No terrorist organization has mastered the internet as well as the so-called Islamic State (IS). How exactly does the group lure young women, like Germany's Linda W., to fight for their cause?
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
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What led a young woman like Linda W. to join the army of IS? Some of the groups supporters seem to believe that in a world of holy warriors, joining the conflict as a heroic female fighter or becoming a wife and mother are key to continuing the spread of Islamic ideology from one generation to the next. Doesn't sound particularly appealing? It depends on how it's packaged.
Holy war and kittens
"There's a campaign tailored solely for women and young girls," explained Susanne Schröter, an ethnologist at the University of Frankfurt who studies Islamic society. While recruiting female members, terrorist organizations try to show their romantic side, she said.
IS members operate blogs featuring love stories that tell of girls and holy warriors traveling to the "caliphate."
"Especially successful are videos showing IS fighters holding kittens," said Schröter. The message: The IS fighter is not only brave and strong, but he's also a loving protector.
IS has has a tailored internet campaign to attract women to the militant groupImage: picture-alliance/AP Photo
"IS has a huge and impressive social media operation," said Schröter. It is "impressive," she added, because they not only operate on all the major social media channels, like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram, but they also tailor their messages to target specific groups.
The 16-year-old German schoolgirl Linda W., who came from the town of Pulsnitz in the eastern state of Saxony, corresponds precisely to the type of person IS seeks to recruit using this cutesy, romantic social media content. "It's a contrast to the gruesome videos they use to recruit young men," explained Schröter.
Luring via the internet
Questions about life and religion can lead young people to join IS as well. "It can ... begin with a simple interest in Islam, with someone hoping to find answers to the meaning of life," said sociologist Stephan Humer, who studies terrorism and extremism on the internet.
In the early days of IS, when the terrorist organization's presence on the internet was still largely unexplored, Humer and his colleagues found that a search for terms like "jihad" or "Sharia" quickly led to sites with links to the group. "Here the random search is the intention," said Humer, adding that in this way, IS was able to intercept interested parties early on and feed them propaganda.
"Those who wanted to know more were then led to forums where they met people for the first time," he said.
Community, support, family
"It's classic psychology," explained Humer: Whether in the supermarket, the mosque or an online forum, someone who's stopped and asked if he wants something is more likely to buy what is offered to him.
"What IS offers is community and support, which young people especially crave," Humer said. The promise is: Come with us, our community has everything you could wish for.
The young people that fall for this promise are soon on their way to the war zones of the self-proclaimed "caliphate." And unfortunately, said the ethnologist Schröter, "it's difficult to reach young people in the radicalization process."
What is the 'Islamic State'?
IS has gone from an obscure al-Qaida splinter group to a global phenomenon. DW takes a look at the defining aspects of the jihadi group — from its "caliphate" to its tactics.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/Al-Furqan
Where did it come from?
The "Islamic State" (IS) — also known as ISIL, ISIS and Daesh — is an al-Qaida splinter group with a militant Sunni Islamist ideology. It emerged in the aftermath of the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and is led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Their goal is to create a worldwide "caliphate." It gained worldwide notoriety in 2014 after a blitzkrieg military campaign that resulted in the capture of Mosul.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo
Where does it operate?
IS is believed to be operational in more than a dozen countries across the world. It controls territories in Iraq and Syria. However, the group has lost much of the territory it controlled in Iraq and Syria at the height of its expansion in 2014.
Who is fighting back?
The US leads an international coalition of more than 50 countries, including several Arab nations. Russia, Iran and its Lebanese Shiite ally Hezbollah, which all support the Syrian government, also fight IS. Regional forces such as the Kurdish peshmerga (above) and US-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters, fight IS on the ground. The Iraqi army and militia have pushed IS from large parts of the country.
Image: picture-alliance/abaca/H. Huseyin
How does it fund itself?
One of IS' main sources of income has been oil and gas. At one point, it controlled an estimated one-third of Syria's oil production. However, US-led airstrikes deliberately targeted oil resources and the Syrian government as well as US-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters have retaken most oil wells. Other means of income include taxes, ransom, selling looted antiquities and extortion.
Image: Getty Images/J. Moore
Where does it carry out attacks?
IS has claimed responsibility for numerous terrorist attacks across the globe. The militant group has targeted capitals across the EU, including Berlin, Brussels and Paris. IS leaders have encouraged so-called "lone wolf" attacks, whereby individuals who support IS carry out terrorist acts without the direct involvement of the group.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/M. Spingler
What other tactics does it use?
The group uses various tactics to expand its power. IS fighters have looted and destroyed historical artifacts in Syria and Iraq in an attempt at "cultural cleansing." The group has also enslaved thousands of women from religious minority groups, including Yazidis. IS also uses a sophisticated social network to distribute propaganda and recruit sympathizers.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Eid
How has it impacted the region?
IS has further exacerbated the ongoing Syrian conflict. Millions of Syrians and Iraqis have fled their homes, many traveling to Europe in pursuit of refuge. Although it has lost all of its strongholds, the militant group has left extraordinary destruction in its wake. Areas affected by the militant group's rule will likely take years to rebuild.
