Security Policy Studies

Attacks by the mujahidaat are arguably more deadly than those conducted by male fighters and could motivate other Muslim women to adopt suicide as the tactic of choice. The use of Muslim women to conduct martyrdom, or suicide, operations by maledominated terrorist groups could have implications on the jihadi mindset, challenging more conservative groups such as Al Qaeda, to reconsider the utility of the Muslim woman on the front lines of jihad. These terrorist groups will likely exploit women to conduct operations on their behalf to advance their goals and achieve tactical gain.

This chapter explores the important roles of Muslim women in the early battles in Islamic history and traces their involvement in militant movements in the twentieth century by taking a closer look at the meaning of jihad, gender equality in Islam, and the future of terrorism.

In Invisible Martyrs by award-winning public speaker, Farhana Qazi uses a unique perspective to take the readers into the mindset of female Islamic extremists. Why would a girl from Denver join ISIS, a radical movement known for its mistreatment of women?  Why would a teenage Iraqi girl strap on a suicide bomb and detonate it? These are the questions that drew in Farhana and started her on a journey around the globe searching for the answers as to why some women leave everything they know to join radical Islam.

Farhana Qazi was the first Muslim woman to work for the U.S. government’s Counterterrorism Center.  She found herself fascinated, even obsessed, by the phenomena of female extremists, which led to her circling the globe in search of answers. Those she encountered along her way were women of different backgrounds, who all had their own reason for joining these movements. Instead of looking at the outside appearance she decided to take a deeper look at the force that drives them.  She found woman who were confused, others taken advantage of and on occasion she found those who were just as radical and dedicated as their male counterparts.  These are the stories she tells.

This book reframes the stories so readers can see these women, as they truly are, the people behind the radical masks.  This book will grab hold and captivate those of all interest levels, which includes those interested in woman studies and the social science behind Islamic Studies who will not be able to put this book down.  The untold story of the women of radical Islam are important to understand and recognize if the world hopes to contain the expansion of this ever present threat.

This paper presents an epistemological lens of Pakistan's popular Islamic movements and groups. The politics of militancy and Islamic Identity in Pakistan is an extension of the country's sectarian traditions and religious schools of thought. This paper traces the religious rhetoric of popular Sunni Islamists from the birth of Pakistan to the present-day and examines the challenges Islamabad faces for its long-standing policy of using popular religious groups to achieve foreign policy objectives in the region.

Here comes a book from an award-winning instructor and researcher on women in conflict and violent extremism. Qazi writes a compelling book with richly textured biography about her journey into Islam through her counter-terrorism work. Read what others are saying about her timely and illuminating book.

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, misinformation and misunderstanding of Islam continues to persist. Ignorance is not a gift; it breeds hatred and more violence. This published piece explains why it's important to distinguish peaceful Islam from its twisted version.

Muslim female suicide bombers are on the rise. Even before women attackers claimed dozens of lives in Monday's coordinated attacks on Shiite pilgrims in Baghdad and political protesters in Kirkuk, women had carried out more than 20 missions in Iraq this year—the most violent one yet for the women of Al Qaeda. But for those of us who have studied the phenomenon, the assaults should not come as a surprise.

In Invisible Martyrs by award-winning instructor, Farhana Qazi uses a unique perspective to take the readers into the mindset of female Islamic extremists. Why would a girl from Denver join ISIS, a radical movement known for its mistreatment of women?  Why would a teenage Iraqi girl strap on a suicide bomb and detonate it? These are the questions that drew in Farhana and started her on a journey around the globe searching for the answers as to why some women leave everything they know to join radical Islam.

This is a conceptually innovative and highly-informed account of the appeal of violent extremism to the tiny minority of Muslim women who leave their homes, especially in Western countries, to join foreign terrorist groups, such as the Islamic State (IS).

American scholar Farhana Qazi tells you a story that is unforgettable. In this book, Qazi takes you inside the world's most militarized zone to meet the women--peaceful protestors, political activists, and the prime victims of a brutal war. Discover Kashmir, a place of great beauty and immense tragedy. This book is not about the politics of war, but the people living inside it. Qazi shares the true, emotional, personal stories of women, who struggle, sacrifice, and survive against all odds. And to survive, women (and men) hold onto secrets or they die.

Kashmir is an active conflict. It is unsettling and unpredictable. Every day, someone dies. Someone is detained. Or someone disappears. The valley of death is also described as ‘Paradise on Earth.’ But in this land of magic and myth, there are madmen and militaries that trample on Kashmir’s beauty. After seven decades of war, Kashmiris go on living. They go to school. They fall in love. They get married. Many have children. They do what seems normal, despite the protests, politics, and paranoia of living in a place that is not free.  Qazi uses powerful storytelling to reveal the secrets of conflict. This book is a heart-breaking reminder that military occupation must end to allow the Kashmiri people to be free.

Full book available for purchase here: https://tinyurl.com/y3cm4vau