The paper says that Daesh militants train children as soldiers, executioners and suicide bombers from an early age to make them “more lethal fighters than themselves.”
Quilliam researchers also add that as many as 50 children from the UK could be in the future mujahedeen training camps, as over 800 Britons are believed to live in Daesh-controlled territories.
Radio Sputnik discussed the report with Executive Director of the Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative, Dr. Shelly Whitman.
“There is an extensive training and recruiting that is happening where children from very young ages because of the school systems have been impacted in terms of creating new curriculum for the children from the ages of 5 onwards and this indoctrination is happening as a systematic approach throughout their controlled territories.”
Whitman further said that some children are joining the cause voluntarily but many children have no choice because they are forced to go into a school system where they are being indoctrinated. “The parents are also under immense pressure to have their children join or face repercussion in the community.”
“We need to reframe how they are thinking about this particular conflict. Foreign fighters who come help to show those inside the country that there are those who are coming from far distances, leaving very comfortable lands to come be a part of this idyllic Islamic State. We need to change the narrative. The other thing that we need to do is to look at how our approaches to the conflict could be addressed.”
The analyst said that the air raids and bombing campaigns have been driving more recruiters and more children are joining these particular forces. She said that she feels that it is horrific that children are being used in this way.
“There is a generational war that is being created here and it is unclear how this conflict will be resolved. If we do not address the use of child soldiers in this war how will we end this war in Syria?”
Talking about her organization, Whitman said they help to train security personnel, police and military as well. The aim is to try and reduce the tactical and strategic advantages that those who use child soldiers have currently.”
