The Cubs of the Caliphate (Arabic: أشبال الخلافة, romanized: Ashbal al-Khilafah) referred to a programme by the Islamic State (IS) to recruit and train child soldiers between the ages of 10 and 15.[1][2] The "Cubs" were active from 2014 to 2017; after this point, the programme was seemingly discontinued as IS-Central's territorial control in Syria and Iraq collapsed. However, systematic child soldier training was revived by IS in 2021/22.[2]
Overview
editAfter it established a proto-state in the Middle East in 2014, IS was quick to organize camps to train child soldiers, called "Cubs".[3] Children as young as six were recruited or kidnapped and sent to the Islamic State's military and religious training camps during the proto-state's heyday. In the camps, the children practiced beheading with dolls and were indoctrinated with the religious views of IS. Children were also used as human shields on the front lines and to provide blood transfusions for Islamic State soldiers, according to Shelly Whitman of the Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative.[1] In general, IS recruiters tried to encourage children to volunteer instead of kidnapping them, promising both earthly as well as heavenly rewards. The group also spread its views through propaganda in schools.[3] According to a UN report in 2014, "in mid-August, ISIL entered a cancer hospital in Mosul, forced at least two sick children to hold the ISIL flag and posted the pictures on the internet." Misty Buswell, a Save the Children representative working with refugees in Jordan, said that "it's not an exaggeration to say we could lose a whole generation of children to trauma."[4] In November 2014, the ISIS released a propaganda video showing children from Kazakhstan being trained with firearms. The video showed the steps of the boys’ training and emphasized the "holy-warrior" image of IS by showing the boys recite the verses from the Quran and declaring war against the "unbelievers": — "I will be the one who slaughters you, O kuffar (non-believer). I will be a mujahid, insha'Allah (God willing.)".[5]
By 2017, the control of IS over its territory in Syria and Iraq was collapsing. The "Cubs" were consequently fielded in large numbers to help defend the remaining strongholds of IS, notably fighting in the Battle of Raqqa.[3] After 2017, there were no more reports of IS "Cubs". However, the Islamic State's West Africa Province (ISWAP) had established a similar programme by late 2021, as it showcased a cadet school in a propaganda video published in January 2022.[2] Soon after, IS-affiliated media channel an-Najiyah published an Indonesian document which encouraged the training of child soldiers, evidently aimed at the Southeast Asian branches of IS.[6]
Known IS child soldier units
edit- Putera Khilafa (Princes of the Caliphate) – Southeast Asian child soldier unit, active in the Islamic State's al-Barakah Province by 2016[7][8]
- "Khilafah Cadet School" – A training unit for child soldiers aged 8–16, established by ISWAP in late 2021.[2] The training programme includes religious lessons, Arabic language classes, physical and military training. The trainees have been filmed executing captured soldiers.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Horgan, John; Bloom, Mia (8 July 2015). "This Is How the Islamic State Manufactures Child Militants". VICE News. Vice Media. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
- ^ a b c d Dass & Singh 2022, p. 3.
- ^ a b c Sommerville, Quentin; Dalati, Riam (August 2017). "An education in terror". BBC News Online. BBC Online. BBC. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
- ^ Brannan, Kate (24 October 2014). "Children of the Caliphate". Foreign Policy Magazine. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- ^ Michel, Casey (19 January 2015). "Kazakhstan Responds to Horrifying – and Strange – ISIS Video". The Diplomat. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
- ^ Dass & Singh 2022, pp. 4–5.
- ^ Remy Mahzam (6 July 2016). "ISIS adds lure of children to regional propaganda campaign". The Straits Times. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ Benjamin Soloway; Henry Johnson (19 May 2016). "ISIS Is Training Indonesian 'Cubs of the Caliphate' to Kill for the Cause". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ Dass & Singh 2022, p. 4.
Works cited
edit- Dass, Rueben; Singh, Jasminder (11 March 2022). "Islamic State in West Africa Province Video Signals the Group's Grand Strategy for the Future" (PDF). Terrorism Monitor. 20 (5). Jamestown Foundation: 3–5.