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From evangelical to ISIS


ophelia

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Did anybody else see this article on buzzfeed today?

 

http://www.buzzfeed.com/ellievhall/woma ... .grw0OVdXK (not breaking the link, because it's buzzfeed!)

 

I think it's a really sad story and again it shows how damaging an upbringing like this is. I hope she and her kids are fine and that she comes to realize in which danger she lives!!

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That is a terribly sad story. I can only imagine what Ariel could have achieved with her life had she been decently educated.

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I am not so sure if it is a decent education what is mainly missed in her case but more a lack of stability and security:

Friends said Ariel defined herself through her relationships. “Not to throw her under the bus or anything, but she was definitely always looking for love, always looking for that sense of belonging,†said a friend who lived with Ariel in 2010 and part of 2011.

...

“Be it religion, be it a man, be it a marriage, be it a child, be it ISIS, Ariel was always looking for something to define herself, an identity to cling to.â€

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It seems to me a result of being raised in a patriarchy as well. These girls aren't taught that they can or should make decisions that conflict with their father or husband. Just speculation, but it seems to me that when Ariel's husband decided to join ISIS she really was equipped with the skills to say no.

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I was just about to share this article.

Did anyone else catch how she didn't learn to read until her preteens?

Ophelia, it might be better for her to not come to a point of realization. Not only would she likely be killed for trying to leave, but if she did manage to get away with a child or two and get back to the US, she'd live under a cloud of suspicion that she's still with ISIS. If she realizes what she's done, she probably wouldn't be able to live with herself, but would be stuck, and still be forced to punch out more ISIS-babies.

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What a sad story. I am pretty concerned for how much scrutiny other non-Muslims (esp women) will get for converting (or reverting as it is known in Islam) though. In the areas of the UK with a large Muslim population you see quite a lot of reverts - mostly due to marrying Muslims but also just from more exposure to Islam. The jump from nominal to moderate mainstream Christianity (which is usually the background of UK reverts) or mainstream Islam to ISIS seems like a bigger leap than the jump from fundie Christianity to fundie Islam.

I agree with Anny Nym that Ariel's issue seems to be stability.

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This one is too close to home for me; she was from my hometown where I also grew up homeschooled and religious. We never met but we had mutual friends (from her "rebel" party days.) A lot of them are posting on fb about how confused and sad they are that she's come to this. On the other hand, I can't help but see how logically our shared Tennessee homeschool-flavor evangelical teachings translate into the violent philosophy she holds today; "sola scriptura" and the desire to worship "authentically" or exactly as the Scripture mandates, the emphasis on women living as helpmeets to their husbands and sublimating their own identity... reading this story, I'm seeing how easily our specific cultural experience can lead people into dangerous places (places which I doubt she can ever come back from now.)

Too scary, too sad.

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I was just about to share this article.

Did anyone else catch how she didn't learn to read until her preteens?

Ophelia, it might be better for her to not come to a point of realization. Not only would she likely be killed for trying to leave, but if she did manage to get away with a child or two and get back to the US, she'd live under a cloud of suspicion that she's still with ISIS. If she realizes what she's done, she probably wouldn't be able to live with herself, but would be stuck, and still be forced to punch out more ISIS-babies.

I agree with this, it would be better for her not to realize what she did, since she could never return to the US since if she managed to get out without being killed, she would remain under a cloud of suspicion that she's a terrorist. I think the whole story is sad, since she's gotten herself involved with ISIS and will be expected to have more babies for the organization.

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If she returned to the US, there would be more than suspicion. She would be charged as a terrorist.

I was going to post this article here if it hadn't been already. Its so fascinating. I think the one thing that really struck me about reading this and thinking about fundamentalism is how there is a deemphasis on individuality and identity. Her identity growing up was so entangled with fundamentalism that when she left, she had nothing. She glommed onto whatever came by and ultimately stuck with something that was most like what she grew up with and was most strict. In other circumstances, she could have easily ended up in a cult (sidenote, I am listening to the audiobook of Going Clear right now and I see a lot of similarities between Scientology brainwashing and fundamentalism).

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It seems to me a result of being raised in a patriarchy as well. These girls aren't taught that they can or should make decisions that conflict with their father or husband. Just speculation, but it seems to me that when Ariel's husband decided to join ISIS she really was equipped with the skills to say no.

Most girls who make it out of fundiedom (and I include myself) are hyperequipped to say no and to reject controlling religions of any flavor. This girl sounds like she has serious issues. I have trouble believing any Tennessee homeschoolers didn't learn to read normally.

The media loves these ISIS brides, and there's a reason most of them are from average, not so religious families.

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I love these stories. They fascinate me more than they probably should. I always wonder what makes people turn to a violent group like ISIS. It's sad that this girl's upbringing/family made her a prime target for something like this.

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"“It was like, when I first met her she was a Christian, and then she was a socialist, and then she was an atheist, and then a Muslim. "

The sad thing is unlike all her other phases this one she can't come home from. She would presumably face charges. What happens when this phase is over.

