The Islamic State (ISIS) is growing its membership with child soldiers.
According to a new study titled "The Children of the Islamic State," there are 31,000 pregnant women living under ISIS, and some of their children may one day become child soldiers.
The study, from London counter-extremism think tank Quilliam, examines how the extremist organization recruits children, and the subsequent physical and psychological damage child soldiers experience.
Over six months, co-authors Noman Benotman and Nikita Malik studied 254 items of propaganda involving children living under ISIS.
#Isis child soldier of #African descent, beheads #Jabhat_alShamiya Imam Mohammed Tabsho & threatens ‘#US soldiers.’ pic.twitter.com/5SfLBTCjoR
Recruiting children means exposing them at an early age to the organization's ideology. The study's authors wrote, "[Islamic State] leaders pay particular attention to children in their territory because the future of any state lies with the next generation. Therefore, the ‘caliphate’ is investing heavily in indoctrinating children with IS extremist ideology as early as possible."
ISIS specifically uses propaganda showing children committing violent acts to normalize such behavior. Disturbingly, the study also revealed that at least 12 children who appear in propaganda videos are shown executing individuals, with one child participating in a public execution.
"Having been introduced to ideology at a young age, children are more likely to consider it normal, and therefore defend its practices. Thus, the indoctrination has both tactical and strategic value for IS," the study reported. "Not only can children help meet the present needs of the ‘caliphate’, once they grow up, they will continue to propagate its existence and expansion, thus securing its long-term survival."
Indoctrinating children also occurs more easily if family members, or familiar and trustworthy community members, take part in sharing the organization's message throughout early childhood.
When they were training us they would tell us our parents were unbelievers and that our first job was to go back to kill them.
Nasir, who did not want to reveal his real name, spoke with CNN in January about his time as an ISIS child soldier. Whenever airstrikes took place, he and fellow soldiers were hidden underground.
"They told us the Americans, the unbelievers, were trying to kill us but they, the fighters, they loved us," he said. "They would look after us better than our parents."
As part of his indoctrination, Nasir explained, "When they were training us they would tell us our parents were unbelievers and that our first job was to go back to kill them."
If it seems like ISIS' child-recruitment methods are unique, think again. "Elements from Nazi Germany can be glimpsed in the systematic indoctrination of children through schools and training camps in IS, while abductions and forced recruitment employed by armies in Africa have been observed throughout Iraq and Syria," the study concluded.
According to the study, the Additional Protocol to the Geneva Convention outlined in 1949 defines children as anyone under 18 years old, but says anyone 15 and older can participate in armed conflict. However, in the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, the United Nations called for states to raise the minimum age to 18.
Quilliam did not immediately respond to NTRSCTN's request for comment.
