The family of a 20-year old woman from Birmingham, Alabama has confirmed that she left her home and went to Syria to join ISIS. The young woman, who has only been identified as Hoda is said to have become an ISIS recruit over the internet.
Hoda is said to have disappeared in November of last year and has caused a lot of trauma to her family who have been in contact with the police about her whereabouts.
The family through their spokesman has expressed their pain and disbelief terming the actions of their daughter as more painful than losing the life of their child compared to her joining ‘the horrible, horrible violent gang of extremists’.
The Birmingham Muslim Society said that Hoda withdrew from the society nearly a year before her disappearance seeing as the society is very vocal against extremism and violence.
Hoda used the mock name ‘Umm Jihad’ on twitter to express her contempt for the US. She used the same platform from where she ‘challenged’ the Americans, “Americans wake up! You have much to do while you live under our greatest enemy, enough of your sleeping! Go on drive-bys and spill all of their blood.”
Hoda’s recruitment was made public after she agreed to conduct and interview as long as pictures of her uncovered face were not exposed. She has confirmed that there are very many British and Australians fighting for ISIS.
The current statics indicate that the number of foreigners fighting for ISIS has increased by a huge margin of 71% from mid-2014 to March 2015. This is a very alarming increase seeing as the risk of the foreigners spreading the extremism to their home countries has increased.
Reports have shown a certain pattern in the ISIS recruitment of their fighters. The internet is a major platform as they target youths who are feeling frustrated and discontented with their current situation. They promise them a sense of belonging and instill hope by brainwashing them into believing they are oppressed and only ISIS or Islamism can liberate them.
As countries wage direct war against the Islamic State, they should device ways and means of indirectly fighting these Islamists buy hit their man power and cutting their supply of fighters.
