Islamic State’s ‘web of marriage’

File image - State security services last month stopped a second Cape Town teenager from absconding to join the Islamic State group, the state security minister has admitted to journalists. AP Photo/Shakil Adil

File image - State security services last month stopped a second Cape Town teenager from absconding to join the Islamic State group, the state security minister has admitted to journalists. AP Photo/Shakil Adil

Published Apr 19, 2015

Share

Cape Town - Extremist group Islamic State (IS) most likely recruited a Kenwyn teenager with the promise of marrying one of its handsome fighters, while preying on her vulnerability.

Nabeweya Malick, spokeswoman for the Muslim Judicial Council, confirmed that the IS uses marriage as a tactic to prey on young women.

And this had probably been the manner in which it lured the 15-year-old who was stopped at Cape Town airport this month after her family alerted authorities that she was missing.

Malick said the extremist group “has a magazine of extremely handsome men” to show to young women.

“They use these good looking guys with long hair to attract young, impressionable girls who want to get married to heroes. It feeds perfectly into teenage girls’ fantasies.”

Malick said the MJC had met the family of the Kenwyn teenager but could not divulge information about this.

The national state security department was still investigating how the teenager was recruited.

 

Malick said:

“That this teenager was prepared to give up her home and family, shows the level of propaganda they (IS) use. They made her believe she would be part of a nation of pure Islam and bring honour to the global Muslim community.

“IS is manipulating Islamic ideology. They make young people believe they will work in hospitals and help people who have lost their parents and create utopia.”

Malick said the MJC had seen reports about girls “who have escaped from IS and the reality is far from what IS depicts online”.

“The girls talk about being subjected to the most horrific abuse and sexual violation. They were sold as slaves and there was no consideration for any principles.”

The group recruits male fighters and young women through social media websites.

Malick said: “IS has no less than 20 000 different Twitter handles. They are communicating with thousands of young people. Every young person looking for a solution to the Muslim world’s problems is vulnerable.”

Malick said the MJC has cautioned parents to improve their relationships with teenage children. “Young women are looking for validation, especially from their fathers. If that is not solid then they will look for that validation elsewhere.”

 

She said the MJC had encouraged religious leaders to denounce the IS. “We asked them to condemn IS. It is not Islamic. We condemn the killings and all the other things that IS does to violate Islam.”

Weekend Argus

Related Topics: