Talking to Terrorists: Entering and Exiting the Terrorist Trajectory Internet Seduction and Intervention

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2015 Aarhus, Denmark Anne Speckhard, Ph.D., Adjunct Associate Professor Dept.

1 Talking to Terrorists: Entering and Exiting the Terrorist Trajectory Internet Seduction and Intervention Presentation for Aarhus Counter-Radicalization Conference November 20, 2015 Aarhus, Denmark Anne Speckhard, Ph.D., Adjunct Associate Professor Dept. of Psychiatry Georgetown School of Medicine

Fifteen Years of Interviewing Terrorists and Extremists 400 + In-depth

Interviews conducted in the Middle East: Palestine West Bank and Gaza, Israel

Netherlands, France and in the former USSR: Chechnya, Russia, Belarus &

2 Fifteen Years of Interviewing Terrorists and Extremists In-depth Interviews of Terrorists, Their Close Associates & Family Members Field Interviews conducted in the Middle East: Palestine West Bank and Gaza, Israel (prison), Lebanon, Iraq (prison), Jordan, Morocco; in Europe: Belgium, UK, Netherlands, France and in the former USSR: Chechnya, Russia, Belarus & Uzbekistan, in their cities, slums, camps & prisons, in their homes & on their streets. 1 Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard

Talking to Terrorists Groups ranging the PFLP, Hamas, PIJ, al Qaeda in Iraq, al Qaeda affiliates in Europe, Chechen rebels, Marxist, nationalistic & militant jihadi related ideologies Cadres ranging

3 Talking to Terrorists Groups ranging the PFLP, Hamas, PIJ, al Qaeda in Iraq, al Qaeda affiliates in Europe, Chechen rebels, Marxist, nationalistic & militant jihadi related ideologies Cadres ranging from leaders, senders, failed and would be suicide bombers, propagandists, instigators, fighters, male and female members Created Psychological Autopsies of Suicide Bombers - Interviewed close associates, family members and hostages Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 2 Turkey - Former ISIS-Defectors Sample

Department of Defense Detainee Rehabilitation Program in Iraq for 23,000 detainees and 800 juveniles held by U.S.

4 The Terrorist Trajectory Research Questions: What puts an individual on terrorist trajectory? What might have prevented that? What could possibly take him back off it? 2007 designed the psychological and Islamic challenge portions of the U.S. Department of Defense Detainee Rehabilitation Program in Iraq for 23,000 detainees and 800 juveniles held by U.S. forces Consulted to US DOD, FBI, CIA, State, Homeland Security, NCTC, UK Home Office, CSIS, Jordan, Pakistan, and others about terrorism prevention & street and prison Copyright deradicalization 11/15 A Speckhard schemes 3

5 Terrorists are made, not born. Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 4

6 The Lethal Cocktail of Terrorism The Group Ideology Social Support Vulnerabilities/Moti vations of the Individual Members 5 Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard

Individual Vulnerabilities Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard Conflict Zone

occupation, frustrated aspirations Non Conflict Zone social failure,

conflicts, belonging, sex, purpose, meaning, positive identity, adventure,

7 Individual Vulnerabilities Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard Conflict Zone Revenge & Trauma Driven, death, torture, loss of resources, territory, occupation, frustrated aspirations Non Conflict Zone social failure, discrimination, marginalization, trauma, alienation, off tracks, identity conflicts, belonging, sex, purpose, meaning, positive identity, adventure, honor, heroism, sex now, idealism, purity, manhood, warrior, consolidate gender role, escape, $ 6

8 Imprisonment, Torture, Fugitive Status, Childhood traumas All Fuel Terrorist Recruiting Victims of violence often find themselves drawn into repeating the traumas of childhood Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 7

9 The Toronto 18 Fahim Ahmad Zakaria Amara 8

10 Brothers Tsarnaev Lethal Cocktail Multiple vulnerabilities immigrant, humiliations, drugs, conspiracy theories, abandoned twice, parents divorce, father with brain cancer, failing in school, blocked in boxing, Islamic mentor, drug related murders, fear of hell and discovery 9

11 Jihad the Cure for Depression Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 10

Answer the Call of Allah Answer the call of Allah to what give you life http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=6a5_1403639105 There is no life without jihad. What gives you life is jihad.

12 Answer the Call of Allah Answer the call of Allah to what give you life There is no life without jihad. What gives you life is jihad. International brotherhood The cure for depression is jihad, you feel you have no honor, the honor is in jihad (4.46) Land of Sham is the best of lands (hadith) and he choses the best of people to come here Medical student from Cardiff On the haqq We hope in the kelafiyah We are all brothers and sisters. Read the Koran, the instructions of Allah, and all will become clear to you Feel the honor we are feeling. Feel the happiness we are feeling." Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 11

Martyrdom Ideology as Short-term Psychological First Aid PTSD Trauma Hyperarousal agitation, inability to concentrate, jumpy, sleep disturbances Flashbacks, painful intrusions Avoidance, alienation

