By Dr. Muwahib Saleh Mahdi – College of Islamic Sciences – Karbala University

From the Speech of Sayyida Zaynab in Yazid’s Court:

(Is it justice, O son of the freed woman, that you cover the faces of your women and maids, and parade the daughters of the Messenger of Allah as captives, with their veils torn, and their faces exposed, leading them from town to town, as enemies follow them? People, both near and far, noble and low, scrutinize their faces, and they have no men with them for protection, nor any guardian to defend them.)

This article aims to address the misconception about women’s participation in the Hussaini movement:

• A warning against distorting Islam by portraying it as a religion that advocates for women’s violence and extremism.
• A caution to society about the dangers of Western agendas and extremist currents recruiting Muslim women.

Statistics on Women’s Role in Extremist Movements: Researchers from the International Centre for the Study of Radicalization (ICSR) in London created a database of over 40,000 foreign nationals who joined the ISIS group in Iraq and Syria since it was founded in April 2013. By analyzing available governmental, academic, and media reports, they found that 13 of 41,490 foreign nationals in the group were women, with 12 of them being minors. The director of the center, Shiraz Maher, pointed out that the results are significant because much of the attention regarding ISIS is focused on women and children, highlighting that these two groups will now present specific challenges as they prepare to play an important role in carrying out ISIS ideology after the fall of the “caliphate.” Therefore, governments must recognize that these groups, as distinct segments, need unique responses.

During the height of ISIS’s rise, approximately 10 million people lived under ISIS rule in the region extending across Iraq and Syria, including extremists from 80 countries. After years of coordinated campaigns against the group, including international coalitions, ISIS’s territorial holdings were reduced to small pockets in eastern Syria and northwestern Iraq, while their supporters were either killed, arrested, or fled their homes. According to the report, more than 7,300 foreign nationals who lived under the caliphate have returned. Researchers Joanna Cook and Gina Vale mentioned that women of ISIS now present a security threat due to the training they received in ISIS-held territories, which they may pass on to their children, along with the radical messages urging women to play combat roles. Many suicide attacks were planned and carried out by women. In late 2017, ISIS propaganda declared that jihad against enemies was a duty for women, and they produced images of women fighting on the battlefield alongside men. Recently, in Morocco, ten women were arrested for allegedly planning a suicide attack, four of whom had married ISIS fighters online. In the UK, a British teenager was convicted of attempting to join Syria to marry a female ISIS fighter, marking the first terrorist plot of its kind in the UK. A series of suicide bombings in Surabaya, Indonesia, were linked to a family associated with ISIS.

Feminist Movements Throughout History: About 24 centuries ago, Plato, according to Eileen Hoffman Baruch, advocated for full gender equality in the political and sexual realms, suggesting that women should be members of the highest ranks—those who rule and fight. The Italian-French writer Christine de Pizan, in her 1430 work “The City of Ladies” (A Letter to the God of Love), became the first woman to denounce misogyny and write about gender relations. The Enlightenment period emphasized rational secular thought and the flourishing of philosophical writing. Many Enlightenment philosophers supported women’s economic rights. Olympes de Gouges (in collaboration with the Society of Friends of Truth) authored and published the “Declaration of the Rights of Woman” in 1791. This was another call for the French revolutionary government to recognize the natural and political rights of women.

In the 19th century, feminist activists fought against cultural injustice, demanding equal rights, such as voting rights for women, and successfully achieved these goals, like in the Netherlands with Wilhelmina Drucker in 1847. During World War I and II, women entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers and discovered the value of their work. However, war also left many women widowed and facing financial hardship. The war reshaped demographics, dividing women’s groups, with some supporting the war and others opposing it.

Feminist researchers such as Nancy Cott observed a conservative reaction after World War I in some countries, noting an increase in traditional portrayals of women that emphasized motherhood. This period was known as the “nationalization of women.”

Women’s Motivations for Extremism: From providing support to their husbands to planning terrorist operations and making bombs, what role do women play in terrorist organizations, and why do women decide to join these groups?

The British TV series “Bodyguard” became extremely popular in the UK, followed by over 109 million viewers. The main plot revolves around a former soldier torn between his duties and beliefs after being tasked with protecting the Home Secretary. However, the series took another dimension by focusing on a Muslim woman who turned out to be the mastermind behind terrorism and an expert in bomb-making: “Everyone sees me as an oppressed Muslim woman. I am an engineer. I am a jihadist.” Despite criticism that the character “Nadia” reflected “Islamophobia” and oversimplified the notion of women in extremist groups as “victims” or “jihadi brides” coerced into joining terrorist organizations, actress Angelie Mohendra, who played the terrorist role, stated that the character was strong and influential.

The Role of Women in Extremism: ISIS claims that women are just as important as men in jihad operations. This ideology led to several calls from the group for women worldwide to join the war in Syria and Iraq. Notably, many women responded to this call, joining the ranks of jihadists voluntarily. Between 1985 and 2010, women participated in over 257 suicide attacks, representing about a quarter of all terrorist operations globally. As noted by “Blom,” the literature surrounding women in extremist groups has encouraged female membership.

Women in extremist groups, especially in ISIS, play key roles both strategically and tactically. Their duties include recruiting new members, supporting their husbands in violence, and even fighting when necessary. But more importantly, they play the role of mothers to the next generation of extremists. For example, in ISIS, women’s roles go beyond marrying men—they are also responsible for maintaining secrecy, providing food, and ensuring logistical support for the fighters. In contrast to Al-Qaeda’s position, ISIS allows women to engage in combat and defense activities.

Women in the Hussaini Movement: Was the cause of Imam Hussein’s martyrdom influenced by a woman? There is a story about Yazid bin Muawiya’s obsession with Sayyida Arinab bint Ishaq, considered the most beautiful, chaste, and wealthy woman of her time. She was married to Abdullah bin Salam, but after a plot against Imam Hussein, she was returned to her ex-husband by Yazid, despite being promised to him.

What was the role of women in Karbala? It was by God’s will that they were taken as captives. There is a significant difference between what Imam Hussein intended for the family, especially for the women who had clear communication and educational roles in the movement. He instructed his sister Zaynab to focus on explaining the cause, stating that men should fight, while women should carry the banner of righteousness.

Historians differ in the number of women who accompanied Imam Hussein in Karbala, ranging from five to over eighty. Their participation was crucial in the aftermath of the battle. There are three main roles for women in the Hussaini movement:

1. Clarifying Role: Explaining the objectives of the movement and its Islamic ideological foundations, articulating the true teachings of Islam.
2. Complementary Role: Women in Karbala and afterward played an essential role in expressing their understanding of the mission to reject oppression and stand for justice.
3. Supportive Role: Women were integral to maintaining the achievements of the Hussaini movement, their presence in Karbala was part of a strategic plan by Imam Hussein, showing that women play a critical role in decision-making and defense.