Women, Jihad, and Female Returnees

Abstract

While women have played important roles in many terrorist organizations, jihadist groups have traditionally eschewed using women in active roles. Al Qaeda's Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri adhered to rather conservative views and preferred to see women in supportive roles to men. They encouraged women to stay at home and raise future generations of mujahedeen. ISIS leaders, on the other hand, have experimented with using women in different capacities. In addition to becoming housewives, ISIS women have assumed more active roles. They have served in the al-Khansaa Brigade, recruited new members, and have participated in terrorist attacks and even in combat. The chapter discusses the changing roles of women in jihadist circles and traces the innovations ISIS has introduced. It further examines the challenges associated with the return of female foreign fighters.