ISIS Trains Child Soldiers At Camps: Article Analysis

In the article, ISIS Trains Child Soldiers at Camps for ‘Cubs of the Islamic State,’ children are recruited in at young ages. Their aim is to ensure they have a ready and willing generation of jihadist. These children are brainwashed into joining ISIS. On the other hand, if these kids decide to disobey, they can potentially be tortured. If this strategy does not work, they may end up killed.
The children of ISIS are taught to kill, and they learn how to use AK-47s early in age. The article also states that, “they use dolls to teach them how to behead people, then they make them watch a beheading, and sometimes they force them to carry the headers in order to cast the fear away from their hearts.” ISIS uses this strategy to numb them to the
thought of death. It is very inhumane how they treat these young soldiers. The barbaric nature of ISIS is ignored in the educational system, and it should be enforced more in our classrooms to ensure that we are aware of what goes on in this world. In fact, the news does not cover this topic enough.
Where did ISIS come from is what many individuals do not understand. According to the article, “It’s being done for the same reasons that Hitler had the Hitler youth.” ISIS uses military training and ideological training on young children that have highly impressionable minds. Because of this, it is especially dangerous, and it is the motive for ISIS to target kids. Syria is one of the primary ISIS camps for children, which could be found on the outskirts of Damascus in East Ghouta. According to Alkhouri, “the camps typically cater to around 40 to 60 children. Once one class graduates, another is ready to take its place. The focus on children is not just about replenishing ISIS ranks, but keeping the cycle of radicalization going.” It is wrong of ISIS to commit such as actions simply because these kids are so young, and they’re unable to understand that what they are getting involved in is not right. However, these kids do not have a choice to make a decision for themselves. Otherwise, they’ll risk their lives not following the instructions of ISIS.
By raising these kids on this ideology and methodology, this lifestyle is the only thing that they will recognize and follow.
As a result, they’ll believe that what they are doing is for the better of their people, and their religion. According to the article, “Alkhouri said, "These kids are going to grow up, abide by and adhere to the ideology and carry out what ISIS want."” They become numb to violence, seeing missiles, guns, and the sight of blood, gore, beheadings, and more. In this instance, I can ensure that is greatly traumatizing at first. These kids have to grow so fast, and they lose all of their free will once they join ISIS. They’re entire lives are given up, and they must live only for ISIS. As a result, they’re dehumanized, only used as mere tools. The children of ISIS lose their identification, and freedom is lost. Intense training is used to prepare them for battle one day, while the older group of teens have already began to participate in war. The younger group of children look up to their peers, and they dream to be just like them. Those that try to escape ISIS are killed without hesitation. The extremist militant group is merciless and does not tolerate disobedience. Once a child defies them, they are relentlessly
neutralized.
According to the article, “Once camp is over, "cubs are selected" according to their physical ability and if they are in "good condition" they are taken to the battlefield, Abu Dujana said. Some who were aged around 15 had insisted on accompanying fighters to the Syrian city of Kobani.” In this instance, these teenagers obviously want to make an impression to demonstrate that they are ready to put their lives on the line. According to the text, the camps are not utilized to send the cubs to battle, but it is to prepare them for battle. Therefore, these cubs are in the back rows once they are taken to battle. Their tasks are to observe the explosions and learn how to fight in war. They are also required to observe the wounded and the fallen soldiers.
The cubs of ISIS must be ready to one day fight as the adults. They focus mainly on the kids because the war will be continuing for a long time. Once they are involved in battle, their task ranges from being on the frontline as a human shield to possibly suicide bombing, I believe that they children of ISIS live incredibly short lives due to the many causalities in battle. They often lost their lives due to spying on hostile forces, fighting on the frontlines, acting as snipers, treating the wounded, and supporting others with ammunition.
In the text, it is stated, “In the recruitment and use of children under 18, ISIS has violated international humanitarian and human rights law," the report found.
"In using children below the age of 15, the group has committed a war crime." ISIS’s recruitment of young children is looked down upon, and is beyond inhumane. The narrator states, “"It is a normal sight to see a child walking alone with an AK-47," he told NBC News. “It has become a normal sight, but it does eat at my soul what we have deteriorated to. But there is nothing we can do."” In this case, I can conclude that is beyond anyone’s control to stop ISIS. The extremist militant group has too much power over Eastern countries. What makes ISIS so dangerous is the anonymity of their group, and their influence over young children and adults. They are a huge threat, and this article further proves why we must put a stop to the extremist
group.