The growing role of women in terrorist organizations

(Baonghean.vn) - In a report titled "Jihadist Women" published by the Dutch Intelligence Service (AIVD) on November 17, female jihadists in many cases swear allegiance to jihadist organizations similar to men, and their role should not be underestimated.

The increasing role of women in terrorist organizations. Photo: AP

As of November 2017, about 100 women in the Netherlands had pledged allegiance to jihadist ideology, and at least 80 women from the Netherlands had traveled to Syria and Iraq since 2012. Most of them joined the Islamic State (IS) and a smaller group called Haqat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria.

“Never before have so many Dutch women been involved in jihad,” the report said. The report noted that with the number of fighters declining, IS is looking for new opportunities, and has recently allowed women to take on a more active and violent role.

Previously, IS and al-Qaeda have insisted that women should not be allowed to carry out attacks. The report said: “If this situation continues, female jihadists in conflict zones and in the Netherlands could pose a greater threat of violence. In the past two years, a large number of female jihadists in Europe have plotted an attack.”

More and more women are being infected with jihadist ideology. Photo: Getty

Dutch intelligence also warned of the threat that jihadist women pose to the Netherlands through recruiting other members, producing and distributing terrorist propaganda leaflets, and raising money for the jihadists' fight.

Furthermore, these women are also infecting their children with jihadist ideology. As for those who have recently returned or are about to return from conflict zones, AIVD stressed that they are different from those who returned before 2017, because these women have been in Syria or Iraq for an average of three years, much longer than those who returned before 2017.

“These women have been exposed to violence for a longer period of time and have built up an international jihadist network. A significant number are likely to maintain jihadist ideology and communication channels after returning to the Netherlands,” the report added.

Lan Ha

(According to THX)