ISIS Child Soldiers in Syria: The Structural and Predatory Recruitment, Enlistment, Pre-Training Indoctrination, Training, and Deployment

Abstract

Research on the engagement of children with the so-called Islamic State (a.k.a. ISIS) relies heavily on the analysis of obtained ISIS documents and ISIS-disseminated propaganda, leaving major elements of the recruitment and deployment process uncovered. Such ambiguities hinder future efforts aimed at dealing with ISIS' child soldiers. As such, an intensive effort to compile data using interviews and naturalistic observations across ISISheld territories in Syria was made to exhaustively explore the process of child recruitment and deployment by ISIS. Findings suggest that there are two methods of recruitment: predatory and structural. The enlistment, intensity of indoctrination, types of training, and nature of deployment were found to depend, to a high degree, on the type of recruitment (i.e., predatory or structural), and category of children based on their origin (i.e., local, Middle Eastern and North African [MENA], or foreign) and if they are orphans. The data shows that the separation between children and adults' roles/assignments is diminishing. After a thorough exploration of the elements of ISIS' recruitment and deployment process, this paper argues its findings, implications, and limitations.

The programming curriculum within ISIS

“…In addition to exploiting children for war and abusing them, thus making them both participants and victims of the regime [11], ISIS has implemented a significant campaign of child indoctrination via a relatively well-institutionalized educational system. Indeed, it is easy to recognize the phases of children's involvement in terrorism (structural and predatory recruitment; enlistment; pre-training indoctrination; training; and deployment) [12] in the actions taken by ISIS. Horgan et al [11] even point out that ISIS's indoctrination effort is even more elaborate, structured, and effective.…”

“…Militarism is defined by Naseem [38] as an "uncritical and unquestioning acceptance of the military by the general population": a normalization of conflict, violence, and war, mixed with patriotic and nationalistic values, all in the name of religious notions. An education that exposes students to these military and violent representations from a young age promotes desensitization to violence, but also militarization of society, particularly in young nations where preparation for war, supremacy of the military as an institution, and unquestioning loyalty to militaristic articulations of citizenship, nationalism, and patriotism are considered normal [12,40].…”

“…Thus, the ISIS-Scratch textbook contributes to the normalization of violence and war in the name of religious or political ideas [38] and, by exposing young people to violent military representations-often leaving very little room for imagination-promotes desensitization to violence [12,40]. On this point, another image in the textbook is particularly telling: on page 15, on how to choose an object to program into the software using the camera, the image used as an example is a photo of a young child with his face blurred, wearing a headband with the effigy of ISIS, in a shooting stance and holding a real firearm.…”

Radicalization Through the Lens of Situated Affectivity

“…When recruits join ISIS, they enter an atmosphere of specific emotions such of love and hope within the group; and hatred, anger, contempt, and disgust toward the outgroup. Within ISIS environment, the recruits (including women and children) are assigned specific roles (e.g., De Leede et al, 2017;Almohammad, 2018;Darden, 2019). The more effectively they perform their duties (e.g., executing prisoners), the more authority and power they can get, and the more empowered they feel.…”

How radicalizing agents mobilize minors to jihadism: a qualitative study in Spain

“…The media content produced by its official propaganda outlet also frequently featured children and adolescents either participating in violent activities or being exposed to violence, attempting to normalise the use of underage youth for terrorist purposes and openly espousing their indoctrination and training (Benotman & Malik, 2016;National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism and General Intelligence and Security Service, 2017). According to official figures, thousands of minors have been associated with IS in its former main strongholds in Syria and Iraq, as well as in other countries where it has local branches, such as in Afghanistan, Libya, Nigeria, the Philippines, Pakistan or Somalia (United Nations, General Assembly, Security Council, 2017, 2018, 2019. Furthermore, significant numbers of juveniles mobilized in countries where the jihadist organization does not maintain territorial control or a sustained presence.…”