Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Why They Join: Pathways into Indonesian Jihadist Organizations

2018; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 30; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/09546553.2018.1481309

1556-1836

Julie Chernov Hwang, Kirsten E. Schulze,

Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence

Why do Indonesian Muslims join Islamist extremist groups?This article explores four pathways to entry into Indonesian militant groups: study groups, local conflict, kinship and schools.It argues that within all four of these pathways, social bonds and relationships are the common thread both in encouraging entry as well as in fostering commitment.Specifically, these relationships contribute to the formation and eventual consolidation of the identity as a member of the jihadi group through regular participation in activities, attending meetings, narrowing the circle of friends to those within the group, and participating in increasingly risky and possibly violent activities together.Drawing on original fieldwork including 49 interviews with current and former members of Jemaah Islamiyah, Mujahidin KOMPAK, Darul Islam, Mujahidin Tanah Runtuh, Indonesia's pro-ISIS network and other jihadist groups as well as 57 depositions and court documents, this article explores the development and evolution of these pathways and how relational ties play a role in each.Anas' pathway into extremism began in high school, when he was invited by a classmate to participate in what he had been told was a Salafi study group. 1 He enjoyed the group because, unlike other Islamic study sessions he had participated in, this one addressed jihad not as something remote or abstract but in such a way that "nurtured their spirits" for it. 2om this broader study group, he was invited into a more exclusive one run by the Indonesian Islamist extremist group, Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), although its affiliation was not disclosed to him at that time.There, he was taught the Quran and aspects of the JI worldview.Throughout he was observed and assessed to see whether he showed sufficient commitment to become a member of JI.When JI began sending fighters to the Indonesian island of Ambon, where conflict between Christians and Muslims had broken out, Anas wanted to go; he was ready for that commitment.However, his seniors refused, noting he had not done his military training.Not content with that answer, he circumvented JI and went to Ambon anyway.Despite this act of defiance, Anas was permitted to take his military training with JI in Ambon and gained fighting experience.When he returned home, he continued to socialize with JI members and to participate in JI activities.In 2001, after four years of activities at various levels in JI, Anas was finally deemed sufficiently committed and was allowed to take the loyalty oaththe bai'at.Now Anas was officially a member.