13 Martyrdom Ideology as Short-term Psychological First Aid PTSD Trauma Hyperarousal agitation, inability to concentrate, jumpy, sleep disturbances Flashbacks, painful intrusions Avoidance, alienation Dissociative Overwhelming Psychache Escape with honor Euphoria and empowerment Express rage Make enemy feel your pain Traumatic bereavement -Reunite with those who have died Rewards of martyrdom 72 family member, virgins, paradise 12 Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard

Martyrdom Ideology Functions in many ways as regular religion Gives meaning to the suffering Demonizes the enemy, Defines the conflict in cosmic terms Pits groups against each other

14 Martyrdom Ideology Functions in many ways as regular religion Gives meaning to the suffering Demonizes the enemy, Defines the conflict in cosmic terms Pits groups against each other Sanctions extreme methods Offers a code of conduct and a community Gives meaning to life and to death Offers an honorable exit strategy from Copyright overwhelming 11/15 A Speckhard psychic pain 13

Inducing a Suicide Terrorist Mindset - Thought Experiment Euphoria of Suicide A group of international students living in Brussels Asked to fantasize themselves as a Palestinian living under

15 Inducing a Suicide Terrorist Mindset - Thought Experiment Euphoria of Suicide A group of international students living in Brussels Asked to fantasize themselves as a Palestinian living under occupation with three conditions: curfew, unemployment and having witnessed on television Israeli soldier killing two boys Self recruits to a terror organization and is now in jail after trying to self martyr with a bomb belt asked to describe what happened. Majority identified with fictive kin, felt empowered and gave evidence of dissociation and euphoria when recalling putting on bomb belt Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 14

Social Support In Person and Virtual Small groups band of

on YouTube, Twitter and other social media Instructions on

home and attack Women recruiting women and providing

16 Social Support In Person and Virtual Small groups band of guys Social contagion one by one Instigators and Ideologues on YouTube, Twitter and other social media Instructions on how to take hijra and come to the battlefield or to stay at home and attack Women recruiting women and providing support Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard Skype, text, phone seduction 15

17 Inspiring From Beyond the Grave Anwar Awlaki Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 16

18 Awlaki Inspiring Before and Beyond the Grave Droned in 2011 Death did not silence him He lives beyond the grave Inspiring terrorism via the Internet Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 17

19 Roshonara Choudry May 14, 2010 Roshonara Choudhry, tried to murder the Labour MP Stephen Timms after watching Awlaki's sermons online, including on sites such as YouTube. Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 18

20 Shannon Conley Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 19

him 'Salaam alaikum, sister. I see you watched my video. It's gone viral - crazy! Are you Muslim?

21 ISIS Brides Internet Seduction French journalist Anna Erelle posed as an ISIS wanna be 20 year old Muslim convert and ISIS follower on Facebook Approached by 38-year-old Abu Bilel, she spent a month on Skype with him 'Salaam alaikum, sister. I see you watched my video. It's gone viral - crazy! Are you Muslim? 'What do you think of mujahideen? 'Last question: are you thinking about coming to Syria? Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 20

ISIS Brides Internet Seduction Good looking, really nice, manly, swagger Calling everyday, texting, calling me my baby. A lot of women fantasize about us; we re Allah s warriors.

22 ISIS Brides Internet Seduction Good looking, really nice, manly, swagger Calling everyday, texting, calling me my baby. A lot of women fantasize about us; we re Allah s warriors. You look curvy, which I like. And as I said before, I m good-looking. You re my jewel, you re pure, Raqqa is your palace. You ll be treated like a princess Tried to teach me his vision of life You have to forget everybody-even your mother and father. You ve given me another reason to live.. Do you like pretty lingerie, baby? What do you want for your dowry ISIS is loaded Allure of romance, wealth, family, adventure, identity, purity, purpose, belonging, fame. 21 Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard

ISIS Brides The Reality Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 'My brothers from around the world, I issue a fatwa against this impure person who has scorned the Almighty.

23 ISIS Brides The Reality Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 'My brothers from around the world, I issue a fatwa against this impure person who has scorned the Almighty. If you see her anywhere on earth, follow Islamic law and kill her. 'Make sure she suffers a long and painful death. Whoever mocks Islam will pay for it in blood. She's more impure than a dog. 'Rape, stone and finish her. Insha'Allah [God willing].' 22

ISIS - Ideology Picks up on the al Qaeda narrative of Islam,

Draw them in & Encourages Stay in place Attacks Near Enemy also

Build a Utopian State Provide and Place and Means to live under

24 ISIS - Ideology Picks up on the al Qaeda narrative of Islam, Islamic people and Islamic Lands are under attack Far Enemy- Draw them in & Encourages Stay in place Attacks Near Enemy also important Martyrdom and Cosmic Battle Reestablish the Caliphate Build a Utopian State Provide and Place and Means to live under Islamic ideals Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard Restore Former Islamic Glory 23

ISIS Ideology Internet, Instigators & Social Media

videos and other publications on social media 200,000

and social media posts to recruit, share and show off

25 ISIS Ideology Internet, Instigators & Social Media Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard ISIS has 1,700 pictures, videos and other publications on social media 200,000 readers on Twitter Uses slick multi-media video & music and social media posts to recruit, share and show off their triumphs 3,400 Westerners have joined, at 24 least 200 Americans

