Why anyone would up and travel to join the most brutal group in the world is a matter of mystery, to my mind at least. We know their barbarism, which they proudly display for all to see – why become a party to that?
But they have some crazy lure which draws people in, including one Ghanaian whose case became very public. But willingly entering such a situation is highly unlikely to end well.
Kadiza Sultana is one of three British girls who ran from home in February last year to join the Islamic State (IS) terror group in Syria. The three, 15 and 16 at the time, shocked the nation and the world for the act of apparent senselessness.
Kadiza has now been apparently killed, her family says, after she became disillusioned and was planning to flee. Her sister told ITV News that an airstrike in Raqqa had apparently killed Kadiza.
“We were expecting this, in a way. But at least we know she is in a better place.” Halima Khanom told the channel.
“It is believed she was killed before she could flee, after the property she was staying in was obliterated by the airstrike in May,” ITV said in a statement, though the British Foreign Office said her death has not been confirmed.
Khadiza and her two friends, Shamima Begum and Amira Abase – left their schools and homes last year and travelled to Syria, where they hoped to marry Jihadis and aid the good work being carried out in the name of Allah.