Part 6
Author: Ahmad Abid
5. The Utilization of Sexual Appeal:
In order to attract more individuals into its membership, ISIS deceives individuals by utilizing various sexual appeals. This sexual freedom is primarily aimed at men, particularly fighters, and is essentially based on sexual exploitation, slavery, and the distortion of religious principles.
Individuals who experience dissatisfaction in their lives, relationships, or sexual encounters within their communities are particularly susceptible to ISIS’s tactics. The group entices these individuals by promising them that joining the false caliphate will not only transform their lives but also satisfy their sexual and emotional needs while earning religious merits.
While ISIS portrays life in Western societies as immoral and meaningless, it simultaneously advocates for a form of sexual freedom under its “sharia” umbrella. It is important to note that individuals who feel sexually deprived are easily swayed by such propaganda and readily become drawn into the narrow circle of ISIS.
Those who are drawn to ISIS due to sexual appeal are enticed with concepts such as “Jihad marriage,” temporary marriages, and sexual engagements.
The term “Jihad marriage” is utilized by ISIS to entice men into temporary sexual relationships with the purpose of “enhancing the war effort.” Despite lacking any foundation in the sacred religion of Islam, ISIS misleads numerous individuals through misrepresentation and distortion of Islamic truths.
Through social media, ISIS presents a vision of the caliphate where men can treat women as sexual objects and experience sexual freedom. In practice, the group has historically offered Yazidi, Christian, and even Muslim women to fighters as “war spoils” to be used as sexual tools and domestic servants.
One clear manifestation of ISIS’s “sexual freedoms” for men was the establishment of markets for sexual slaves, where women and girls were treated as property and sold. The value of these women was determined based on age, beauty, and social standing.
After this information, you may now understand that ISIS’s concept of sexual freedom is merely a deceptive propaganda tool designed to attract people, particularly youth.
These promises often prove to be deceptive; many individuals who joined ISIS later came to regret their decision upon discovering the harsh realities of the group’s atrocities and tyranny.
Similarly, women and girls who joined ISIS in hopes of a better life often became victims of violence, sexual exploitation, and illicit relationships. Therefore, this apparent “freedom” truly manifests only for male fighters and is directly associated with the exploitation, mistreatment, and infringement of women’s rights.
