EXPERT: Dr. S. Ayse Kadayifci-Orellana
Research Affiliate at Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS) and adjunct faculty at Georgetown University. She is known for her extensive work on the intersection of religion, particularly Islamic perspectives, and conflict, including her role as a founding member of the Salam Institute for Peace and Justice.
Around 20% of recruits to the Islamic State were women. Dr Kadayifci-Orellani asks whey women would leave the egalitarian west for the restricted lives available to them in the Caliphate. She anatomises the push and pull factors which made participation in the Islamic State attractive to them. For women, there was an empowering sense of sisterhood, adventure and romance. She talks about Islamic State’s attempts to woo women supporters, as well as increasing use of women as combatants by other Islamist movements. Women are also effective recruiters, and can perform other supportive roles in Islamist organisations. She identifies different needs in reintegration for former extremists between men and women. She also talks about mothers and religious women’s particular ability to negotiate peace and challenge religious dogma in their communities.