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It seems like she deeply resented her upbringing, especially the educational neglect, but was desperately craving some kind of black and white moral thinking. Embracing radical Islam was a way to have moral certainty, stick it to her mother, and land what she probably thought was a life-long marriage partner. What jumped out at me was the detail that she embraced whatever ideology her current partner had, which leads me to believe that her main interest was finding belonging and she hadn't decided what she herself believed. It wouldn't surprise me if she realizes what a huge mistake she made in several years, but there's a good chance that she might be dead before that happens. :(

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I'm not surprised that her husband from Borås, a small town in the south-west of Sweden. There are a number of IS terrorists who come from that town and a few of them have been killed in Syria or have died in suicide missions.

Since our laws against terrorism are so lax, she and her husband could always come back to Sweden.

If they say they have been fighting for IS they have a first class ticket to the "help program" and will get access to education, housing, psychological help and work programs.

Are there any info about what mosque she attended in Chattanooga?

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It seems like she deeply resented her upbringing, especially the educational neglect, but was desperately craving some kind of black and white moral thinking. Embracing radical Islam was a way to have moral certainty, stick it to her mother, and land what she probably thought was a life-long marriage partner. What jumped out at me was the detail that she embraced whatever ideology her current partner had, which leads me to believe that her main interest was finding belonging and she hadn't decided what she herself believed. It wouldn't surprise me if she realizes what a huge mistake she made in several years, but there's a good chance that she might be dead before that happens. :(

She never left the black/white saved/damned right/wrong mentality. Some people simply think in a dualistic way, their mind understand only absolutes, that's probably why she went straight from an -ism to another for her whole life. When she will wake up (if it will ever happen) it will be only to go to the next -ism.

About the reading matter, probably she is only dyslexic. Dyslexic homeschooled children tend to learn how to read later but tend also to develop their own strategy for it and usually it's a successful one for them personally and they can become good readers while dyslexic children that learn in the traditional way may struggle for longer to find the strategy that's good for them since often those that are imposed on them tend to fail. clearly I'm generalising, but maybe it can be an explanation.

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She never left the black/white saved/damned right/wrong mentality. Some people simply think in a dualistic way, their mind understand only absolutes, that's probably why she went straight from an -ism to another for her whole life. When she will wake up (if it will ever happen) it will be only to go to the next -ism.

About the reading matter, probably she is only dyslexic. Dyslexic homeschooled children tend to learn how to read later but tend also to develop their own strategy for it and usually it's a successful one for them personally and they can become good readers while dyslexic children that learn in the traditional way may struggle for longer to find the strategy that's good for them since often those that are imposed on them tend to fail. clearly I'm generalising, but maybe it can be an explanation.

Meh, she just sounds like an attention seeker to me. Telling your secular friends that your fundie parents didn't teach you to read gets you more attention.

I have no doubt that there are fundie parents so crap they don't teach reading. But if that's true, why move back in with them for a year after you are married with your new baby?

The whole story doesn't add up. And obviously if she joined ISIS, she's not the sharpest crayon. She's in the ISIS promised land now!

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If her social media comments were actually made by her, she's not merely embracing another extreme way of life. She's an angry little bitch, actively cheering on the guy who just murdered 5 people in her home town. For whatever reason - her background, her family, her mental state - she's just filled with hate for those that she grew up with.

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If her social media comments were actually made by her, she's not merely embracing another extreme way of life. She's an angry little bitch, actively cheering on the guy who just murdered 5 people in her home town. For whatever reason - her background, her family, her mental state - she's just filled with hate for those that she grew up with.

So many of the IS-supporters who are active on social media are hateful. Spewing hate against everybody who doesn't agree with their twisted way of life seems to be normal conversation for them.

I recently read a bizarre Facebook conversation between two female IS-supporters in Sweden, both were born and raised here, one of them is a Swedish young woman who is a convert, one is in Raqqa where her husband is fighting for IS.

They discussed why it is a blessing for the female prisoners that IS use as sex slaves, like yazidi women, to be taken as slaves and raped. They will convert (or die, I suppose) to Islam so they are really doing them a big favour, bringing them closer to Allah.

They also shared photos of their toddlers dressed up as IS-fighters, holding toy machine guns and with the black flag with the shahada as a bandana. I just don't see how a kid who has been raised as that will be able to live and function in a western society.

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I'm not surprised that her husband from Borås, a small town in the south-west of Sweden. There are a number of IS terrorists who come from that town and a few of them have been killed in Syria or have died in suicide missions.

Since our laws against terrorism are so lax, she and her husband could always come back to Sweden.

If they say they have been fighting for IS they have a first class ticket to the "help program" and will get access to education, housing, psychological help and work programs.

Are there any info about what mosque she attended in Chattanooga?

Wow, seriously?? That's completely mind blowing about Sweden.

But they'd have to get the American bride past customs somewhere, and I doubt she'd make it through an airport with the charges they might already have made.

