Ismalic Terrorist´s Recruitment

Recruitment is defined as the action of enlisting people in the armed forces. “Recruitment provides the killers, the suicide bombers, the kidnappers, the executioners, the engineers, the soldiers, and the armies of future terrorism” (Weimann, 2007, p. 47). The structure of terrorism has evolved significantly over the years. As terrorism develops and expands to a more complex form, so has recruitment tactics. Terrorist groups have taken great strides to successfully expand their organizations by recruiting in all corners of the globe. Most people do not wake up and decide to join a terrorist group. Recruitment is where it all begins; by examining recruitment processes into a terrorist organization, one can better understand how people enter, stay in, and leave terrorist organizations.

In order to spread their ideologies, extremists must first increase their audience to reach those individuals that are likely to be influenced. The first tactic in the recruitment process is to distribute and publicize their message and ideologies in hopes of gaining the attention of future recruits. According to a recent report by the United Nations CTITF Working Group on Use of the Internet for Terrorist Purposes, this is accomplished by the spreading of information concerning world-wide social, economic and political issues that can be resolved with violent acts (Dornbierer, 2011)). As technology continues to develop, so do strategies, allowing them to replenish and increase in size. Terrorists are in the business of broadening their audience, by doing so; they have set their eye on the younger generation, since young people are more easily influenced. Terrorist organizations have branched out in their recruitment campaigns by utilizing pop cultur...

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... replenish and expand their movements, whether on land or through cyberspace, terrorist recruitment is vital in successfully planning and following through with their intended goal. Recruits are motivated by the rewards of afterlife, as well as solidifying their existence and being lauded as heroes by their friends and families. Martyr, Salah Ghandor’s wife, Maha, was filled with joy and pride knowing her husband died as a martyr. (Jaber, 1997, p. 5). Many young men and women believe that becoming a terrorist is the only way they will excel in life, the only way they can stand out and make a difference; their selfless actions provides them with self-fulfillment. As long as recruiters continue to use their greatest weapons of inspiration and encouragement by defining terrorist acts as morally acceptable, terrorism will always be a growing menace.