There is a lot of anger and discussion in public and in the media about women from Western backgrounds who joined a terrorist organisation.

Here are 9 fast facts about Jihadi brides to consider in any debate.

#1: Fast Facts About Jihadi Brides.Why did they upsticks to a terrorist organisation?

Women who join extremist groups. like ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and Boko Haram, primarily to provide support to their husbands or to take part in terrorist activities themselves. Recruits to the Islamic State in Iraq were women often lured into joining these groups by promises of adventure, romance, and religious fulfilment reports the Institute for Strategic Dialogue . They are also persuaded by the notion that their actions are in line with the principles of their faith. Jihadi brides are subjected to intense indoctrination and brainwashing once they become involved in extremism. They are often forced to undergo training in weapons and explosives, and are also subjected to sexual abuse and exploitation.

#2: Fast Facts About Jihadi Brides. Did they act as suicide bombers?

Country reports on terrorism claim many Isis women end up being used as suicide bombers, or as human shields in conflicts, which puts their lives at great risk. They may also be used as bargaining chips in negotiations with governments, or as propaganda tools to attract more recruits.

#3: Fast Facts About Jihadi Brides. What are Governments’ interactions?

Countries are working to stop their citizens from joining extremist groups and becoming jihadi brides. This includes surveillance of their social media, banning of extremist propaganda, and the creation of rehabilitation programs for those who have already been radicalised.

#4: Fast Facts About Jihadi Brides. How many arrived from the West?

The total is estimated.  Up until March 2019, when it lost its final piece of territory, ISIS had recruited thousands of young people from the West. A high proportion of the recruits were women.

#5: Fast Facts About Jihadi Brides.What happens if they return to the West?

Jihadi brides returning to their original country are causing a division in society. Sympathisers express concern the children born to former Isis brides are more at risk of radicalisation in the camps. Others regard the former Jihadi female recruits should never return to their former countries. They argue they deserve to stay where they are and consider them a future potential risk to the West. No one wants them.

#6. : Fast Facts About Jihadi Brides: Were all of the Isis women written about in the newspapers? 

Some repatriated Isis brides lead future lives in obscurity. Others change their image dramatically and hit the headlines again for different reasons, such as British born Texan resident Tania Joya who had a nine-month affair with a married Congressman Van Taylor and Shamima Begum.

#7: Fast Facts About Jihadi Brides. Do these women still pose a threat?

Today Europe is facing a new threat. Radicalised individuals once committed to ISIS ideology return. There’s little armed conflict in the region which was once the “caliphate” in Syria and Iraq. But reports claim thousands of sleeper agents in the West remain a potential threat.

#8: Fast Facts About Jihadi Brides.What prison sentences do they receive on repatriation? 

Repatriation is varied In some cases, the individuals may face charges related to their involvement with a terrorist organization or participation in terrorist activities. The penalties for such charges can vary widely, from imprisonment to fines, community service, or other forms of punishment. The primary goal of such penalties is to ensure the safety and security of the community, and to deter individuals from participating in terrorist activities in the future. Many countries also have programs in place to help individuals who return from conflict zones to reintegrate into society and to address any trauma or other issues they may have experienced.

#9: Fast Facts About Jihadi Brides. The books they inspired.

Among the Jihadi Brides: Escaping ISIS and Finding a Life” by Karen Leigh: This book tells the stories of three women who left their homes in Europe to join ISIS in Syria and their subsequent escape from the group.

The Jihadi’s Wife: Escaping ISIS and the Life of a Western Jihadi Bride” by Anna Erelle: This book is a memoir written by a French journalist who posed as a young woman interested in joining ISIS and corresponded with a jihadi fighter who eventually proposed to her.

“Jihad and the West: Black Flag over Babylon” by Mark Silinsky: This book provides an overview of the phenomenon of jihadi brides and their role in supporting the global jihad movement.

“ISIS: The State of Terror” by Jessica Stern and J.M. Berger: While not solely focused on jihadi brides, this book explores the recruitment tactics of ISIS, including their use of social media to attract Western women to the group.

“I Was Told to Come Alone: My Journey Behind the Lines of Jihad” by Souad Mekhennet: This book is a memoir written by a journalist who has interviewed many jihadi fighters and their wives, providing insights into the motivations of these individuals.

“The Girl Who Beat ISIS: My Story” by Farida Khalaf and Andrea C. Hoffmann: This is a fictionalized account of Farida Khalaf’s experiences as a Yazidi girl who was kidnapped by ISIS and eventually escaped.

“Home Fire” by Kamila Shamsie: This novel tells the story of a British Muslim family whose son joins ISIS and whose daughter falls in love with a man whose father was a prominent jihadist.

“The Last Supper Before Ragnarok” by Cassandra Khaw: This novella features a jihadi bride who is tasked with carrying out a suicide bombing mission but finds herself questioning her loyalty to the cause.

The Girls of Riyadh” by Rajaa Alsanea: While not specifically about jihadi brides, this novel is about the lives of four young Saudi women and their struggles with tradition, love, and identity in a conservative society.

“The Good Muslim” by Tahmima Anam: This novel explores the aftermath of a young Bangladeshi woman’s decision to join a jihadi group and her family’s attempts to reconcile with her after her return.

“The Killing of the Cherrywood MP” while not specifically about Jihadi brides explores public opinion over the fate those who return and try to put the past behind them.

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The enslavement and trafficking of naive young women or willful terrorists to a bloody cause? The Great Debate to add to the 9 Fast Facts About Jihadi Brides.

The issue of Jihadi brides is a complex and multifaceted one. It  is not accurate to generalise that all of them are either trafficked or willful terrorists.

The argument in their favour

Some women who traveled to join ISIS or other extremist groups may have been deceived or coerced into doing so. In some cases, recruiters may have promised them a better life or marriage with a fighter, but upon arrival, they found themselves in a dangerous and violent situation that they could not leave. In these situations, these women can be considered as victims of trafficking and exploitation.

The argument against

However, it is also important to recognise that some women who traveled to join extremist groups were not coerced or deceived, but rather went voluntarily, motivated by a range of factors including ideology, personal relationships, and a sense of adventure. Some of these women may have been fully aware of the violent and extremist nature of the group they were joining and may have actively supported its ideology and actions. In these cases, these women can be considered as willful terrorists.