Experts state that women have joined many different criminal organizations and terrorist organizations from the 19’th century to the present, taking on various roles within these organizations, and they point out that roles such as mother and wife are also maliciously exploited by terrorist organizations. Asst. Prof. Dr. Zekai Genç emphasizes that female terrorists have become extremely active on social media platforms, underlining their transition from a sympathizer position to acts of violence.
They are transitioning from a sympathizer position to acts of violence…
Asst. Prof. Dr. Zekai Genç from Uskudar University’s Department of Forensic Sciences drew attention to the increasing role of women in terror incidents in recent years and discussed the reasons behind this situation.
The perception of gender in crime has changed…
Asst. Prof. Dr. Zekai Genç stated that the concept of crime, as old as human history, was once seen as a behavior exclusively belonging to the male gender, and the crime and corresponding punishment system were regulated accordingly. He continued:
“In the current century, as in many countries, women's active participation in social and economic life in our country has led to an increase in the number of crimes committed by women. In addition to the rapid and dense population growth in cities, changes in gender roles have also brought about women's foray into social life beyond their traditional roles at home. As a result, the concept of crime is no longer seen as a behavior specific to men, and the perception of gender in crime has changed. Industrialization, migration, distancing from traditions, unemployment, poverty, income inequality, social exclusion, ethnic structure, peer groups, settlement areas after migration, family structure, age, education, and the socialization process are among the factors that have led to a gradual increase in crimes committed by women, as well as by men.”
Individuals with weak self-control can easily commit crimes
Asst. Prof. Dr. Zekai Genç stated that the desire to achieve better living conditions in people who do not fear social and economic loss can lead them to crime, adding, “Men, women, and young people who are much more open to environmental intervention and have weak social and self-control mechanisms are more affected by social conditions and can easily commit crimes. It is a known fact that many economic, social, and cultural factors play a role in the commission of crimes, and although it cannot be definitively said that poverty alone is effective, various theft crimes, extortion, robbery, and terror-related crimes are committed by people in the impoverished segments of society. However, women and young individuals being more open and sensitive to external factors in their living environment put them in a more risky situation.”
Many reasons lead to crime!
Asst. Prof. Dr. Zekai Genç stated that when examining the reasons for joining terrorist organizations within the scope of their activities, one must first analyze the problems of those who join the organization. He said, “We can list reasons such as the problems experienced by young students according to their educational level, as well as issues like nutrition, housing, inability to get along with peer groups, loneliness, cultural problems, and anxiety about finding a job after graduation. From a psychological perspective, variables experienced during the transition from childhood to adolescence can be expressed as rebellion against authority, idealism, selfishness, having a restless disposition, feeling worthless, impatience, and touchiness. From the perspective of parental behavior, we can list reasons such as being a member of a broken family, growing up in an indifferent or punitive family, or conversely, having a protective parent who constantly acts with a protective instinct and hinders the child's personality development.”
The number of women joining organizations has increased over time…
Asst. Prof. Dr. Zekai Genç pointed out that with the second-wave women's movements, their more active participation in social life also increased the rate of women's involvement in crime, and he continued:
“We can say that women's participation in terror and violent acts is not a new phenomenon. From the 19th century to the present, women have joined many different criminal and terrorist organizations, taking on various roles within these organizations and engaging in acts of violence. The roles women assumed within terrorist organizations varied depending on factors such as the perception of women in society that fed and formed the basis of the organization, the state's counter-terrorism policy, ideology, and needs. Initially, women's active participation in armed actions remained quite limited, with women mostly taking on supportive roles such as intelligence gathering, transportation, and providing food, shelter, and equipment. When they did participate in actions, they were involved in activities such as transporting the organization's weapons and ammunition or placing bombs at the site of the attack. During periods when the state's counter-terrorism policy intensified in the region where terrorist organizations operated, or when the organization's continuity was in trouble, these organizations began to prioritize increasing the number of women joining them to recruit more members, ensure the organization's continuity, and gain an advantage against security forces. In this situation, even if women take on more active roles, they cannot participate in the organization's senior management.”
Female terrorists are more active on social media platforms…
Asst. Prof. Dr. Zekai Genç pointed out that female terrorists have become extremely active on social media platforms, stating, “We can say that women try to recruit more members for the organization by spreading its propaganda. By demonstrating that they themselves can reach powerful positions within the organization, they played a role in many women joining the organization.”
From sympathizer position to acts of violence…
Dr. Genç stated that when examining the participation of female terrorists in terror organizations through family, kinship, or friendship ties, women represent a smaller group numerically compared to men in every organization. He said, “Initially, female terrorists participating in terror activities as sympathizers later rose to the position of perpetrators of violent acts. It is possible to say that women, whose participation in terrorist organizations is not solely based on gender equality, sometimes join the organization as sympathizers due to feelings of hatred, animosity, and revenge, and sometimes through agitation and propaganda activities carried out by other militants in the institutions where they receive their education. After assuming supportive roles within the organization, they also receive military training with male terrorists in the organization's camps and even actively participate in armed clashes.”
Women's roles in society were misused
Dr. Zekai Genç stated that left-wing terrorist and separatist organizations with a Marxist-Leninist ideology, which prioritize gender equality, believed that the change in women's status in society was absolute in the regions where they operated. He said, “In this direction, terrorist organizations tried to increase the participation of female militants in the organization. Religiously motivated terrorist organizations also greatly exploited women as suicide bombers, just like left-wing terrorist organizations, by promising women, who had no importance and played a passive role in society, to go to heaven as martyrs through propaganda and agitation. Furthermore, the fact that women's roles as mothers and wives were not seen as a threat, and that women were not searched at checkpoints and search points out of respect for their privacy, allowed terrorist organizations to frequently use women in their actions.”