Introduction
The 2017 Soufan Center report states that at least 1,000 fighters from Southeast Asia (some references estimate it closer to 1,500) have joined the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (ISIS) . However, the exact number of Filipino Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) and their families is uncertain. The only validated information is that of Ellen Jen Barriga and her husband, Mohammad Reza Kiram, who died in Syria as an Islamic State (IS) fighter. With their children, they left the Philippines to join IS in 2015. This highlights how violent extremists have turned to their spouses and extended families as recruits. Thus, policymakers must consider their family dynamics and individual radicalization experiences if their return to the Philippines are accepted.
The following sections will discuss individual radicalization from several perspectives via a case study of a Filipino family: the father, mother and children. Descriptions of these are from the perspective of the sociocultural, religious and psychological context of being a Filipino Muslim FTF.
The Father and the Husband– Muhammed Reza Lahaman Kiram, a.k.a. “Abdul Rahman Al-Filipini”
Kiram’s Pathway to Extremism: A Devout Filipino Muslim Tausug Millennial
Kiram’s ethnic affiliation is “Tausug,” known as “people of the current” and “fierce people,” which is the prominent tribe in Mindanao scattered in Zamboanga, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, and Sulu. Though not the direct descendants, his family belongs to the sultanate of Sulu, who are claimants of Sabah. He was raised in Zamboanga City and had a typical upbringing from childhood to young adulthood. He was a millennial who lived comfortably with his businessman father while his mother was a nurse in Saudi Arabia before he became part of IS. Like any millennial, he spent much of his time online, eventually leading to his online IS radicalization. He started by questioning people around him about everything he read, including the unlawful persecution of Palestinians, Syrians, and Muslim Filipinos which made him furious. His primary motivation was to seek justice for all the abuse his fellow Muslims suffered at the hands of the non-Muslims. Highly fueled by IS propaganda, he firmly believed that Islam was under attack and that it was his duty, as a Muslim man, to protect it.
Kiram was an idealistic young man who studied Islamic Jurisprudence in a madrasah (Muslim school). He was also a talented, influential young Muslim who was particularly passionate during religious discussions. Notably, he was a polyglot fluent in Malay, Turkish, Arabic, English, Filipino and Tausug. With such a profile, he became a prized target for recruitment by IS. Initially, Kiram was secretive about his involvement with IS while still in the Philippines. The first sign of Kiram’s radicalization that worried his family was when he started to attend a hardline mosque associated with Tablighi Jamaat, a missionary movement from South Asia suspected of nurturing militants. Despite vehemently denying it, his family’s greatest fear of him pledging allegiance to IS became a reality.
Kiram’s Full Radicalization as a Politico-Religious Extremist
Kiram eventually became a senior IS member who recruited and instructed others, Filipino and FTFs. Specifically, Kiram was suspected of conducting a 2012 bus bombing in Zamboanga City and IS-linked Ansar Khalifa group recruits in 2014. Beyond recruitment and instructing, he was the first and only verified Filipino citizen who beheaded a Caucasian in an ISIS video released in June 2016. In the video, he called for IS supporters who cannot travel for “Jihad” (Muslim Holy war against non-Muslims) to the Syrian Arab Republic to travel to the Philippines instead. He told them to “unite and join under the command of the Emir of the soldiers of the caliphate in the Philippines, Abdallah al-Filipino [a reference to Isnilon Hapilon]. Kiram also stated, “my brothers, do not hesitate to blow up their towns. Kill the disbelievers wherever you find them and do not have mercy on them”.
Collectively, these demonstrated how deep Kiram was into IS propaganda. In other words, Kiram firmly believed in the delusion that he was a mujahideen (Muslim Holy Warrior) committing terror in the name of God through a “Martyrdom Operation,”. They used the word “jihad” (Muslim Holy War) in all IS narratives to attract and appeal to Muslims worldwide to join them in their so-called war against non-Muslims.
As of August 23, 2018, pursuant to paragraphs 2 and 4 of resolution 2368 (2017), Kiram was found guilty of his association with IS or Al-Qaeda for “participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf of, or in support of,” “recruiting for” and “other acts or activities indicating an association with” Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), listed as Al-Qaeda in Iraq (QDe.115) as per United Nations Security Council. Simultaneously, the US declared Kiram a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” (SDGT).
Kiram’s Impact as a Radical Husband & Father
The prevailing family dynamics in Filipino Muslim families are patriarchal, meaning the father holds the most authority in the household. As such, Kiram played a large part in shaping his wife’s and his children’s personalities, behaviors, and beliefs toward violent extremism. With such a pivotal role, his wife, Jen Barriga, voluntarily swore allegiance to ISIS and flew to Syria with him to conduct a martyrdom operation. Additionally, their children, who were minors then, became exposed to violent extremism, particularly during their time in Syria. Such exposure during their formative years would likely have lasting impacts on their lives.
As with Kiram’s case, the Philippine government must engage not only male violent extremists but also their families to prevent and counter violent extremism. Only through this can the Philippine government potentially break the chain of family radicalization.
Narrative Warfare: “One Man’s Terrorist is Another Person’s Freedom Fighter.”
