Brides of the Islamic State

Beginning in 2012, dozens of girls and women traveled to Iraq and Syria to join the Islamic State (IS), becoming brides of Islamic State fighters. While some traveled willingly, including three British schoolgirls known as the Bethnal Green trio,^[1][2] others were brought to Iraq and Syria as minors by their parents or family or forcefully.^[3][4] Some attempted to travel but were prevented.

Many of those women subsequently acquired high public profiles, either through their efforts to recruit more volunteers, or when they died or because they recanted and wished to return to their home countries. Commentators noted that it would be hard to differentiate between the women who played an active role in atrocities and those who were housewives.^[5][6]

Notable women who aided Islamic State or attempted to do so

Australia

• Mariam Dabboussy
• Zehra Duman

Austria

• Samra Kesinovic
• Sabina Selimovic

Canada

• Kimberly Gwen Polman

France

• Hayat Boumeddiene
• Emilie Konig

Germany

• Linda Wenzel

Ireland

• Lisa Smith

Morocco

• Fatiha Mejjati

New Zealand

• Suhayra Aden

United Kingdom

• Amira Abase
• Shamima Begum
• Sharmeena Begum
• Sally Jones
• Aqsa Mahmood
• Tareena Shakil
• Kadiza Sultana

United States

• Samantha Marie Elhassani (maintains she did not join willingly)
• Jaelyn Delshaun Young (attempted)
• Daniela Greene
• Hoda Muthana

See also

• Women in Islam
• List of Islamic State members

References

1. Anthony Loyd (13 February 2019). "Shamima Begum: Bring me home, says Bethnal Green girl who left to join Isis". The Times. Al-Hawl, Syria. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
2. "Returning female jihadists should be seen as threats to the West, not ISIS 'brides'". Wellston Journal. 27 November 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
3. Vikram Dodd and Esther Addley (15 February 2019). "Shamima Begum may have criminalised herself, says senior terrorism officer: Family calls for her return to the UK and considers legal action to stop government blocking it". The Guardian (UK). Archived from the original on 15 February 2019.
4. "IS teen's wish to return stirs UK debate over jihadi brides". France 24. London. 15 February 2019. Archived from the original on 15 February 2019.
5. Nabih Bulos (18 March 2019). "Were the brides of Islamic State cloistered housewives or participants in atrocities?". Hagerstown Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 20 March 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
6. Abbie Cheeseman (16 March 2021). "The Islamic State brides: where are they now?". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 9 April 2021.