View of Mosul in 2019, following war with ISIS, Author Levi Clancy (CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication)
In 27 prison camps and detention centers across Syria, some 50,000 of the most dangerous ISIS members and their families are being held indefinitely. CNN was recently accorded rare access, and found these locations a spawning ground for ISIS [1].
Five years after the caliphate was defeated, the ISIS ideology lives on here.
Though ISIS is known for rape and brutality toward women, the women who defected to ISIS came from over 60 countries. They complain of the conditions in these camps, but radiate hostility toward the outside world and continue to profess loyalty to ISIS.
Unauthorized training sessions are conducted to prepare child soldiers for conflict. Young boys are married off to produce the next generation of ISIS fighters. Some 60 births occur each month.
In an effort to counter this, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) remove adolescent boys from their families, so that they are not further radicalized by their mothers.
Conditions in the SDF rehabilitation centers are somewhat better. But the number of beds there is limited.
Condemned from Birth
These are children of the damned — condemned from birth to lives constrained by their parents’ choices.
Unlike the children in a 60’s science fiction film by the same name, they are not harbingers of peace [2]. Not only are they confined to detention camps by no fault of their own. They are fed hate with their mother’s milk, and raised on a diet of lies.
Statements of moral superiority and contempt for others form the basis of the ISIS ideology [3]. Religious reasoning is used to justify criminal actions. Violent behavior is normalized. Personal grievances are blamed on others.
And so blood begets blood (Ezek.35: 6; Matt. 26: 52).
Quran v. Bible
While it may not be apparent to non-believers, the Islamic idea of jihad is different from the violence depicted in the Bible [4].
“Jihad – from Reliance of the Traveller (Shaji’ite Islamic Law), means to ‘war against non- Muslims…to establish the religion (of Islam).’ Also understood as ‘just war’ or ‘holy war.’ No other definition of ‘jihad’ has ever existed at any point in history in any authoritative Islamic Law [5].”
The word “jihad” means “to strive” or “to struggle.” There are several types of jihad, but the most well-known involves physical violence or warfare in the cause of Islam.
The Quran provides specific injunctions for this purpose:
“But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem [of war]…”
–Sura 9:5
“Fight those who believe not in God nor the Last Day…nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, [even if they are] of the People of the Book [Christians and Jews], until they pay the jizya [tribute] with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.”
–Sura 9:29
What then of God’s command that the Israelites destroy the Canaanites, and possess the land? This must be seen in context.
The Canaanites were not a peace-loving people. They sought to annihilate the Israelites. They, also, engaged in incest, bestiality, cultic prostitution, and child sacrifice by fire. The Canaanite culture had been given over 400 years to repent (Gen. 15: 13-16), and could have avoided its fate by doing so.
The Kingdom of God
“Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight...'” (John 18: 36).
Christ NEVER instructed His followers to seek political power or force conversion at the point of a sword. To the extent Christians pursued such a course historically, they are acknowledged to have been grievously in error.
But there is a war in progress between good and evil. Whether we realize it or not, we all take part. Tragically, many will side with evil unawares. These children are among them.
—
[1] CNN, “‘In prison because of our parents’: Children of ISIS fighters coming of age in detention ask what they’re being punished for” by Brent Swails et al, 6/11/24, https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/11/middleeast/isis-children-detention-syria-intl-cmd/index.html.
[2] Wikipedia, “Children of the Damned”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_the_Damned.
[3] Living Safe Together, Australian Government, “Psychologists: Understanding Radicalisation to Violent Extremism”, https://www.livingsafetogether.gov.au/Documents/fact-sheet-psychologist-understanding-radicalisation-extremism.pdf.
[4] Got Questions, “How is the Islamic idea of jihad different from the violence in the Bible?”, https://www.gotquestions.org/jihad-Bible.html.
[5] Washington Headquarters Services, Jorge Scientific Corporation, “Islam 101”, https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/FOID/Reading%20Room/Joint_Staff/13-F-0117_DOC_07-course-materials-perspectives-on-Islam_and_Islamic_radicalism.pdf.
The Rose Garden — A Daughter’s Story
Will Be Serialized Here Beginning 8/18/24
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ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse 
This slow, relentless turn of the screw erupts as in the massacre of October 7th. Such evil has been accepted in broadening glee. It is being sat tight upon, in the aftershadowing opening of the Olympics, by those who think themselves innocent bystanders. The games go on. They do.
Thank you for your feedback, Marilee. You are so right. By the way, the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics included a transvestite parody of the Last Supper. I would be hard pressed to think of anything more depraved or intentionally provocative.
Yes. Parody and Last Supper are not compatible
I hear organizations are endeavoring to redeemed the humans. Gods power to them.
cjsmissionaryministry@gmail.com
On Sun, Jul 28, 2024, 12:02 AM ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving
From your mouth to God’s ears. He wants no one lost (2 Pet. 3:9).
That children are “fed hate with their mother’s milk, and raised on a diet of lies” is demonic. I thought of that old hymn, “Rescue the Perishing,” and while we can’t physically do so, let’s remember them in prayer, by God’s grace. Thank you, Anna, for raising our awareness of what goes on in these camps.
For many ills in this troubled world, the ordinary person can do nothing but pray. Prayer, however, is a powerful weapon…more powerful than hate. God is everywhere. He has not forgotten these children or their misguided parents.