Women Fighters in the “Islamic State” and Al-Qaeda in Iraq

Until February 2016, there were no confirmed cases of female combatants with the so-called “Islamic State” (IS). How can this change be explained? Focusing on individual, organisational, societal and security-related aspects, this paper identifies the causal factors for the inclusion of female fighters in IS and in a very similar terrorist organisation, Al-Qaida in Iraq. The comparative analysis of the two organisations shows that it is highly likely that the first confirmed case of female IS fighers in Libya in February 2016 will not remain an exception if, in the group’s perception, the security context will continue to change in favour of IS’s opponents.

Jennifer Philippa Eggert, “Women Fighters in the ‘Islamic State’ and Al-Qaeda in Iraq: A Comparative Analysis.” Journal of International Peace and Organization 90. 3-4 (2016): 363-380.