26 Inspire Magazine Inspire Magazine published by al Awlaki and his followers under the flag of AQAP Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 25

27 Homegrown Terrorism is Alive and in fact Growing Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 26

28 Identity - Duty Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 27

ISIS Recruitment Use well known male video game icons and clips Target gender norms surrounding masculinity & feminine/purity Narratives focus on nobility of joining the battle Brotherhood, respect,

29 ISIS Recruitment Use well known male video game icons and clips Target gender norms surrounding masculinity & feminine/purity Narratives focus on nobility of joining the battle Brotherhood, respect, heroism Significance, finding meaningfulness, a purpose With al Qaeda it was not always the virgins, it was sex now With ISIS there s the promise of sex, slaves and Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 28 money

30 Constructing Male Identity Economic stress can place pressure on gaining a traditional male role such as breadwinner Warrior role may be seen as a way to regain/gain honor And to obtain an appropriate masculine identity 29 ISIS pays! Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard

Taking Gaming into Reality Blurring reality and gaming Joining at the similar point of interest Clip from Grand Theft Auto https://www.youtube.com/watch?

31 Taking Gaming into Reality Blurring reality and gaming Joining at the similar point of interest Clip from Grand Theft Auto mixed with ISIS films Your games which we are producing from you, we do the same on the battlefield. Games coming to life? It s fun in ISIS? Encouragement to upgrade to real-life violence? Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 30

32 Gaming & Martyrdom Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 31

33 Belonging Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 32

34 Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 33

35 Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 34

36 Honor & Glory, Identity Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 35

37 Identity-Call to Former Islamic Glory-Duty Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 36

38 Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 37

39 Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 38

40 Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 39

41 Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 40

42 Cosmic Battle and Apocalyptic Ideology of ISIS You are engaging with a powerful compact with Allah You may have to kill and die for it But this is your Muslim identity and duty Best Ideology Builds on Existing Dogma Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 41

43 Jihadi Cool Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 42

44 Jihadi cool Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 43

45 Social Contagion Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 44

I m Just Like YOU Before Islam, I was like any other regular Canadian, I watched hockey, I went to the cottage in the summer time, I love to fish Before I come here to Syria, I had money, I had a

46 I m Just Like YOU Before Islam, I was like any other regular Canadian, I watched hockey, I went to the cottage in the summer time, I love to fish Before I come here to Syria, I had money, I had a family, I had good friends, I had colleagues so it s not like I was some social outcast, or some anarchist who wants to destroy the world and kill everybody. (From the Chosen Few of Different Lands) Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 45

47 I m just like you Ask.fm ISIS recruiter answers anonymously posted questions Answered already 299 questions, to a community of over 180 million, mostly teenagers How to cross the border, what to bring, and what life is like as an ISIS member Have you ever fallen in? Yes with Islam Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 46

48 Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 47

49 Invoking history Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 48

50 Invoking Honored Teachers Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 49

51 Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 50

ISIS Recruitment Identify someone who is

them with social media, phone, text, and

contextualize them into extremist thinking

the Group Move them into jihad Syria and

52 ISIS Recruitment Identify someone who is resonating to the online materials Swarm them with social media, phone, text, and skype messaging Identify their needs and contextualize them into extremist thinking Meet their Personal Needs Recruit them into the Group Move them into jihad Syria and Iraq or Attack at Home 51 Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard

Narrative with same Pull Are we trying to change attitudes or behaviors? Disengage or Deradicalize? Prevent or Dissuade?

53 Fighting Terrorism - Messaging Messaging is not enough Inoculating against Virulent Ideologies is important As is Instilling Critical Thinking Emotion Based Messaging catches and holds Attention Credible Voices Discrediting ISIS/al Qaeda is useful but need an Alternative Narrative with same Pull Are we trying to change attitudes or behaviors? Disengage or Deradicalize? Prevent or Dissuade? What we believe is important but it s not the whole story. Most people are rational actors and will act in ways that meet their needs Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 52

a family member or parent find credible and useful help?

54 Fighting Terrorism Hotlines & Help 90 percent of family members recognize a problem Less than 50% alert law enforcement Where can a family member or parent find credible and useful help? Social Services, Police, Psychologists, Imams Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 53

Needs Creating a positive sense of self Building

55 Fighting Terrorism Personal Engagement Caring Personal Persistent Engaging with Needs Meeting Needs Creating a positive sense of self Building Identity Creating self actualization Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 54

56 Fighting Terrorism Looking Glass Self Mirroring from society of who am I? Is there a future for me? Can I link to the people and resources I need to get to that future? Who will see me positively? Can I see my own future positively? Who will help me self actualize? Who can I become? Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 55

57 Thank you for your attention! Anne Speckhard, Ph.D. Web: International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism Copyright 11/15 A Speckhard 56

Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Center for Special Studies (C.S.S.)

10 Feebrruarry,, 2006 Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Center for Special Studies (C.S.S.) Russian president invites Hamas to Moscow Hamas support for the Chechen separatists and their