JEDDAH: The Saudi female detainee, Kholoud Al-Rukaibi, is among the first known women in the history of terrorism to have prepared an explosive belt and pushed one of her children influenced by extremist ideology to try to blow himself up in a suicide attack. This was foiled by law enforcement authorities in the Kingdom.
Al-Rukaibi helped Daesh in recruiting her two sons, Hamad and Nassar Al-Mousa, and her brother Nasser Al-Rukaibi, and provided material and logistic support to the group, giving an insight into the evolution of women's role in terrorist organizations. These roles began with simple tasks involving the spread of ideology or simple management jobs and matured to include military and leadership positions.
Kholoud Al-Rukaibi was arrested for being part of a terrorist network affiliated with Daesh that had planned to target religious scholars and law enforcement officers in addition to security, military and economic establishments in different locations inside the country. She also was active in preparing explosive belts and bombs for use in various criminal operations.
The sole woman in this terrorist cell was accused of supporting the Daesh terrorist group, preparing her son for a suicide mission, participating in transporting explosives, and preparing explosive belts and bombs, according to the Ministry of Interior. She also provided maps to be used in the criminal operations, offered logistic support such as sheltering wanted persons, providing them with funds and arms, and facilitating their travel abroad.
Her role later expanded to include leadership tasks such as stalking the targeted locations and extending media and electronic support in addition to communicating with the other leaders outside the Kingdom.
It is no longer a surprise to see the names of women among the lists of known terrorists. Saudi security records are full of female names affiliated with terrorist organizations. Some of them have already been arrested, while others escaped to join terrorist groups in conflict zones. Some others are still being pursued by security forces.
The Sakinah Campaign of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance found earlier in a study that 23.4 percent of the reasons behind women wanting to join extremist groups were linked with ideology, while 16.33 percent joined for emotional reasons and 53.26 percent for social reasons.
The study pointed out that Daesh has developed new methods for recruitment that are different to those used by Al-Qaeda. Daesh has allowed women to play more executive roles, which has ultimately attracted more girls and women to the group who see this as a way to liberate themselves inside extremely closed communities.
Al-Rukaibi helped Daesh in recruiting her two sons, Hamad and Nassar Al-Mousa, and her brother Nasser Al-Rukaibi, and provided material and logistic support to the group, giving an insight into the evolution of women's role in terrorist organizations. These roles began with simple tasks involving the spread of ideology or simple management jobs and matured to include military and leadership positions.
Kholoud Al-Rukaibi was arrested for being part of a terrorist network affiliated with Daesh that had planned to target religious scholars and law enforcement officers in addition to security, military and economic establishments in different locations inside the country. She also was active in preparing explosive belts and bombs for use in various criminal operations.
The sole woman in this terrorist cell was accused of supporting the Daesh terrorist group, preparing her son for a suicide mission, participating in transporting explosives, and preparing explosive belts and bombs, according to the Ministry of Interior. She also provided maps to be used in the criminal operations, offered logistic support such as sheltering wanted persons, providing them with funds and arms, and facilitating their travel abroad.
Her role later expanded to include leadership tasks such as stalking the targeted locations and extending media and electronic support in addition to communicating with the other leaders outside the Kingdom.
It is no longer a surprise to see the names of women among the lists of known terrorists. Saudi security records are full of female names affiliated with terrorist organizations. Some of them have already been arrested, while others escaped to join terrorist groups in conflict zones. Some others are still being pursued by security forces.
The Sakinah Campaign of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance found earlier in a study that 23.4 percent of the reasons behind women wanting to join extremist groups were linked with ideology, while 16.33 percent joined for emotional reasons and 53.26 percent for social reasons.
The study pointed out that Daesh has developed new methods for recruitment that are different to those used by Al-Qaeda. Daesh has allowed women to play more executive roles, which has ultimately attracted more girls and women to the group who see this as a way to liberate themselves inside extremely closed communities.
