To some young impressionable men and women ISIL is an 'attractive' organization. Hard as that is for many people to believe it is true. This week we learned that three schoolgirls left the UK, heading for Turkey with an ultimate destination of a terrorist camp in Syria. The Islamic State terror group know how to use technology to frighten the west but also attract in-comers. Videos of mass beheadings and burning alive a hostage cause outrage but 'fans' of IS choose to focus their attention elsewhere. The three schoolgirls who abandoned the UK for a life in Syria with ISIL are named as Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16 and a third 15-year-old girl. The families of these girls did not know they had left the UK until after the event. This has led to questions about the Turkish flight they boarded. Three young girls travelling alone to Turkey in winter and no person raised an alarm. The hope is that bad weather has delayed the girls crossing into Syria. They arrived in Istanbul Tuesday. Turkey experienced unusual snowfalls this week making travelling difficult. The girls, who attended Bethnal Green Academy school, are described as intelligent and good students. There is no insinuation or allegation that the school is involved in anyway. PM David Cameron however said "their case proves the fight against Islamist extremist terror is "not just one that we can wage by the police and border control." "It needs every school, every university, every college, every community to recognise they have a role to play. “We all have a role to play in stopping people from having their minds poisoned by this appalling death cult". The Metropolitan Police disclosed the three girls were questioned by officers in December as part of a "routine inquiry". According to The Times none of the three was subsequently monitored by counterterrorism police." Cameron may try to use these girls to push for more Internet spying and censorship but that will not stop determined young people; it will however breach confidentiality and privacy rules of individuals. The girls are not an isolated case. Sky News reports "The number of Westerners who have travelled to Iraq and Syria to join IS is thought to be about 3,000, including as many as 550 women, according to the London-based Institute for Strategic Dialogue." Parents must play a part in preventing their children being radicalised but how many truly know 'what gives' with their teenage son or daughter? Our parents feared we would experiment with drugs, get pregnant, contract an STD or drink too much alcohol but some parents now face their children wanting to join a bunch of cut-throats. For young girls the promise of a marriage when they arrive in camp seems persuasive. In reality it should be feared. But if ISIL lure young women to join them, have babies willingly or not and then raise their children in camp we are all looking at a frightening future. Police description of the three missing girls:
3 Comments
B. McPherson
2/21/2015 08:27:52 am
Those stupid, selfish girls. If all they endure is a gang rape they will be lucky.
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eileen
2/21/2015 11:49:25 pm
Thanks for reading and commenting Barb. Imagine their parents. There is an update on the site today.
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Hannah
2/28/2015 03:05:07 pm
Thank you for the report, Eileen
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