Western mothers use social media to plead for their children to leave Syria

3 June 2015

Source Link

Mothers for Life counter online extremists’ recruitment with quotes from the Qur’an to stop their children joining Isis and ‘dishonouring’ them

A group of western mothers whose children have joined Islamic State and other extremists in Syria and Iraq have appealed for them to return home, quoting from the Qur’an.

In an open letter posted on social media websites, members of Mothers for Lifecalled on their sons and daughters to recall that Islam requires them to honour their parents and spare them suffering.

“Even if you think death will give you that ‘better’ life, remember that even the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Paradise lies at the feet of your mother’,” the group said. “By leaving us against our will to give up your own life and take those of others, you have put our struggle, pain and honor under your feet and walked over it.”

Travel ban for five east London girls over fears they will join Isis in Syria

Thousands of young western men and women have joined Isis in recent years after being recruited by other extremists, often operating online. Mothers for Life, which has Muslim and non-Muslim members from seven countries including Canada, France and the United States, said their decision to launch the appeal on social media is part of a conscious effort to publicly challenge those who have lured their children away.

“Social media right now seems to be their strength in recruiting our youth,” said Canadian mother Chris Boudreau, whose son was killed in Syria last year. “We’ve got to fight fire with fire,” she told the Associated Press in a telephone interview.

The group also wants to help other families struggling to bring their children home, and highlight the need for politicians and security officials to take the parents of foreign fighters seriously

The warning signs straight-A student was on road to Syrian Isis stronghold

Mothers for Life is run by the German Institute on Radicalization and De-radicalization Studies (GIRDS) in Berlin. It has several Muslims among its dozen members and also sought advice from Islamic scholars to challenge the religious arguments put forward by extremists.