Schoolgirls Who Joined Islamic State Contact Parents in U.K., Have No Intention of Returning Home
Three young girls who were lured to join the Islamic State in Syria earlier this year have reportedly made contact with their families in the United Kingdom.
The three girls, Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and Amira Abase, 15, were photographed earlier this year leaving their homes in London to travel to Turkey, where they allegedly crossed the border into Syria to join the Islamic State.
The United Kingdom's ITV News is now reporting that after several months, one of the girls has contacted her family in the United Kingdom to reassure them that she is safe and that she has no plans of returning home soon.
Um Asmah, who claims to be a former female commander for the Islamic State who recently defected, has told Express that she allegedly took the three young girls from the Syrian border to a "special missions" jihadist training camp in Raqqa, where they are reportedly being taught how to carry out a terrorist attack in the United Kingdom.
The recent defector added to the media outlet that the terror group uses a series of psychological strategies to recruit young people from foreign countries.
"[The Islamic State] is not stupid, they have educated people who know how to deal with the psychology of others, how to deal with the human being. All these are in [the Islamic State," she told the British media outlet.
"They have ways to attract people - especially foreigners. Otherwise young British people wouldn't come and say they will change the flag on Buckingham Palace," she continued, adding that the Islamic State has "the ability to manipulate the minds of young people. If they can convince foreigners, it is even easier to convince Arabs and Syrians."