jobs, financial support and counselling. |
For example, Hidaya (not her real name), a dressmaker, was recruited by a client who offered to invest in and expand her business. She was persuaded to travel to a border region, from where she was smuggled into Somalia. | |
Within IS, women often recruit - especially online - and play an active role in projecting the group's beliefs. | Within IS, women often recruit - especially online - and play an active role in projecting the group's beliefs. |
In Shamima Begum's case, her recruitment could be seen by IS as a propaganda victory, despite her suggestion that she had done little more in Syria than take care of her husband and children. | In Shamima Begum's case, her recruitment could be seen by IS as a propaganda victory, despite her suggestion that she had done little more in Syria than take care of her husband and children. |
Women under IS are also allowed to serve as doctors and healthcare workers, with certain restrictions, while the group has an all-female morality police force. | Women under IS are also allowed to serve as doctors and healthcare workers, with certain restrictions, while the group has an all-female morality police force. |
More recently, as the group lost its territory in Iraq and Syria, it has been willing to place women in frontline roles, using its newspaper al-Naba to call women to jihad, and releasing a video last year showing several in combat in Syria. | |
However, differences between groups have become increasingly blurred as organisations become "inspired" by each other. | However, differences between groups have become increasingly blurred as organisations become "inspired" by each other. |
In Somalia, where al-Shabab is attempting to establish an Islamic state governed by Sharia (Islamic law), cases of female frontline or suicide fighters have also been seen. | |
Analysis of al-Shabab suicide attacks between 2007 and 2016 found 5% were carried out by women. | Analysis of al-Shabab suicide attacks between 2007 and 2016 found 5% were carried out by women. |
This is also the case in other parts of Africa, such as Nigeria where militant Islamist group Boko Haram has used women as suicide bombers. | This is also the case in other parts of Africa, such as Nigeria where militant Islamist group Boko Haram has used women as suicide bombers. |
Why do women join jihadist groups? | Why do women join jihadist groups? |
There are a number of factors driving women's recruitment into these groups. | There are a number of factors driving women's recruitment into these groups. |
To an extent, it appears that what motivates men also works for women, such as the pull of strong ideology and financial benefits. | To an extent, it appears that what motivates men also works for women, such as the pull of strong ideology and financial benefits. |
However, tactics aimed specifically at women also emerged, such as the appeal of returning to traditional gender roles. | However, tactics aimed specifically at women also emerged, such as the appeal of returning to traditional gender roles. |
For instance, one of our studies indicated al-Shabab recruiters preyed on the insecurities of some young Muslim women who feared that higher education would delay their marriage prospects. | For instance, one of our studies indicated al-Shabab recruiters preyed on the insecurities of some young Muslim women who feared that higher education would delay their marriage prospects. |
"If I get a man who will marry and protect me, why should I stress myself with studies or education?", one Nairobi University student asked researchers. | "If I get a man who will marry and protect me, why should I stress myself with studies or education?", one Nairobi University student asked researchers. |
Others appear to have been initially attracted by promises of jobs, money and other opportunities. | Others appear to have been initially attracted by promises of jobs, money and other opportunities. |
However, discerning their motives for joining is difficult. Many of the women we interviewed claimed they had been recruited against their will. | However, discerning their motives for joining is difficult. Many of the women we interviewed claimed they had been recruited against their will. |
Like Shamima Begum, some claimed they either weren't actively involved in the group's activities, or else took part against their will. Some say they were victims. | Like Shamima Begum, some claimed they either weren't actively involved in the group's activities, or else took part against their will. Some say they were victims. |
While some are likely to have been coerced in some form, denying responsibility is a useful way to try to reintegrate back into the larger community. | While some are likely to have been coerced in some form, denying responsibility is a useful way to try to reintegrate back into the larger community. |
More like this | More like this |
The road to rehabilitation | The road to rehabilitation |
There are a number of rehabilitation approaches applied to former or returning fighters, but few that are aimed specifically at women. | There are a number of rehabilitation approaches applied to former or returning fighters, but few that are aimed specifically at women. |
Policymakers and security services need to take the specific issues women leaving extremist organisations have into account when devising prevention, rehabilitation and reintegration strategies. | Policymakers and security services need to take the specific issues women leaving extremist organisations have into account when devising prevention, rehabilitation and reintegration strategies. |
For example, many will have had children with dead or absent fighters, while others will require counselling for trauma stemming from rape and sexual assault. | For example, many will have had children with dead or absent fighters, while others will require counselling for trauma stemming from rape and sexual assault. |
It is critical that governments address these issues when engaging with the female role in violent extremism. This would start with better understanding of how gender-based differences fuel women's involvement and the specific impact it has on their lives. | It is critical that governments address these issues when engaging with the female role in violent extremism. This would start with better understanding of how gender-based differences fuel women's involvement and the specific impact it has on their lives. |
This would benefit their communities by managing the risk they present and helping to prevent more women from joining extremist groups. | This would benefit their communities by managing the risk they present and helping to prevent more women from joining extremist groups. |
About this piece | About this piece |
This analysis piece was commissioned by the BBC from experts working for an outside organisation. | This analysis piece was commissioned by the BBC from experts working for an outside organisation. |
Martine Zeuthen is an anthropologist and leads Rusi's EU-funded Strive programme, which aims to reduce extremist recruitment and radicalisation in the Horn of Africa. | Martine Zeuthen is an anthropologist and leads Rusi's EU-funded Strive programme, which aims to reduce extremist recruitment and radicalisation in the Horn of Africa. |
Gayatri Sahgal is a research manager at Rusi. | Gayatri Sahgal is a research manager at Rusi. |
The Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) is an independent think tank specialising in defence and security research. | The Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) is an independent think tank specialising in defence and security research. |
Edited by Eleanor Lawrie | Edited by Eleanor Lawrie |