Why British Teenage Brides? By Qandeel Ahsan

Ever since its rise in April 2013, ISIS has been in the global media limelight for its brutal reputation and military success in Syria. Also, popularly known as The Islamist Terror group, ISIS is lead by former Al-Qaeda leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi. From its quick occupancy of Syria, deadly global terrorist attacks to its kidnapping, expansion and open threats, ISIS has made countless headlines worldwide sparking protests, movements and general security concerns from one country to another.

The international media through its reports has generated much awareness on ISIS and its activities, particularly by the British and American media. One such recent report that has created waves worldwide is that of three British minor girls, who have left United Kingdom for Syria via Turkey with the aim and desire of becoming ISIS brides. The three girls Kadiza Sultana, Shamim Beghum and an unnamed girl are known to be 15 - 16 years of age. According to the London Metropolitan Police the young girls boarded a turkish airline and travelled, alone, from London to Turkey on February 17. The three are now suspected to have entered war torn Syria after crossing the Turkish-Syrian border.A similar case was reported earlier this year of Aqsa Mehmood, a 20 year old British Muslim girl, who joined ISIS and is thought to have brainwashed the three girls via Social Media.

Considering the British government's rhetoric concerning ISIS and its activities it is unfortunate that basic measures have not been taken by the state to curb the rapid increase in the number of children who are fleeing the country, effortlessly, to join ISIS.

Strict surveillance and basic security measures should have been practiced especially when their neighbouring country, France, was a recent victim of the Charlie Hebdo crisis. However, this is not the case and according to an article published by The Daily Mail on February 23; eight or more British Muslim girls, ages 15-20, have successfully managed to reach Syria in the past 7 months using the same route now referred to as the 'Jihadi Bride Trail.' Shocked and depressed parents stand firm on witnessing no such activity that could indicate their child's sudden disappearance to Syria.

As the desperate international hunt for the girls is underway, arguments and concerns over their escape have escalated. After speaking to CNN on Tuesday, Aqsa Mahmoods family attorney Aamer Anwar said that they were "somewhat surprised, horrified" that the interaction had not induced police action, "because they understood that Aqsa's social media content was being closely monitored by the security services in this country." It is believed by UK officials that people like Aqsa Mahmood, who have now become the biggest recruiters for ISIS, are efficiently using the internet as a tool to encourage and entice young Muslim girls into marrying Jihadists with the incentive of becoming more impressionable before the Muslim world. After claims of introducing emergency laws and fast track measures to record and monitor communication over the phone and internet, back in July 2014, the UK government has clearly managed to fall short of its mark.

Many have been left wondering how unaccompanied minors, got a visa for Syria and successfully managed to pass through airport security without having any questions asked. Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc of Turkey while speaking to reporters in Ankara on Tuessday said, "It is condemnable and shameful on the part of Britain that three girls can just go from Heathrow Airport to Istanbul."

Why would Muslim teenagers find the need to leave a better life in the UK and the security of their homes only to become young wives and mothers of Islamic State (ISIS)? Why are Muslim girls from Muslim majority areas, like Pakistan, India or Afghanistan where the literacy rate is relatively low and fundamentalism is at rise, not victims of the Jihadi Wife campaign? Why are such reports unheard of from this region of the world? Is it because such Muslims girls have limited or no access to the internet? It seems as though ISIS has adopted the internet as the most effective marketing tool with aims to recruite young educated Muslim teenagers. Sadly, such young teenagers are increasingly falling prey to a brainwashing campain, a virus being spread through the internet which is being led by radicals in the name of religion within ISIS. What has ISIS got to offer that the British government can't?

Loop holes that clearly exist within the British security and surveillence measures must be investigated and analysed to stop similar incidents from hapenning further. While many might believe hormones or religion to be the core of this, it is crucial that the government looks into what it promises the teenagers that are running after there for which the UK cannot provide.

by webmaster@insaf.pk (tkiadmin)