Part 3
Author: Farhad Furutan
The ISIS Takfiri group does not view the cultivation of an extremist generation as merely a tactical strategy, but considers it a strategic necessity. By investing in children, the group aims to extend its ideology beyond the limitations of time and place.
ISIS regards children as the “true heirs of the caliphate” and seeks to make extremist beliefs an integral part of their identity. When extremism becomes intertwined with the very essence of a new generation, they are less likely to refrain from committing acts of terror.
Children are more impressionable than adults and can be transformed into loyal and adaptable forces through continuous education. Daesh places exceptional and unparalleled emphasis on this approach. Training children from a young age ensures they will naturally integrate into the structure of Daesh in the future without requiring extensive efforts.
Children under ISIS’s training and influence grow up in an environment where the group is perceived as their “second family” and the sole source of security and identity. Consequently, even if ISIS is defeated, these children often remain potential supporters of the group’s extremist ideology.
Radicalized children can easily be employed in suicide bombings, espionage, or smuggling operations, as they are less likely to arouse suspicion compared to adults. This allows them to achieve their objectives swiftly and with ease.
It’s worth noting that ISIS refers to these children as “Ashbal al-Khilafah” or “Cubs of the Caliphate,” portraying them as the future of their rule. This term is deliberately chosen to depict children not only as fighters but also as symbols of ISIS’s pride and ideology.
The term “Ashbal al-Khilafah” is used by ISIS to describe the children and adolescents who undergo ideological and military training under its supervision. These children, whose childhoods are defined by war and hatred, are often alienated from normal societies and adopt an identity that is entirely tied to ISIS.
By using children as both propaganda tools and military assets, ISIS seeks to shape a future for upcoming generations that is rooted in extremism and violence. This policy not only constitutes a blatant violation of children’s rights but also poses profound and destructive consequences for global security.