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Wow, seriously?? That's completely mind blowing about Sweden.

But they'd have to get the American bride past customs somewhere, and I doubt she'd make it through an airport with the charges they might already have made.

I agree, it's a complete disaster.

What charges? In Sweden it is not illegal to support IS or join IS so unless our security police accidently has a film where the husband is severing heads or burning people there are no charges against either of them.

He apparently has permanent residence in Sweden so he is free to come back here anytime and bring the rest of his family too. There are a number of IS terrorist who have come back, some of them to rest from the war, some to get medical treatment. Some of them have gone back, others have stayed so far.

So techically an IS terrorist with a Swedish passport could be severing heads in Raqqa one day and the next day be in line in the nearest social welfare office in Sweden, getting full access to benefits, free housing, free health care, mental care and if he is on welfare, free dental care, $170 per kid per month and heavily subsidised child care.

It's not even difficult to come back here for them, they usually buy a plane ticket from Turkey to Sweden.

We have the worst terrorist laws in Europe and it's a complete disaster. The last government did nothing to change them and this one talked about it but decided to do nothing so far. It's really offensive to think about the fact that we support terrorists and that they can come back and walk free here and continue to spread their poison. (Probably in mosques who are tax subsidised.)

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I'm not surprised that her husband from Borås, a small town in the south-west of Sweden. There are a number of IS terrorists who come from that town and a few of them have been killed in Syria or have died in suicide missions.

Since our laws against terrorism are so lax, she and her husband could always come back to Sweden.

If they say they have been fighting for IS they have a first class ticket to the "help program" and will get access to education, housing, psychological help and work programs.

Are there any info about what mosque she attended in Chattanooga?

@Clementine

I don´t mean to offend you, but are you not maybe confusing something?

We have rather "lax" laws regarding IS-returners too, but they still go to jail.

I can´t imagina it is that different in Sweden.

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@Clementine

I don´t mean to offend you, but are you not maybe confusing something?

We have rather "lax" laws regarding IS-returners too, but they still go to jail.

I can´t imagina it is that different in Sweden.

ETA: Sorry, Clementine - I didn´t catch your last posting!

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I agree, it's a complete disaster.

What charges? In Sweden it is not illegal to support IS or join IS so unless our security police accidently has a film where the husband is severing heads or burning people there are no charges against either of them.

He apparently has permanent residence in Sweden so he is free to come back here anytime and bring the rest of his family too. There are a number of IS terrorist who have come back, some of them to rest from the war, some to get medical treatment. Some of them have gone back, others have stayed so far.

So techically an IS terrorist with a Swedish passport could be severing heads in Raqqa one day and the next day be in line in the nearest social welfare office in Sweden, getting full access to benefits, free housing, free health care, mental care and if he is on welfare, free dental care, $170 per kid per month and heavily subsidised child care.

It's not even difficult to come back here for them, they usually buy a plane ticket from Turkey to Sweden.

We have the worst terrorist laws in Europe and it's a complete disaster. The last government did nothing to change them and this one talked about it but decided to do nothing so far. It's really offensive to think about the fact that we support terrorists and that they can come back and walk free here and continue to spread their poison. (Probably in mosques who are tax subsidised.)

If she is charged by the U.S. Government with U.S. charges, she won't make it past passport control in turkey.

I am amused at the idea of terrorists living off the Swedish government. It's probably pretty easy to meet the Isis dress code when it's that cold. Kind of reminds me of the show Lillehammer, one of the best on Netflix.

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If she is charged by the U.S. Government with U.S. charges, she won't make it past passport control in turkey.

I am amused at the idea of terrorists living off the Swedish government. It's probably pretty easy to meet the Isis dress code when it's that cold. Kind of reminds me of the show Lillehammer, one of the best on Netflix.

As a taxpayer who pays one of the highest taxes in the world, I am really offended. And I feel horrible for the Swedes with roots in the Middle East who have family members who have been killed by or have fled IS and now have to support the terrorists who use our country as a garrison town.

So can Ariel Bradley be charged for anything in the US? Is it illegal to go to Syria with her husband who have joined IS? I guess that she hasn't done anything but to move there and tweet hateful stuff.

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As a taxpayer who pays one of the highest taxes in the world, I am really offended. And I feel horrible for the Swedes with roots in the Middle East who have family members who have been killed by or have fled IS and now have to support the terrorists who use our country as a garrison town.

So can Ariel Bradley be charged for anything in the US? Is it illegal to go to Syria with her husband who have joined IS? I guess that she hasn't done anything but to move there and tweet hateful stuff.

Of course she can be charged with supporting terror or joining Isis. The U.S. Has put people in jail who just planned to go. Wouldn't shock me if she's already charged.

The part of the story that makes no sense is when she moved in with her parents in Tennessee to have a baby. Especially if her parents are so awful, and Sweden has benefits and free healthcare.

I bet Sweden is looking pretty appealing right about now.

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