03 August 2015

The gub as penis


Meira Svirsky, the editor of ClarionProject.org, has an article about ISIS:
Speaking about Islamist extremism creating jihadi fighters, former radical Alyas Karmani, now a peace activist, says the West must wake up to the psychology used by the Islamic State (ISIS) to groom young people in the West.
“It’s not about ideals; ninety percent of them never subscribe to the ideals,” says Karmani. "It’s other factors that are a draw. This is the new rock and roll; jihad is sexy. The kid who was not very good-looking now looks good holding a gun. He can get a bride now, he’s powerful. The ISIS gun is as much a penis extension as the stockbroker with his Ferrari.”
Karmani, who was a recruited by abu Muntasir, known as the “godfather” of the British jihadi movement and himself now a moderate Muslim who tries to prevent radicalization in young people, explains the similarity of jihadi recruitment in his day. “It was a virus with which we infected a generation. Now it has proliferated,” says Karmani.  “Muntasir was a charismatic father figure. It was exciting and there was an energy… I was angry. I had a very violent dad. I had a lot of racism. I was angry and frustrated. So we planted this virus. And the kids today have caught it. There is a fundamental disconnect with our young people. Youth work used to be a brilliant vehicle, but that’s all gone in the cuts, so who connects with young people now?” he asks rhetorically.
Karmani talked about the Muslim immigrant societies in the UK where sexuality is repressed due to cultural norms. “If they have to be repressed about sex, about their friendships with their parents and family, who are they going to talk to? It makes them exposed and vulnerable.”
Karmani was speaking, among several other former extremists and jihadi fighters, in a new documentary by Deeyah Khan called Jihad – A British Story. Khan describes herself as “born in the west to parents from the east”. Growing up in an honor-based sub-culture, she was forced to abandon a singing career because of Islamist radicals who threatened her and her family. In making the film, Kahn spoke to many young people across the UK. “I was horrified to find so many people with backgrounds like mine turning to extremism,” Kahn said.
Rico says this isn't going away any time soon...

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