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Women’s Role in Recruitment for ISIS/Islamist Networks in Pakistan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 November 2018

Imtiaz Gul*
Affiliation:
Center for Research and Security Studies, Islamabad, Pakistan
*
*Corresponding Author: Imtiaz Gul, Center for Research and Security Studies, Islamabad, Pakistan. E-mail: imtgul@gmail.com

Abstract

Historically, women in Pakistan’s northwestern territories bordering Afghanistan have played a critical role in providing money and men to jihadist organizations such as the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and “Islamic State in Iraq and Syria” (ISIS). Lack of education, too little exposure and a male-dominated conservative milieu constitute some of the ingredients of support for these outfits. This was true for over three decades and the phenomenon remained restricted to the rural, backward northwestern regions. But since the early 1990s, outfits such as the Al-Hudda Foundation – an exclusively women-focused organization – began serving as the initial hooks for middle- and upper-class women whom the Foundation targets. It brainwashes women into using hijab, and also into believing that they need to forge an alliance against the West and work for an Islamic, Sharia-based state. This advocacy turns many affluent women into religious radicals who can potentially work as the first line of recruits for extremist outfits like Daesh/IS. However small their numbers, these women represent a big threat to the global liberal values of society.

Abstracto

Históricamente, las mujeres en los territorios del noroeste de Pakistán que limitan con Afganistán han desempeñado un papel fundamental en el suministro de dinero y hombres a organizaciones yihadistas como los Talibanes, Al-Qaeda e ISIS. La falta de educación, la poca exposición y un medio conservador dominado por los hombres constituyen algunos de los ingredientes de apoyo para estos grupos. Esto fue así durante más de tres décadas y el fenómeno permaneció restringido a las regiones rurales y al noroeste. Pero desde principios de la década de 1990, grupos como la Fundación Al-Hudda, una organización exclusivamente enfocada en las mujeres, comenzaron a servir como los ganchos iniciales para las mujeres de clase media y alta a quienes apunta la Fundación. Les lava el cerebro a las mujeres para que usen el hijab, y también les hace creer que necesitan forjar una alianza contra Occidente y trabajar para un estado islámico basado en la sharia. Esta promoción convierte a muchas mujeres adineradas en radicales religiosas que pueden trabajar potencialmente como la primera línea de reclutas para equipos extremistas como Daesh/IS. Por pequeños que sea su numero, estas mujeres representan una gran amenaza para los valores liberales globales de la sociedad.

Abstrait

Historiquement, les femmes dans les territoires du nord-ouest du Pakistan à la frontière de l’Afghanistan ont joué un rôle crucial en fournissant de l’argent et des hommes à des organisations djihadistes telles que les Talibans, Al-Qaïda et ISIS. Le manque d'éducation, une exposition trop faible et un milieu conservateur dominé par les hommes constituent quelques-uns des ingrédients du soutien à ces groupes. C'était vrai pendant plus de trois décennies et le phénomène est resté limité aux régions rurales et arriérées du nord-ouest. Mais depuis le début des années 1990, des organisations telles que la Fondation Al-Hudda - une organisation exclusivement féminine - ont commencé à servir de point d’ancrage initial pour les femmes des classes moyennes et supérieures que la Fondation vise. Il endoctrine les femmes dans l’utilisation du hijab, et leur fait croire qu’elles doivent forger une alliance contre l’Occident et travailler pour un État islamique basé sur la charia. Ce plaidoyer transforme de nombreuses femmes riches en radicales religieuses qui peuvent potentiellement travailler comme la première ligne de recrues pour des groupes extrémistes comme Daesh/IS. Même si leur nombre est modeste, ces femmes représentent une grande menace pour les valeurs libérales mondiales de la société.

摘要:

历史上,巴基斯坦与阿富汗接壤的西北领土上的女人在向塔利班、基地组织和伊斯兰国等圣战组织提供金钱和人方面发挥了关键作用。教育缺乏、过度封闭和男性主导的保守环境构成这些组织的部分支撑因素。这是三十多年来的事实,而且这种现象仍然局限于落后的西北地区农村。但自20世纪90年代初以来,一些像Al-Hudda基金会的组织——一家专门以女性为重点的组织——开始为作为基金会主要目标的中等阶层和高等阶层女性服务。它洗脑妇女,使其使用头巾,并且让她们相信自己需要结成反对西方的联盟去为伊斯兰教的国家服务。这种倡导将许多富裕的女性变成宗教激进分子,可能是为Daesh / IS等极端主义组织征募的一线工作者。尽管数量不多,但这些女性对社会的全球自由价值观构成了巨大威胁。

الملخّص

تاريخيًّا، لعبت النّساء في المناطق الباكستانية الشماليّة الغربيّة المتاخمة لأفغانستان دورا حاسمًا في تزويد المنظمات الجهادية مثل طالبان والقاعدة وداعش بالرّجال والمال. ويشكل الافتقار إلى التعليم وقلّة التعرّض والوسط المحافظ الذي يهيمن عليه الذكور بعضّا من مكونات الدعم لهذه الجماعات. كان هذا صحيحًا لأكثر من ثلاثة عقود حيث ظلّت هذه الظاهرة مقصورة على المناطق الريفيّة الشماليّة الغربيّة المتخلفّة. لكن منذ أوائل التسعينيات، بدأت بعض مؤسّسات الملابس مثل مؤسسة الهدى - وهي مؤسسة تركّز بشكل خاص على المرأة - في العمل كخطّافات أوليّة لنساء من الطبقة المتوسطة والعليا اللاتي تستهدفهنّ المؤسسة. فتقوم بغسل أدمغة النساء لاستخدامهنّ الحجاب، ولحثّهنّ على الاعتقاد بأنهن بحاجة إلى تشكيل تحالف ضد الغرب والعمل من أجل إنشاء دولة إسلاميّة قائمة على أساس الشريعة. تحوّل هذه الدعوة العديد من النساء الأغنياء إلى متطرّفات دينيّات يمكنهنّ أن يعملن كخط أوّل من المجندّات للأزياء المتطرفة مثل ملابس داعش. وعلى الرغم من قلّة أعدادهن، تمثل هؤلاء النساء تهديدًا كبيرًا للقيم الليبراليّة العالمية في المجتمع.

Type
Article
Copyright
© 2018 International Society of Criminology 

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