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Female Foreign Fighters in Syria and Iraq

Use of WomenIn 2008, Ayman al-Zawahri (then al Qaeda Central Command (AQC)’s second in command) proclaimed that women could not join Al Qaeda. However, what has transpired since the proclamation is the opposite, be it within al Qaeda Core or opposing ranks, like the Islamic State (ISIS). Women’s motivations for jihad are no different from their male counterparts, specifically in a desire to be part of a worldwide Ummah; a need to actively participate in a violent jihad; and a religious interpretation of the Quran that both justifies violence and rejects Western life styles.  To this list, Montasser Al De'emeh (a researcher from University of Antwerp) adds that the rise of right-wing parties in Europe results in Islamic females feeling alienated from society:“By contacting Muslims who feel the same way, they try to fulfil needs such as love, recognition and sisterhood." Sasha Havlicek (founder of the London-based Institute of Strategic Dialogue), views the recruitment of…

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About TRAC’s Core Articles

Commissioned, proprietary analysis of key components of terrorist activities and groups, such as “Recruiting Female Suicide Bombers”, written by experts worldwide.

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About the Contributor

jasmine opperman

jasmine opperman

Jasmine’s areas of expertise include methodological risk analysis and the management of intelligence processes (operations, counter-intelligence, covert activities and analysis). Jasmine is...
Claire Davis

Claire Davis

Claire is a TRAC research associate specializing in the emergence of the Islamic State, comparative ideologies, and Domestic Terrorist Groups (United States).