The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), is often depicted as a masculine, male-dominated force that has merely one place for women, the home. However this is not the case. The relationship ISIS has with women is far more complex and they continue to attract women to join their cause from around the world. So what exactly does ISIS offer Sunni Muslim women? What happens to women who don’t share their views? This article aims to provide an overview of the various roles ISIS offers women and how they’ve come to perpertrate horrific violence against a specific group of women.
Westerners are often prone to forgetting that while many women are the victims of ISIS, others have voluntarily joined their ranks. Evidence of this is the three British girls who took a flight to Turkey to join ISIS and are now believed to be in Raqqa; one of the militant group’s strongholds.
For many, it can be difficult to understand why these young women would choose to leave. Why would women who enjoy the freedom granted to them in western societies relinquish that freedom to join a group with such fundamentalist views? Yet, this perspective completely underestimates and undermines women’s agency in matters of faith and the values that these women hold.
A British think tank, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, published a report analysing the social media presence of western women who had joined the ranks of ISIS. The report found that while some women immigrate to ISIS controlled areas with their partners or husbands, many others do so alone or accompanied by other women. It found that like the male migrants, the women who join ISIS have a very strong sense of empathy for Muslims victim of oppression around the world and perceive the Muslim community to be under attack. Moreover, they often feel that the West is complicit in perpetuating conflicts in which Muslims are oppressed. This leads them to reject the West and its ideology and embrace a new one.
Recent reports indicate that ISIS has released a manifesto on the role of women. The report was published by the Al-Khansaa Women’s Brigade as a recruitment tool. The manifesto draws attention to a godless, materialistic, western society that has been destructive to women in their roles as wives and mothers. The manifesto explicitly states that women should remain at home, live a life of sedentariness and be protected by their husbands. Religious education for women is encouraged in this manifesto, however any other education or strenuous work should be reserved solely for men. Ultimately, the manifesto states women should remain hidden, at home, behind a veil.
However the values purported in this manifesto do not align with other accounts of the role of women within ISIS. A Fatwa released by ISIS states that is permissible to rape, enslave and abuse non-Muslim women and young girls. ISIS, unlike al-Qaeda, encourage young men to dominate and sexually exploit non-muslim women.
Sexual, physical and emotional abuse is tolerated in relation to non-believing women. Human rights groups in the area believe approximately 5,000 women have been abducted, enslaved and sold. The ‘selling process’ is akin to practices of slavery or cattle farming. The women are restrained in local markets, perhaps standing for days, as buyers peruse ‘the goods.’ Some accounts see women sold for $15 US, others are just taken by higher ranked ISIS officer and some women are killed if it appears being sold isn’t an option. It is very clear, that for women who come into contact with ISIS it is much better to adhere to their ideology than to challenge it.
The relationship between women and ISIS is two fold, depending on which ideology a woman follows. While there is a degree of godliness and protectionism afforded to women who adhere to ISIS’s ideology, there are grave consequences for those that do not. Understanding the various roles women play within ISIS is essential to understanding the organisation itself. If western militaries are to be deployed to combat ISIS, they will need to recognise that ISIS is not just a militant, terrorist group. ISIS has taken careful steps to build a society that vehemently adheres to their ideology. Aside from soldiers, there is a veiled presence that contributes to the growth and success of ISIS. If the west truly wants to remove ISIS they must not only address the militant force but the ideology, hidden in homes across Iraq and Syria.
Sources
http://www.strategicdialogue.org/ISDJ2969_Becoming_Mulan_01.15_WEB.PDF