Local context of Isis recruitment

Although we support the military solution to violent extremism, we also need to understand the bigger picture involved

Many politicians (local and national) are pressuring the Moro fronts (Moro National Liberation Front or MNLF and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front or MILF) to root out extremists in their camps and areas of responsibilities, and to publicly denounce terrorism done in the name of Islam. President Rodrigo Duterte even urged the two Moro fronts to deny sanctuary to emerging groups rising in the fashion of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis).

But why do people join or support groups like the Isis? Based on recent studies of the Al Qalam Institute of the Ateneo de Davao University, there is massive recruitment of Isis elements on the ground. This is happening not inside the mosques or madrasah, but in the homes of fanatical Isis supporters that connects with the community because of their bloodlines and kinships.

Poor Muslim families are lured to join the group because of the money given to them. On the part of the Muslim youth, some of them are attracted to the principles and ideology of Isis because of three things.

First, they want a Muslim identity that connects to the wider Muslim brotherhood. Second, they want to belong to a group, a peer, or a “barkada.” And, lastly, they want to have “meaning” in their lives.

The identity component is crucial in the process of Isis recruitment. Most Muslim Filipinos do not want to be called Filipino. They believe that they are Moros or Bangsamoro. Therefore, some Filipino Muslims still want to be a Moro more than a Filipino.

International research groups on terrorism and violent extremism calls this problem as “identity seeking.” This simply means that there are people, especially the youth who are prone to feeling isolated or alienated and “often feel like outsiders in their initial unfamiliar/unintelligible environment and seek to identify with another group.”

Islam provides “a pre-packaged transnational identity.” They can connect further with this identity because of the use of social media.

The “drivers of radicalization include moral outrage, disaffection, peer pressure, the search for a new identity and the sense of meaning, purpose and belonging.” There is a need for us to understand this and find ways of addressing them.

We need to address this by having the government provide programs that will cater to their religious and cultural needs. And although we support the military solution to the problem of violent extremism, we also need to understand the bigger picture involved there.

There is a critical need for academics and policymakers to better understand the puzzle of some people turn to violent extremism and some joining and supporting terror groups like Isis. Academic and research work can help in this.--