Why join ISIS? The Causes of Terrorism from the Muslim Youth Perspective

The study explores the causes of Islamic terrorism from a Muslim youth perspective. To gain a better understanding of why a growing number of young Muslims from Britain are joining ISIS, the study utilised interviews with a sample of young Muslims from West Yorkshire – a geographical location that has previous links with terrorism. Using thematic analysis, the study revealed a wide range of factors that contribute to Islamic terrorism. The research suggests that young Muslims who join ISIS have a poor grasp of the Islamic faith and are limited in their understanding of religious concepts such as martyrdom and jihad. The research also suggests that that social networks such as family, peers, mosques, schools and social media play a significant role in terrorism and the recruitment of young Muslims by ISIS. The study also questions the effectiveness of UK’s approach to combatting terrorism as participants felt that counter-terrorism strategies have the potential to stigmatise and alienate young Muslims, thereby pushing vulnerable individuals towards terrorism.