What prompts a young, educated woman brought up in the West to run away to join a fundamentalist society where the role of women is highly circumscribed?

Until recently terrorism and the war on terrorism was considered very much a male province. In recent months, and especially since ISIS entered onto the scene in 2014, we have seen an increase in women’s involvement with radical Islam, especially in the areas of recruitment of other women and a willingness to engage in terrorist activities.

These women have also been described as passive recipients of jihadi ideals propagated by jihadi groups and especially the Islamic State. To what extent is this true? Do these women have agency? What are the push and pull factors driving them to engage in violent activities in the name of jihad?

AIIA’s James Atkinson spoke to Professor Samina Yasmin to discuss the role of women in extremist jihad.

Professor Samina Yasmeen AM is the vice president of the AIIA for WA and a fellow of the Australian Institute of International Affairs. As a fellow, she is a regular contributor to the Burning Question section of Australian Outlook. She recently spoke at an AIIA for WA event and published her remarks on “The Role of Islam in World Affairs”.

Professor Yasmeen is also the director of the Centre for Muslim States and Societies, and lectures in political science and international relations at the University of Western Australia, Perth. She is a specialist in political and strategic developments in South Asia especially Pakistan, the role of Islam in world politics, and citizenship among Australian immigrant women. Her current research focuses on the role of Islamic militant groups in Pakistan’s foreign policy.

Interviewed by: James Atkinson

Filmed and edited by: Tarisa Yasin