The New York Times is out with another investigation into the ways of the Islamic State, this one on how it manages to entice bright young women from the West to pack up and head to Syria. By one estimate, more than 500 Western women have done so. Focusing on the high-profile case of three London teenagers who shocked their families and friends when they secretly left the country, the story explains how the group uses social media to push what one observer calls a "twisted form of feminism." For example, one online post tailored to potential recruits spoofed L'Oreal's famous tag line as it showed the image of a girl in a head scarf: “COVERed GIRL. Because I’m worth it.”
The recruits also get bombarded with images that purport to show atrocities against Muslims, reinforcing the idea of Islamophobia. “And then a group comes to them and says, like, ‘This is where you come,’ this is where they will be complete. ‘It’s a home for you,’" says one teen's brother. "That appeals to them.” The story explains that for these teens, "Islam is punk rock" and "the head scarf is liberating." All three London teens have reportedly been married off within ISIS, which generally happens quickly for Western girls who join up. Many quickly become widows. But their very presence helps the group in recruitment, and the cycle continues. Click to read the full report, or read about how ISIS justifies the rape of 12-year-olds. (More Islamic State stories.)
,
uBlock 
,
and
Ghostery 
)
