By Susan McDonald, ABC.
Up to 40 Australian women are known to have taken part in or supported terrorist activity in Syria, Iraq and Australia, including so-called “jihadi brides”, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says.
Ms Bishop confirmed the figure in Parliament while pointing to an “increasing number of young females” joining Islamic State, despite them being used as sexual slaves and in some cases as suicide bombers.
“More women are either joining their foreign fighter husbands or apparently seeking to find partners, the so-called jihadi brides, or are otherwise providing support for terrorist organisations,” Ms Bishop said.
She said women now account for nearly one-fifth of all foreign fighters, with over 500 believed to have come from western countries.
“This defies logic… given we know the attitude of Daesh towards women,” she said, using an alternative Arabic name for Islamic State.
“If the killings and executions aren’t enough, Daesh has published instructions on the treatment of sexual slaves, which includes raping and beating women.
“Even children are not immune, with instructions encouraging sexual assault on girls who have not yet reached puberty.”
Ms Bishop urged families to help prevent their daughters being radicalised.
Top Comments
On the positive side, they'll never become football or cricket widows and their husbands won't spend all of the housekeeping money at the pub on Friday nights.
Yeah, they'll get to do absolutely nothing except stay indoors. Their female children will never get educated and they wont be able to venture outside or visit a doctor without a male chaperone. Their children will be exposed to constant violence and encouraged to participate if they are male. Sounds like a terrific life!