It is interesting to note that Kiram is an excellent example of the cliché, “one man’s terrorist is another person’s freedom fighter.” Even though Kiram was officially labeled by the US as a Special Designated Terrorist, as the head of the family, he was able to condition the minds of his wife and children successfully. Through Classical Conditioning, he repeatedly told his family members that death from conducting an IS operation was not only “honorable” but the best type of death for a Muslim. Consequently, in the eyes of his wife and children, he died as a “Mujahideen,” which was his goal from the start. Besides his family, Kiram’s death as an IS fighter was also celebrated by other members, elevating his family’s status. Such elevation in status became sources of motivations for violent extremism: 1) Pride due to elevated status, 2) Vengeance sought by his wife and children, and 3) Financial rewards awarded by IS for Kiram’s death. These bombardments of positive reinforcements are a form of terrorist Operant Conditioning that aims to reiterate the violent extremist narrative to motivate the remaining family members to follow in Kiram’s footsteps. This continuous supply of potential suicide attackers was vital in sustaining IS martyrdom operations as they were their deadliest weapon.
The Wife and the Mother – Jen Ellen Barriga
Barriga’s Pathway to Extremism: Her Marriage to a Violent Extremist
In the case of Barriga, she came from a conservative Christian family named after the archangel who defends the Christian faith against demonic forces. Her radicalization began when she grew close to Kiram. Infatuated with Kiram, she converted to Islam and eventually married him. Following the hadith of Prophet Muhammad (SAW),that “obeying the husband is the key to paradise” Barriga became submissive to Kiram. As with other cases, such compliance could lead the wives of violent extremists to follow them in joining violent extremist groups.
Barriga’s Vulnerability as a Convert
Religious conversion by itself should not raise red flags, but conversion with other underlying factors indicates a greater risk for radicalization. These underlying factors served as the drivers of radicalization, in which conversion gives individuals a reason to manifest their radical tendencies. As a convert, there were four reasons why Barriga was particularly vulnerable to IS radicalization:
1) She had no one else to consult and no independent guide to her new faith except her husband.
2) Despite her voluntarily swearing allegiance to IS, this may have stemmed from her husband.
3) As a convert and wife to a violent extremist, she may have overcompensated to be seen as a “good Muslim” and a “good wife.” This included her blind compliance with her husband.
4) As a Muslim convert, she experienced marginalization from her family and friends as soon as she started wearing the hijab.
Considering all of these, it is understandable why Barriga involved herself heavily in IS to establish a new social status with her adoptive community. Equally important to note is that her experiences are similar to many female Muslim converts who ended up in IS.
Barriga’s Initial Participation in Violent Extremism
According to the Philippine National Police, Barriga, who had an accounting degree, was allegedly channeling IS funds to local militants and aiding in a failed bombing attempt in the southern Philippine city of Davao. Barriga’s Christian name helped her set up bank accounts and avoid suspicion. She was also recruiting other Balik Islam (converts), who was just as vulnerable to radicalization as her.
Radical Journey as a Terrorist Couple:
In 2012, Kiram and Barriga were arrested in connection with a foiled bombing plot. Together with an Indonesian man, they allegedly targeted a night market in Davao, Philippines. The Indonesian was shot and killed by the police, but due to insufficient evidence, Kiram and Barriga were released. Three years later, the couple was recruited by IS.
Possible Implications of the Death of her IS husband.
It is important to remember that Barriga is a widow of a “Mujahideen.” Being radicalized into violent extremism, she believes that her terrorist husband is now in paradise, which might encourage her to do the same. Additionally, by following in her husband’s footsteps, she could increase her reputation and potentially receive other incentives from IS. A recent example is when militants’ widows conducted twin suicide bombings in Jolo town on August 24, 2020, which killed at least 15 people, including military soldiers, and wounded more than 70 others. One of the suicide bombers named Nanah, a resident of Basilan, was the wife of the first confirmed Filipino suicide bomber, Norman Lasuca. She had also previously carried out an attack against the 1st Brigade Combat Team in Sulu in June 2019, leaving seven people dead and 12 others wounded. While the other bomber, Inda Nay, was the widow of militant Abu Talha, who was killed following an encounter with the First Scout Ranger Battalion in November 2019. Thus, the possibility that Barriga might do the same remains a legitimate threat to national security if she was allowed to return to the Philippines.
The Vulnerability of Filipino Muslim Children to Terrorist Parents
Radicalization in children often occurs within families involved in terrorism. Here, the role of mothers in such families is crucial as they are responsible for educating their children. Following the hadith of Prophet Muhammad (SAW),“paradise lies under the mother’s feet“ mothers are very respected and thus enable them to influence their children significantly. Therefore, mothers may expose children to undemocratic and discriminatory beliefs, leading them to violent extremism. This role is apparent in violent extremists such as the Maute brothers, who were responsible for the Marawi Siege in 2017. The matriarch, Farhana, maintained a private militia that included her seven sons.
Furthermore, being respectful to parents demonstrates gratitude to Allah (SWT). This belief may confound any deradicalization attempts made on children of violent extremist families. Children could fear that any deviation from their parent’s beliefs is disrespectful. They may also view deradicalization attempts as attacks on their families, leading them to be guarded and unreceptive.
Their community’s close social ties (family, kin, friends) further complicates this scenario. An example of this was Indonesian FTF Rezky Rullie, aka Cici, a foiled suicide bomber captured in Jolo on October 10, 2020. Rezky was a daughter of an Indonesian couple responsible for the deadly 2019 Jolo Cathedral bombing. Furthermore, her younger sister, rescued in 2021, was married to an Abu Sayyaf member.
Conclusion
Without the involvement of wives and children in violent extremism, addressing this issue becomes less complex. This is particularly when male members of such organizations yearn for martyrdom. With the involvement of wives and children, it readies future generations of violent extremists. Therefore, governments, including the Philippines, must not only continue but increase efforts to break the chain of radicalization in families. Additionally, as every family is unique, comprehensive data must be collected, including the sociocultural factors of each family. Understanding them aids in a more accurate assessment of their levels of radicalization and the development of rehabilitation and reintegration programs particular to their needs.
