AS IT IS 2016-02-07 Islamic State Widow Shames IS Leaders

AS IT IS 2016-02-07 Islamic State Widow Shames IS Leaders

The wife of a dead Islamic State fighter has voiced rare criticism of the terror group’s leaders.

The woman, who calls herself al-Muhajirah, posted a letter online.

In the letter, she complained about the treatment of widows and families of dead fighters. The letter has been shared widely on pro-Islamic State social media sites.

Public criticism of Islamic State leaders is rare. Critics face severe punishment, including beatings, torture and execution.

The letter is titled, "A Reminder¹ to the Leaders of the Islamic State." It was first posted on January 27 on JustPaste.it, says the Middle East Media Research Institute, or MEMRI. The Washington-based group monitors jihadist online activity.

Anat Agron is a researcher at MEMRI. She says that such criticism is “almost never found in such a widely circulated document. In the past, IS members have publicly criticized aspects of life in the Islamic State, however, normally such posts were swiftly deleted.”

Some men who have left the terror group also have recently criticized the poor treatment of widows of IS fighters. The men talked with researchers from the U.S.-based International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism. They discussed how widows were forced to marry other fighters soon after their husbands had been killed in battle.

The men’s statements were published in the journal Perspectives on Terrorism in December. The article said the Islamic State leaders were not following the normal Sharia practice of having a woman wait before remarrying. The four-month, 10-day waiting period ensures that the woman is not pregnant by her former husband.

The Sharia practice, called Iddah, is considered a woman’s right, and allows her time to grieve.

In her online letter, widow al-Muhajirah tells IS leaders:  “Every wife of a martyr² ... is under your care. ... Fear Allah in the way you cater³ for her needs. She is your responsibility and all her needs now rest on your shoulder. … This is your trust, she is under your care, so do not abandon her.”

Observers say women are used as a form of currency by the Islamic State. Foreign and Syrian male recruits are told they will be given wives as well as homes and money. Observers say those promises can be a major reason for joining the Islamic State, especially for young men from poor communities in North Africa.

Words in This Story 

widow - n. a woman whose husband has died

torture - n. the act of causing severe physical pain as a form of punishment or as a way to force someone to do or say something?

abandon - v. to leave and never return to (someone who needs protection or help)?

currency - n. a specific kind of money

1 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

2 martyr   

n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲

参考例句：

• The martyr laid down his life for the cause of national independence.这位烈士是为了民族独立的事业而献身的。
• The newspaper carried the martyr's photo framed in black.报上登载了框有黑边的烈士遗像。

3 cater   

vi.(for/to)满足，迎合；(for)提供饮食及服务

参考例句：

• I expect he will be able to cater for your particular needs.我预计他能满足你的特殊需要。
• Most schools cater for children of different abilities.大多数学校能够满足具有不同天资的儿童的需要。